The mercury has dropped and the sun is setting far too early, signaling the arrival of the Jumps season. While the Flat season is now behind us, excitement is building for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival, slated for March 11 to March 14, 2025. This prestigious event at Prestbury Park is poised to showcase thrilling races and spectacular equine talents.
This year's festival will see some notable changes intended to refresh the experience for competitors and viewers alike. The Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase, last won by Grey Dawning, will be restructured as a Grade 2 limited novices’ handicap. Fans can also look forward to modifications to the Cross Country Chase, which was abandoned last year due to adverse weather conditions; it will now be contested as a limited handicap, allowing for improved participation following calls for change.
The National Hunt Chase will undergo significant adjustment, transitioning to a 0-145 novice handicap chase, and the requirement for amateur riders has been removed, making the competition more accessible. These adjustments reflect the organizers' intent to promote heightened competition among participants at the Cheltenham Festival.
Aside from those big changes, there are new eligibility criteria coming at the festival. Future runners in non-novice handicaps will be required to demonstrate greater experience, and penalties have been axed from the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Notably, horses who qualify for the Pertemps Final will receive enhanced protections for participation, yielding potential benefits for competitors.
The Cheltenham Festival kicks off with the esteemed Champion Hurdle, where anticipation is palpable: can Constitution Hill reclaim his title from State Man, or will Lossiemouth make the leap from competing against mares to shining on this grand stage?
Day two features the highly competitive Champion Chase. Last year, Captain Guinness secured his first Grade 1 victory here, but this time, El Fabiolo is eager to avenge previous losses, with Jonbon also expected to be in prime form after delivering impressive performances.
The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle graces the third day of the event. Teahupoo, last year’s winner, will be seeking to defend his title, though he started the season on the back foot, facing defeat at the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.
Finally, the festival culminates on Friday with the illustrious Cheltenham Gold Cup. This premier race will determine whether Galopin Des Champs can make history with his third consecutive win, though stablemate Fact To File may have other plans for glory.
Overall, the Cheltenham Festival promises to be more thrilling than ever, encouraging fans to brace for the intense competition and extraordinary performances from both seasoned champions and rising stars. With the changes taking effect and the key races lined up, anticipation continues to grow for this iconic racing event.
For more horse racing tips and information, punters can visit the Paddy Power website or use the Paddy Power app to stay updated on the latest odds and offerings.