The 2025 Cheltenham Festival delivered a rollercoaster of emotions for trainers, jockeys, and fans alike, leaving a mixed bag of celebrations and frustrations in its wake. While the event is traditionally a pinnacle of National Hunt racing, its recent challenges, particularly regarding false starts, have prompted the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to consider significant changes ahead of the upcoming Grand National.
Acting chief executive Brant Dunshea announced that they are re-evaluating how starts are conducted. "We are looking at what we could do differently leading up to Aintree to try to mitigate the risk of similar problems," Dunshea revealed, following concerns that marred the Cheltenham Festival's opening days. This year's festival witnessed multiple unsatisfactory starts, including the infamous Ultima Handicap Chase, which had to restart three times before the race actually commenced. Similarly, the Queen Mother Champion Chase faced issues with a standing start, causing issues for many competitors.
In a particularly notable incident, the horse Maughreen lost all chance of victory after whipping around as the tapes went up in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Dunshea expressed his disappointment, stating, "It’s a difficult environment for both starters and jockeys. We’ve had starters applying a consistent approach for some years, but we cannot simply drop the flag and let them go, as that would lead to chaos akin to the Charge of the Light Brigade." Dunshea aims to address these problems before the Grand National, as they finalize their strategy with the head of stewarding, Shaun Parker.
While frustrations ran high over the starts, racing enthusiasts were captivated by some remarkable performances throughout the festival. Highlighting the unpredictability of the races, the Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill—one of the favorites—fell at the fifth hurdle during the Champion Hurdle, a shock outcome that opened the door for other competitors. State Man appeared poised for a win but tragically fell with victory in sight, allowing the 25-1 outsider Golden Ace to take the crown by nine lengths, marking back-to-back festival victories for trainer Jeremy Scott.
In another twist, leading trainer Willie Mullins guided Lossiemouth to a solid win in the Mares’ Hurdle, after he diverted her from the Champion Hurdle amid growing concerns about the competitors’ likeliness to finish. Interestingly, less than 30% of the runners in the Grade One novice and juvenile hurdles at the festival were British-trained, raising further alarm about the future competitive landscape.
Further adding to the drama, snow graced the festival on the Wednesday, an unusual sight that did little to deter racing fans. The atmosphere became emotional when Marine Nationale won the Queen Mother Champion Chase, an event that held significance given the memory of late jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who had previously ridden the horse to victory in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the 2023 festival. Winning trainer Barry Connel reflected on the bittersweet victory, saying it served as a tribute to O’Sullivan.
Additionally, the tragic fate of Corbetts Cross, owned by prominent owner JP McManus, as he sustained a fatal injury during the festival has also sparked discussions. A statement from Cheltenham highlighted that he was immediately attended by veterinary professionals but sadly did not survive.
As preparations begin for the much-anticipated Randox Grand National in less than three weeks, the racing community is abuzz with anticipation and concern over these recent controversies. With calls for potential changes to avoid the recent challenges confronting attendees and competitors, Dunshea expressed that the BHA would take all necessary steps to refine existing regulations. The association is reviewing previous race conditions, even considering introducing 'win-and-you're-in' races for the upcoming Aintree event—a topic that provokes mixed opinions within the industry.
Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson’s stable has seen both heartache and hope. The renowned trainer finished this year’s Cheltenham Festival with just two victories amidst aspirations of more. Henderson was particularly pained by the absence of his star horse, Sir Gino, who was sidelined due to a serious leg infection leading up to the event. The promising five-year-old has since returned to training at Henderson’s Seven Barrows stables, promising a long rehabilitation journey but retaining the hopes of his connections.
Although Constitution Hill's fall overshadowed much of Henderson's anticipated success at the festival, the focus is swiftly turning to future challenges. Henderson revealed that the champion horse is likely to target the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in May. He remains optimistically focused on the road to recovery for his prized horse, saying, "He’s going to have to just go back to school for a moment, but that’s not a problem. We’ll do that and think about what we do next." The stakes remain tremendously high heading into upcoming races, which will dictate the trajectory of many trainers’ and jockeys’ careers.
Overall, the 2025 Cheltenham Festival showcased the unpredictable elegance of horse racing, filled with both triumphant wins and heartbreaking losses. As the BHA moves forward with their review regarding race starts and conditions, the anticipation of Aintree looms large. With high hopes and undeniable uncertainties circulating the industry, the coming weeks will prove pivotal in addressing these recent problems as the world of horse racing powers on.
