What To Expect At Cheltenham 2016

The four-day Cheltenham Festival is the highpoint of the National Hunt season. Each of the event’s races is intended to test the abilities of the very best horses in a particular category. In addition, there are excitingly unpredictable handicap races where horses have their saddles weighted down in accordance with their form during the run up to the Festival.

For racing fans, each of the four days is packed with interesting events, all but one of which are jump races. The one race on the flat, the Champion Bumper, is run by novice horses that aren’t ready for one of the novice hurdle events. There is also a Cross Country race that is run on a man-made course in the middle of the track. This includes a range of different obstacles that the horses need to clear as they race.

The first day of the Festival is called Champion Day. This includes seven races, two of which are handicaps. The very first race of the Festival is the Supreme Novice Hurdle. This race always has a fantastic atmosphere and you can check out Supreme Novice Hurdle betting odds with William Hill here for all the odds and information.

The biggest hurdle race of the season, the Stan James Champion Hurdle, also takes place on this day. Willie Mullins’ Faugheen was the winner last year and will hopefully return to defend his crown in March. Faugheen will be one of 18 horses that Mullins has entered for this year’s Festival.

The second day of the Festival is Ladies’ Day. For many people the fun in attending this day of the Festival is in dressing up. A spectacular array of frocks and hats are always on display. The racing is no less eye popping, with the Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase the highlight of a seven race card. This was won last year by Dodging Bullets.

The third day of the Festival will have an entirely different atmosphere, coinciding, as it does, with St. Patrick’s Day. Draught Guinness will be available along with traditional Irish music for visitors. In among the festivities plenty of racing will be done, with the big two races being the Ryanair Steeple Chase and the World Hurdle Race. Here are some Cheltenham St Patrick’s Day betting options for you to consider.

The biggest day of the Festival is its last, Gold Cup Day. The Cheltenham Gold Cup pits the very best National Hunt horses against one another, making it one of the highlights of the racing season. Last year it was won by Coneygree, who should be competing again against a stellar field. This three mile and two furlong course with the Cheltenham Hill at its finish will test its thoroughbred competitors to their limits.

Another six races take place on Gold Cup Day, with three of these being handicaps. In total, the final day of the Festival should be an incredibly exciting event and is something that jockeys and trainers look forward to throughout the rest of the year.