Cheltenham Festival

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup: A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore clear the final fence to win for owner Cheveley Park Stud and trainer Henry de Bromhead. The first official steps have been taken to extend the Cheltenham Festival from four to five days. Picture: Healy Racing</p>

ourview

Irish Examiner view: Is the Cheltenham Festival extension needed?

Most racing fans worry that an extension will dilute the event's overall quality

racing

5 things we learned from day two of the Cheltenham Festival

Day two of the Cheltenham Festival has come to an end. Here are five things to take away from the day.

sport

Five things we learned on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival

Well that's a wrap for another year so. But before we close the stable door on another brilliant Cheltenham Festival here's five things we learned on the final day.

racing

‘As soon as he took off my jaw was on the floor’

racing

Footpad in flying form ahead of Arkle tilt

racing

McCoy predicts tough day for Mullins

Bookies running scared of Ruby

Bookmakers were last night running scared of the fit-again Ruby Walsh ahead of the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Tue, 13 Mar, 2018

Altior suffers injury scare ahead of Champion Chase

Altior has suffered a fitness scare in preparation for tomorrow’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tue, 13 Mar, 2018

Day 4: From planes and bicycles to Cheltenham

What. A. Week.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

New era dawns for the O’Brien family

The name Joseph O’Brien may not have been on the card, but Ivanovich Gorbatov’s win in the Triumph Hurdle heralded the dawn a new era for the O’Brien family as the former flat horse gave the soon-to-be official trainer, son of Ballydoyle supremo Aidan, his first Festival success.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

It can only be onwards and upwards now for Bryan Cooper

Good days and bad days at Cheltenham. 

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

Bookies can’t get out of Cheltenham fast enough

Bookies versus punters

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

2016 Cheltenham Festival - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse

It has simply been the most unbelievable week for me

It has been the most unbelievable week for Willie Mullins and I. It’s not very often so little goes wrong and so much goes right, so we have to make the most of it when it happens like this. If you had offered me this before the Festival had started, I would have taken your hand off.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2016

Seven Cheltenham fatalities to be assessed by horse racing authorities

Four of the fatal injuries were not caused by a fall at a fence or hurdle.

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016

Cheltenham Day 3: Irish take over on St Patrick’s Thursday

The Cheltenham Festival and St Patrick’s Day don’t always coincide on the calendar, but the organisers know a good thing when they see one. So it is that the third day of this four-day bonanza is always designated as ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’.

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016

Cheltenham Day 2: Irish make the headlines on and off the course

From worst behaved to best dressed — you get all sorts flocking to Cheltenham.

Thu, 17 Mar, 2016

Two former Irish underage internationals fined by clubs over Cheltenham urine incident

Pictures appeared to show the pair urinating into a glass and throwing the contents over a balcony.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

RACING - Leopardstown Christmas Racing Festival

Today’s Irish runners at Cheltenham race by race

Yorkhill has been rerouted to this longer test, having swerved the Supreme.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Drying ground at Cheltenham a worry for Un De Sceaux team

Drying ground at Cheltenham is a concern for connections of Un De Sceaux as he prepares to do battle with Sprinter Sacre in what looks set to be an epic Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Willie Mullins: ‘It was a huge performance after the preparation she had’

Willie Mullins emulated his father by training a mare to win the Stan James Champion Hurdle as Annie Power blew her rivals away in style at Cheltenham, setting a new course record in the process.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Alan King bullish about Yanworth's chances at Cheltenham

Alan King is bullish about Yanworth as JP McManus’s exciting prospect bids for a five-timer in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Three things we will learn at Cheltenham today

1. Just how good is Yanworth?

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

I can’t wait to ride Un De Sceaux, it’ll be thrill-a-minute stuff

I really could not have envisaged such a start to the week, with three winners — the same as 12 months ago.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Balthazar King gunning for third win in Cross Country Chase

If there is to be a fairytale winner at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, then a third victory in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase today for Balthazar King is likely to be it.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Douvan shows why he might be king of kings

The aura of Willie Mullins’ armada stretches beyond the gates of Prestbury Park.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

No More Heroes can land RSA Chase

Gordon Elliott has given No More Heroes a perfect preparation and the imposing seven-year- old is fancied to land the RSA Chase at Cheltenham today.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Rich Ricci apologises for rerouting Vautour to Ryanair Chase

Owner Rich Ricci has apologised to any punters who are feeling “let down” following the decision to run Vautour in tomorrow’s Ryanair Chase rather than Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

BallTalk: Cheltenham Festival 2016 - Day 3 preview

Irish Examiner BallTalk TV presenter Peter McNamara gets the thoughts of racing journalists Darren Norris and Tommy Lyons ahead of Day Three at the Cheltenham Festival.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Gordon Elliott aiming to answer call for No More Heroes in RSA Chase

Gordon Elliott is convinced size is not everything ahead of No More Heroes’ big day in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham today.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

More Of That can maintain perfect Cheltenham record

Former World Hurdle winner More Of That can maintain his perfect record at Cheltenham by taking this afternoon’s RSA Chase for trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Up and running nicely despite my Annie Power failure

You know how it goes at this stage.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Cometh the hour, cometh Annie Power

A palpable sense of relief at a past laid to rest, and wild expectation for the future emanated from Cheltenham after Annie Power became only the fourth mare in history to land the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Three equine fatalities blight opening day of Cheltenham Festival

Three equine fatalities marred the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival as The Govaness, Pont Alexandre and Rezorbi all lost their lives.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Cheltenham Day One: Our tipster gives his selections

It’s day one of the Cheltenham Festival, with plenty of Irish interest on today’s races.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Vroum Vroum Mag all revved up for Cheltenham

One of the best things about arriving here at Cheltenham is that the talking stops and the action begins.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Buveur D’Air can throw a spanner in the works in opener

Nicky Henderson can upset Willie Mullins’ bid for a fourth consecutive victory in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, by taking the Festival opener with Buveur D’Air.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Annie Power won’t lack for pace, insists Willie Mullins

Willie Mullins is confident Annie Power will not be beaten for a lack of pace when she bids to make it third time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival in today’s Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Paul Townend happy to sit tight

He is acknowledged as one of the most talented riders in jump racing, in demand on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Three question marks against Annie Power

1. Will Min be Merciless?

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Willie Mullins: Douvan has enough experience to justify billing

Willie Mullins believes Douvan has enough experience to justify his billing and claim a second successive Cheltenham Festival success with victory in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Handicap hopes: Your EW Cheltenham Festival Super Yankee

When the discarded betting slips are swept up Friday, the regrets will focus almost totally on the championship races, ignoring the fact 10 contests, or almost 40% of the total, are handicaps.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Cheltenham Festival set to open on good to soft ground

Racing on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival could start on good to soft going as the ground continues to dry out and with hardly any rain forecast over the next few days.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Willie Mullins primed to add to Mares’ Hurdle tally

Vroum Vroum Mag will bid to continue her seemingly unstoppable rise through the ranks by landing a first Grade One success and enhancing Willie Mullins’ enviable record in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Min out to prove supreme in opener at Cheltenham

Min will have to live up to the hype if he is to give trainer Willie Mullins the winning start punters are confidently predicting in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Hargam can spring surprise in Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham

On official figures, only 10lbs separate the 12 runners in this afternoon’s Stan James Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, and if you omit 100-1 outsider Sign Of A Victory, that can be reduced to just 6lbs.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

BallTalk: Cheltenham Festival 2016 - Day 2 preview

Horse racing correspondents Tommy Lyons and Darren Norris sit with Peter McNamara to detail their opinions on how Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival may transpire on Irish Examiner's BallTalk TV.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Silver Concorde set to take flight in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Take a chance on Dermot Weld’s Silver Concorde, each way, getting us off to the perfect start in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Thanks for all the great memories Channel 4

It was a heady year for racing on TV across the pond.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Jonjo O’Neill highlights task facing Annie Power

As history suggests, it takes a mare of outstanding quality to win the Champion Hurdle.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Cheltenham Champion Hurdle looks Ireland bound

Won 10 times by the Irish since the turn of the century, the raiding party is headed by the highly regarded Min. 

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

Puzzles hub