| The Cheltenham Festival is the most | | | | advance. Most of the betting takes place when |
| prestigious meeting in the National Hunt | | | | the actual event is taking place, hundred of |
| Racing Calendar in the UK. The race prize is | | | | millions of pounds is spent on races. |
| second to the Grand National. The Cheltenham | | | | |
| Festival is a chance for the best Irish and | | | | Jump racing being most popular attracting |
| British horses to come together and race one | | | | most of the attention; the entrants for the |
| another. | | | | jump racing are in incredible form with |
| | | | months of training. The three most popular |
| The event takes place every year in March at | | | | races being Champion Hurdle which is ran on |
| the Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham, | | | | the Tuesday. Followed by the Queen Mother |
| Gloucestershire. Massive amounts of money are | | | | Champion Chase on the Wednesday and on Friday |
| bet on this occasion, with hundreds of | | | | by the Cheltenham Gold Cup. |
| millions of pounds being gambled over the | | | | |
| period of four days. As with most horse | | | | A number one priority of the Cheltenham |
| racing events, betting comprises a | | | | Racecourse has been to provide the best |
| significant aspect of its appeal. The event | | | | underfoot conditions for the horses. The aim |
| is known for its atmosphere, most notably the | | | | has been to provide the best conditions for |
| famous Cheltenham roar. The Cheltenham roar | | | | the Cheltenham Gold Cup but also for events |
| refers to the noise made when he horses enter | | | | taking place throughout the whole year. Using |
| the home straight and long run in. The roar | | | | the available ground has enable the |
| also refers to the incredible amount of noise | | | | Racecourse to produce fresh ground on the new |
| which is made at the opening race of the | | | | course for both third and in 2005 the fourth |
| festival. | | | | day of the festival. Cheltenham now consists |
| | | | of two racecourses known as the new course |
| Traditionally the race was ran over a period | | | | and the old course. |
| of 3 days, however this changed in 2005 when | | | | |
| a fourth day was introduced. There are 24 | | | | A day at the Cheltenham Festival comprises of |
| races altogether, with grade one events | | | | six races, with the meeting getting underway |
| including the; | | | | with the Supreme Novices Hurdle on Tuesday |
| | | | afternoon, which is the first race of the |
| * Champion Bumper | | | | event. The Feature race however being the |
| | | | Champion Hurdle, which regardless of |
| * Triumph Hurdle | | | | attracting large fields is normally taken by |
| | | | those more favoured in the Cheltenham betting |
| * Supreme Novices Hurdle | | | | markets. |
| | | | |
| * Ballymore Properties Novices Hurdle | | | | The most successful horse in Cheltenham Gold |
| | | | Cup history was Golden Miller, who won five |
| * Arkle Challenge Trophy | | | | times from 1932. There have also been another |
| | | | three horses that won the gold cup 3 times |
| * Royal & SunAlliance Chase | | | | consecutively. |
| | | | |
| * Champion Hurdle | | | | * Cottage Rake in 1948 - 1950 |
| | | | |
| * World Hurdle | | | | * Arkle in 1964 - 1966 |
| | | | |
| * Queen Mother Champion Chase | | | | * Best Mate in 2002 - 2004 |
| | | | |
| * Cheltenham Gold Cup (The final race) | | | | The race course has many advantages including |
| | | | onsite accommodation and several restaurants |
| The first Cheltenham Festival took place in | | | | to choose from. At Cheltenham there is a huge |
| 1902 and since then has continued to gain | | | | choice of places where food and drink is |
| more and more distinctions within the racing | | | | available, ranging from bars to seafood and |
| calendar, becoming nearly as in important as | | | | beef burger stalls. An impressive range of |
| the Grand National, the prize money also | | | | hotels are in the surrounding area, offering |
| seconding the Grand Nationals prize. Every | | | | exclusive deals whilst the Cheltenham |
| year without a fail now, the build up to | | | | Festival is on. |
| Cheltenham excitement begins months in | | | | |