Cheltenham announce record prize fund

Prize money at Cheltenham for the 2005-06 season will stand at a record £4.82m (€7.14m) – with £2.87m (€4.25m) spread over the four days of the festival.

In addition to the record level of prize money, all four of the major festival races will see a substantial increase in rewards.

The Smurfit Champion Hurdle will have a prize fund of £340,000 (€503,000) compared to £300,000 (€444,000) in 2005, while the purse for the Queen Mother Champion Chase will increase by 16%.

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle will stand at £230,000 (€340,000) – up from £200,000 (€296,000) in 2005 - and the totesport Gold Cup is now £400,000 (€592,000), £50,000 (€74,000) more than last year.

“We are thrilled to be able to significantly raise prize money for the four championship races at the Festival,” said Cheltenham commercial manager Peter McNeile.

“The increases will enable the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ladbrokes World Hurdle and totesport Gold Cup to cement their positions as the respective championship contests for the very best horses in jump racing.”