The Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival

was traditionally run over the course of three days, but this changed in 2005 with the introduction of a fourth day.

There are 25 races overall, with Grade One events including the Champion Bumper, Triumph Hurdle, Ryanair Chase, Supreme Novices` Hurdle, Ballymore Properties Novices` Hurdle, Arkle Challenge Trophy, Royal & SunAlliance Chase, Champion Hurdle, World Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and the feature race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Cheltenham Racecourse

is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury near the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Cheltenham is called the "home of National Hunt racing", largely because it hosts the four-day Cheltenham Festival, held in March of each year and featuring the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The racecourse has a scenic location, situated in a natural amphitheatre just below the escarpment of the Cotswold Hills, at Cleeve Hill, with a capacity of 67,500 spectators. The racecourse also has its own railway station, although this no longer serves race goers but is rather the southern terminus of the preserved Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

The main racecourse has two separate courses alongside each other, the Old Course and the New Course. The New Course has a tricky downhill fence and a longer run-in for steeplechases than the Old Course. Hurdle races over two miles on the New Course also have a slight peculiarity in that most of the hurdles are jumped early on in the race with only two hurdles being jumped in the last seven furlongs.

The Champion Bumper

is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in the United Kingdom for four to six-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 2 miles 110 yards (3,319 metres) on the Old Course at Cheltenham Racecourse during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Triumph Hurdle

is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle horse race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old novices. It is run over a distance of 2 miles 1 furlong (3,420 metres) on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse during the Cheltenham Festival in March. There are eight hurdles to be jumped in the race.

The Festival Trophy

is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above horses. It is run over a distance of 2 miles 5 furlongs (4,225 metres) on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse during the Cheltenham Festival in March. There are seventeen fences to be jumped in the race.

The Supreme Novices` Hurdle

is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old and above novices. It is run over a distance of 2 miles 110 yards (3,319 metres) on the Old Course at Cheltenham Racecourse during the Cheltenham Festival in March. There are eight hurdles to be jumped in the race.