The Cheltenham Festival is the most prestigious meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom and has race prize money second only to the Grand National. It is an event where many of the best British and Irish trained horses race against each other, the extent of which is relatively rare during the rest of the season.


It takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Racecourse in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
The 2010 festival will run from 16th to 19th March 2010


The first Cheltenham Festival was held in 1902 at Prestbury Park, Cheltenham, which still remains the same venue for the festival to this day. It was in 1904 that the first National Hunt Steeplechase was introduced to the festival.
This race became known as the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1924, when it was won by a horse called Red Splash.


Cheltenham Festival.. The Gold Cup was the first of the four Championship races, before the Champion Hurdle was introduced in 1927.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase was introduced in 1959 before the Stayers Hurdle, the last of the championship was first run in 1972.




Below are the best Bookmaker odds for the favourite in each of the big races.
TIME RACE FAVOURITE BEST ODDS BEST BOOKIE
Day 1
13:30 Supreme Novices Hurdle DUNGUIB 1.89     Place a bet on betdaq
14:05 Arkle Challenge Trophy CAPTAIN CEE BEE 4.5     Place a bet on betfred
15:20 Champion Hurdle SOLWHIT 6     Place a bet on bet365
16:40 David Nicholson Mares Only Hurdle QUEVEGA 2.57     Place a bet on betdaq
Day 2
15:20 Champion Chase MASTER MINDED 2.5     Place a bet on bet365
14:40 Royal SunAlliance Chase PUNCHESTOWNS 4.5     Place a bet on wilhill
Day 3
15:20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle BIG BUCKS 1.69     Place a bet on betdaq
14:40 Ryanair Chase POQUELIN 5.04     Place a bet on betdaq
13:30 Jewson Novices Handicap Chase RIVALISTE 11     Place a bet on wilhill
Day 4
14:40 Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle TELL MASSINI 6.5     Place a bet on wilhill
15:20 Cheltenham Gold Cup KAUTO STAR 2.25     Place a bet on bet365

The top jockey for the festival is the jockey who wins the most races over the four days. The winners since 1980 with wins in brackets are:
  •        2009   -   7 wins    -    Ruby Walsh
  •        2008   -   3 wins    -    Ruby Walsh
  •        2007   -   4 wins    -    Robert Thornton
  •        2006   -   3 wins    -    Ruby Walsh
  •        2005   -   3 wins    -    Graham Lee
  •        2004   -   3 wins    -    Ruby Walsh
  •        2003   -   5 wins    -    Barry Geraghty
  •        2002   -   2 wins    -    Richard Johnson
  •        2001   -   0 wins    -    Cancelled - foot & mouth
  •        2000   -   4 wins    -    Mick Fitzgerald
  •        1999   -   4 wins    -    Mick Fitzgerald
  •        1998   -   5 wins    -    Tony McCoy
  •        1997   -   3 wins    -    Tony McCoy
  •        1996   -   2 wins    -    Richard Dunwoody
  •        1995   -   4 wins    -    Norman Williamson
  •        1994   -   3 wins    -    Charlie Swan
  •        1993   -   4 wins    -    Charlie Swan
  •        1992   -   5 wins    -    Jamie Osborne
  •        1991   -   2 wins    -    Peter Scudamore
  •        1990   -   2 wins    -    Richard Dunwoody
  •        1989   -   2 wins    -    Tom Morgan
  •        1988   -   2 wins    -    Simon Sherwood
  •        1987   -   2 wins    -    Peter Scudamore
  •        1986   -   2 wins    -    Peter Scudamore
  •        1985   -   3 wins    -    Steve Smith Eccles
  •        1984   -   2 wins    -    Jonjo O`Neill
  •        1983   -   3 wins    -    Graham Bradley
  •        1982   -   1 wins    -    Jonjo O`Neill
  •        1981   -   3 wins    -    John Francome
  •        1980   -   3 wins    -    Jim Wilson

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