Field sizes to be reduced at Cheltenham Festival

Field sizes for a number of key events at the Cheltenham Festival this year are to be reduced following a review with the British Horseracing Authority’s senior inspector.

> The maximum field size for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle will be 22 runners from 24 runners, likewise the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

One of the week’s most competitive contests is the Coral Cup and that will have a ceiling of 26 runners from 28, as will the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle. The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle will now be 22 runners from 24 runners.