The most prestigious races at the Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest and most prestigious events in the horse racing calendar, attracting the very best horses, trainers, and jockeys from all around the world. The festival is held annually in March at Prestbury Park and features a total of 28 races spread across four days of thrilling competition.

Read on as we take a closer look at some of the most prestigious races at the Cheltenham Festival, including recent successful winners, and some of the best trainers and horses to watch out for.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is without a doubt the most prestigious race of the entire festival, and one of the most important National Hunt races in the world. This gruelling test of stamina and jumping ability is run over a distance of three miles and two and a half furlongs, all while negotiating 22 different fences.

This year’s race proves to be just as exhilarating, with those assessing the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting having a hard time picking a firm favourite. A Plus Tard helped Rachael Blackmore become the first woman to ever win the Gold Cup as part of Henry de Bromhead’s County Waterford stable, whilst Noble Yeats looks to become the first horse in almost 50 years to win both the Gold Cup and Grand National.

Champion Hurdle

The Champion Hurdle is another prestigious race that takes place at the Cheltenham Festival, and is considered to be the most important hurdle race of the season. This two-mile race features eight hurdles that must be cleared, and attracts some of the best horses and jockeys in the world.

Recent winners of the Champion Hurdle include Honeysuckle, who continued an impressive unbeaten run last year, Epatante, who triumphed in 2020 and 2021, and Buveur D'Air, who won in 2017 and 2018. Some of the best trainers in this race include Nicky Henderson, who has trained a record-breaking eight winners, and Willie Mullins, who won the race with Annie Power in 2016.

Queen Mother Champion Chase

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a two-mile race that features 13 fences, and is considered to be one of the most prestigious steeplechase events in the world. This race is named in honour of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who was a keen supporter of National Hunt racing.

As well as last year’s champion Energumene, who pipped Shishkin in their long-awaited rematch, recent winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase include Politologue, who triumphed in 2020 and 2021, and Altior, who won in successive years for 2018 and 2019. Some of the best trainers to watch out for in this race include Paul Nicholls, who has trained three winners, and Nicky Henderson, who has trained two.

The Stayers' Hurdle

The Stayers’ Hurdle is a three-mile race that features 12 hurdles, and is one of the most important long-distance hurdle races of the season. This race is known for attracting some of the toughest and most durable horses in the world, who must have both stamina and jumping ability to succeed.

Gavin Cromwell-trained Flooring Porter will be hoping to make it a hat-trick of victories but faces stiff competition from Klassical Dream and Teahupoo.