Cheltenham Festival
PREVIEW MAGAZINE 2023
WELCOME
PERFECTLY BRITISH
trained a winner here in 1995 with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, Tourist Attraction. Since then he has gone on to pack another 87 wins under his belt, with 10 of those alone coming from
It’s amazing how quickly this time of year always comes around. These last few weeks in the run up to The Cheltenham Festival are always the busiest and some of the most exciting in our calendars – and this year is no exception. Last year’s event was attended by a record number of people, with more than 280,000 of you coming to the racecourse.
last year’s event. He is the most successful trainer in the history of The Festival and we can’t wait for Willie and his team to come back in March. Lifestyle is also very much on the agenda and throughout the magazine you’ll be able to find pieces about the best places to go for food and drink on the racecourse, as well as a great guide to all of the things you simply have to experience while enjoying a day at Cheltenham Racecourse. We are delighted to be able to continue the partnership into 2023 with the national charity WellChild, whose headquarters are based just down the road from us in Cheltenham, as we have named them as our official Charity Partner for The Festival. If you’re able to, we’d love for you to join us on Sunday 12 March for our Sporting Life Official Cheltenham Preview in The Centaur, with all proceeds going to WellChild. Please head over to our website to find out more about tickets. As always, the whole team want to thank you for supporting us throughout the year and for these magical four days in March. We are very excited to be welcoming you back. Until then,
What a stark contrast that was to 2021 when we were behind closed doors. We’re delighted to now be very much back to business as usual and can’t wait to welcome you all back! This year’s Festival Preview Magazine is packed with stories and features from across the racing world, including interviews with jockeys and trainers as well as plenty of lifestyle features and guides to keep you in the know for your visit to the Home of Jump Racing. As always, there is so much to look forward to for those four days in March, and we take a look at much of it right here. One highlight includes an in-depth look at Constitution Hill as we address the questions on everyone’s lips – is he really the wonder-horse many people think he is? The six-year-old is unbeaten in his hurdling career and came to his first Cheltenham Festival last year where he romped home and beat his rivals by 22 lengths, breaking a track record in doing so. Elsewhere you can find an interview with Willie Mullins, as he reflects on some of his favourite memories from The Cheltenham Festival. Willie first
Ian Renton Managing Director, The Jockey Club, West
CLASSIC CUVEE AN ELEGANT COMBINATION OF INTENSITY, DELICACY AND LENGTH
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CONTENTS
6 PLAN YOUR DAY Cheltenham Festival highlights for you to enjoy over a great four days 9 HERE IS THE DREAM, AND IT IS STILL ALIVE Constitution Hill is the favourite in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, but is all the fuss about this young horse justified? 13 WELLCHILD Cheltenham Festival is again supporting the valiant work of the charity WellChild 14 CORE ON COURSE Clare Smythe brings her world-famous three- Michelin-star restaurant to Cheltenham Festival in her first sporting venture
15 EYES ON THE PRIZE Now ambassador of the Cheltenham Festival, Barry Geraghty tells us why he thinks these four days are so special to so many 18 THE ORCHARD The premium, exclusive Festival experience waiting to greet racegoers with a host of luxury brands 20 CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL A guide to all the sporting action you can expect on all four days of Jump racing’s star event 35 CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL FASHION TV presenters and seasoned Festival goers Rosie Tapner and Frankie Foster reveal the latest trends and style tips
38 MEMBERSHIP With three exciting
48 BROTHERS IN ARMS Dan and Harry Skelton’s close bond with each other and other family members make them a formidable team and powerhouse of Jump racing 53 GOLD CUP 100 A look back at the history of this iconic and famous race, and forward to next year when it celebrates its centenary 56 FOOD AND DRINK Our pick of the best places for a snack, a meal, a coffee and a tipple – or two! 58 THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL IN NUMBERS Enjoy our guide to Cheltenham Festival statistics
prospects, now is the best time to join the Cheltenham and South West Racing Club 40 WAITING IN THE WINGS Gordon Elliott tells us about his long friendship with Davy Russell and why he’s on standby for this year’s Festival 42 HORSE WELFARE Respect for the horse is at the heart of British Racing, especially at Cheltenham 44 WINNER TAKES IT ALL Willie Mullins had 10 Cheltenham Festival winners last year and 88 overall. Will he get a century this year, asks Nick Seddon
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FEATURE PLAN YOUR DAY
Before racing – Join the Punters Panel in the Parade Ring, as the experts give their best bets of the day 1pm – Anja Sei performing live in the Parade Ring 1.10pm – Runners for the first race of Day 3 will be arriving in the Parade Ring 1.30pm – The First Race 2.50pm – The Ryanair Steeple Chase (Grade 1) – top class chasers, providing thrilling sporting action as they contest each other to become the Grade 1 Ryanair Champion 3.30pm – The Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) – a test of stamina and endurance for long distance hurdlers bidding to be crowned the 2023 Stayers Hurdle Champion 5.30pm – Last Race 5.45pm – Continue the craic after racing with a visit to The Centaur dance floor with LAMPA performing live 6.15pm – The Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale – the only Cheltenham sale of the year to take place in the parade ring. Watch the theatre as National Hunt owners and trainers battle it out in the sale ring to secure Cheltenham Festival winners of the future DAY 4 GOLD CUP DAY The final day, the finale of a week of unparalleled sporting action, staging the blue riband race of Jump racing – The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. 10.30am – Gates open Before racing – Join the Punters Panel in the Parade Ring, as the experts give their best bets of the day 1pm – Laura Wright commences Gold Cup Day 1pm – Runners for the first race of Day 4 of The Festival will be arriving in the Parade Ring 1.30pm – The First Race 3.30pm – The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) – the crown jewel of Jump racing and the race that everyone wants to win. Who will be ultimate Champion of The Cheltenham Festival 2023? 5.45pm – Celebrate four extraordinary days of sport and entertainment in The Centaur with Satellite Down as the curtains are pulled on the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
PLACES TO VISIT AND THINGS TO DO IN BETWEEN RACES: THE SHOPPING VILLAGE The Shopping Village is bursting with wonderful shops, from fabulous fashion, accessories and jewellery to art, home furnishings and much, much more. There really is something for every taste and budget.
PLAN YOUR DAY AT THE FESTIVAL The action and entertainment both on and off the track at The Cheltenham Festival is quite simply extraordinary
THE ORCHARD The Orchard is a premium and
unparalleled experience for racegoers that hosts a range of luxury brands to soak up while enjoying four incredible days of Jump racing. To find out more about the luxury brands, bars and the new Orchard Food and Drink Hall, see pages 18 and 19.
THE GUINNESS VILLAGE The Guinness Village, where the craic is mighty, it is a must experience at The Festival. Everyone is ready to party, and the atmosphere is electric. THE BEST BARS Did you know that most of the bars at Cheltenham Racecourse are named after famous racehorses? With the vast range of bars at the racecourse, from the buzz of the course-side Arkle bar or the glamour of the Moët and Chandon Roma Bar at the Best Mate Plaza, you are sure to find the perfect refreshment for you. Pages 56 and 57 showcase the best bars at The Festival. MUSIC
course-side for the Cheltenham ROAR; it will leave your spine tingling! 1.30pm – The First Race 3.30pm – The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) – the very best hurdlers will go head-to-head in an exhilarating battle to become 2023 Champion Hurdle winner 5.30pm – The Last Race 5.45pm – Get your dancing shoes on and finish the day with a boogie in
the Parade Ring, as the experts give their best bets of the day 1pm – ESCALA performing live in the Parade Ring 1.10pm – Runners for the first race of Festival Wednesday will be arriving in the Parade Ring 1.30pm – The First Race 3.30pm – The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) – the fastest horses, jumping with precision in a bid to join an elite of stars and be crowned the 2023 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner 5.30pm – Last Race 5.45pm – Finish a fantastic day in The Centaur with Tommy and The Fuse DAY 3 ST PATRICK’S THURSDAY It’s all about the Irish, it’s all about the craic and it’s all about not one but two
From watching and experiencing the thrill of both human and equine stars make history to the entertainment such as The Orchard, The Shopping Village, musicians, DJs, bands, choirs, Irish dancers and lots more, it really is the most extraordinary four days. DAY 1 CHAMPION DAY The atmosphere is electric, you can feel the anticipation and the excitement in the air as soon as you enter the Cheltenham amphitheatre of dreams. 10.30am – Gates open Before racing – Join the Punters Panel in the Parade Ring, as the experts give their best bets of the day 12.30pm – ROR Parade – watch equine stars of the past parade at Cheltenham, many of them will once have entered the sacred Cheltenham Winners’ Enclosure 1pm – Laura Wright commences The 2023 Cheltenham Festival 1.15pm – Runners for the first race of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival will be arriving in the Parade Ring 1.30pm – The ROAR – make sure you are
There is music at many corners of the racecourse, playing in between races, from the DJ in The Orchard to the pianist on the Centaur balcony. Enjoy the music as you explore and discover the home of Jump racing. RACECOURSE TV As well as showing all the action in the parade ring and on the track,
The Centaur to The Wickermen DAY 2 FESTIVAL WEDNESDAY
Festival Wednesday is all about speed and exhilaration on the track, off the track it is about fashion and entertainment – making it the ultimate sporting occasion. 10.30am – Gates open Before racing – Join the Punters Panel in
there will be interviews, behind-the-scenes exclusives and a close-up of all the entertainment at The Festival – so keep an eye on the screen to stay up to date with all The Festival happenings with Martin Kelly, Aly Vance and Rosie Tapner.
Championship races! 10.30am – Gates open
11:30am and 12.30pm – Get ready to be blown away by an energising and invigorating Irish dancing performance at the Best Mate Statue
Keep an eye out as more entertainment is revealed in the lead up to and at The Festival. All timings and entertainment are subject to change.
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Unibet Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill stands on the verge of greatness, says Graham Clark Here is the dream, and it is still alive
Nicky Henderson, trainer “One must not get too carried away at this stage of life. He is only a young horse that has had five races in his life, six if you include the point-to-point that he didn’t win. “Compared to some of these other horses he has got quite a long way to go, but visually he has been very impressive every time and you can’t fault what he has done, but this has got to continue. “We have been lucky to train a lot of nice horses and I t is a place where career-defining moments are created and superstars are made, but this year’s Cheltenham Festival appears, in Unibet Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill, to have an individual capable of pushing the sport beyond its normal boundaries.
when these sort of things come along you find yourself being the minder of a piece of public property. “Sprinter Sacre almost certainly was, Altior almost certainly was, and when they come along and are like that they are no longer just yours. We just look after them and we really want everybody to enjoy them. “We have probably got two more runs this season as if everything goes right here, then he could go run over two-and-a-half at Aintree, but we are only worrying about one thing at the moment and that is the Unibet Champion Hurdle. “His whole demeanour is so laid back. Nothing bothers him and nothing gets him very excited. “You wouldn’t pick him out in a crowd, whereas Sprinter and Altior you definitely would, as they would tell you who they were. He is a good-looking horse, but
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FEATURE CONSTITUTION HILL
FEATURE CONSTITUTION HILL
“Here is this dream and it is still alive. We have got to make the most of it while it is still alive, and we pray everything goes right for him.” Henrietta Knight, trainer of three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Best Mate “I think racing and the country like to have a horse they can associate with and he is that horse. He will capture the imagination of the people rather like Best Mate did. He was the people’s horse and I think that is what Constitution Hill is becoming. “He is on everybody’s lips and he is the first horse that is mentioned when it comes to Cheltenham. “He has not run many times, but what he has done has “He has never really been asked a serious question, as he has sprinted clear of the opposition. He appears to jump lovely, and he really seems to enjoy his racing. “He is very important for Jump racing, and for the sport as a whole. He is the young pretender, and I think it is very important we have a horse like this. been spectacular. I think it is the ease with which he has been winning his races that makes him stand out. “Nicky is a top trainer and he deserves a really good horse like this again. It is lovely for him, and it definitely adds to the story. Constitution Hill is becoming the people’s horse and Nicky is the people’s trainer.” Ed Chamberlin, ITV Racing Presenter “People often ask me what is our job on television, and the answer is we want to make racing as popular and as welcoming as we can, but to do that you need those hooks and there is no better hook than the horse itself. “We’ve been very lucky since we took over on ITV, as we have had three big ones in Enable, Stradivarius and Tiger Roll. They have really captured the public’s imagination, and Constitution Hill could be the next horse to do that. “But we mustn’t get carried away, as he is a long way off it, however, he has this stage on Champion Hurdle day for people to go ‘wow’ and as Mick Fitzgerald keeps telling me this horse has got that wow factor. “I’ve a football background and I love telling stories that capture the sports fans’ imagination. That is what Cheltenham does. These are probably the four most popular days of the year – they are four days that resonate far beyond racing. This is the stage where Constitution Hill has got to go win a Champion Hurdle before we can begin to talk about him as a great. “With Nicky Henderson you have got an extraordinary communicator who is so eager to please. He is a guy
Sprinter was the most beautiful horse you would see, and he knew it. He went everywhere with that swagger. “Constitution Hill doesn’t do that. He eats, he sleeps, he gets up and does what work you ask him to, and he goes back to bed. It is all very straightforward. “This isn’t a beauty parade, so it doesn’t matter, but if it was, I’m afraid they would finish in front of him, but he is growing into a fine horse and he is starting to get the idea that he is a bit different. “I like the involvement in a horse like this, as you feel like you have achieved something, and people want to be part of a horse that has touched them somewhere. “Horseracing is still a great sport and there is a great
community. It is a great game that a lot of people enjoy. They appreciate very good people and very good horses. “Everybody wants to know what he is up to in the village (Lambourn), but
“Horseracing is still a great sport and there is a great community involved”
“Hopefully, Constitution Hill can live up to his reputation and deliver that success under Nico that we all want to see happen”
there are other horses here, and in other yards, just as important that have big days ahead. “We all want him to be this superstar, but we have been lucky having the Sprinters and Altiors, however you never get blasé about it. “We are lucky they have found their way to Seven Barrows and that we get to mind them and all we can do is our very best. “Michael (Buckey, owner) has been with us since the year dot and he has been a wonderful supporter. “We’ve had good times and bad times and we’ve had a lot of fun, but there have been tears and laughter too.
“There is no doubt he is a talented horse and if you picked one of the jump horses you would love to own or train, he would be the pretender you would pick that could be the superstar. “In sport, they often say some of the most difficult things are the simplest. He is simple in terms of he isn’t complicated in how he races. He jumps out and seems to do whatever you want. You can drop him in, make the running. He looks like a bit of a push button job and when you press the accelerator, he comes alive. “He looks like he just freewheels away and when you put your foot down, he picks up. He is a pretty economical jumper and on the whole, he is faultless, what you have seen so far. “I think what it does do, with him being trained by Nicky Henderson, from an owner and jockey point of view, is that it doesn’t put you in a weaker position, as he has trained more Champion Hurdle winners than anyone else. “It would be exciting walking into Cheltenham on Tuesday morning knowing you were going to ride him. “You want to walk in there with the nerves running through you, as you want to feel the pressure of riding the horse like that, as it is the greatest privilege you can have in racing. “Hopefully, Constitution Hill can live up to his reputation and deliver that success under Nico that we all want to see happen.”
that you can go on a journey of emotions with, before, during and, in particular, after the race. “Very soon he is going to be training public property in Constitution Hill, but he is in the best possible hands. Greatness and resonating with the public comes from longevity as much as anything else.” Sir Anthony McCoy, 20-times champion Jump jockey, who won the Champion Hurdle on Make A Stand (1997), Brave Inca (2006) and Binocular (2010) “We all see horses and sports people that have moments of brilliance, and Frankel’s 2000 Guineas (in 2011) was one of the wow moments. “As jump horses, you have to achieve a lot to elevate yourself from the back page to the front. There have only been few jumpers that have been capable of doing that – other than Desert Orchid, Red Rum, Kauto Star and Best Mate there have not been many. “I look back at the hurdlers in recent times and Hurricane Fly is the best most recent one while Istabraq is the best one I’ve seen in my time. What Constitution Hill has done the last two times has had the wow factor about it in the ease in which he has won. “He has beaten a good mare in Epatante a couple of times, but after the Champion Hurdle we will get a different reading, as if he is able to do the same to them, to those rivals, then he might be able to get on the front page.
Henrietta Knight
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CHARITY FEATURE WELLCHILD
WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children, is our charity partner and we’re once again hoping the racing community will show its support Cheltenham Festival AND OFFICIAL CHARITY PARTNER
The Official Trophy Supplier for Cheltenham Racecourse
To the racing community, Ahead of this year’s Festival, I am writing to you on behalf of the children, young people and families WellChild supports, because we have never needed your help more. The support that The Festival and entire racing community have given to WellChild previously has been profound. We are humbled and hugely grateful to The Jockey Club, Cheltenham Racecourse, our wonderful Ambassadors Ed Chamberlin, Sir AP McCoy, Oli Bell and all of you for everything you have done. Our mission is to give seriously ill children the best chance to thrive at home with their families, instead of hospital. Currently, the situation for families is particularly tough. They have come out of a desperate situation during the COVID pandemic and into the crippling cost-of-living crisis. The average energy bill for a family with a disabled child is twice that of the average household. Many rely on electrical equipment around the clock, such as ventilators and feeding pumps, just to keep their children alive. We are working hard to find new ways to get families the support they need. We have been sourcing grants to help families most acutely in need of financial help with such necessities as food and energy bills. The crisis also makes it more difficult for us to raise the funds we need to help them. It is one of the biggest challenges facing our charity right now.
The original and replica of the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trophy
children the best opportunity to thrive at home, where they belong. Once again, we need your help to accelerate support for more children and families who desperately need us at this difficult time. Enjoy the racing and please spare a thought for how you can help. Thank you. Matt James, Chief Executive, WellChild
TROPHIES | REPLICAS | RESTORATION inkerman.co.uk | @inkerman 01892752211
YOUR DONATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE £10 could help fund our vital information and support service for parents and carers. £50 is enough for a basic life-support training session for parents to learn the techniques needed to care for
Based in Cheltenham, we reach all parts of the UK with our growing team of WellChild Nurses, our Helping Hands home and garden transformation projects and family information, training and support programmes. All of them focused on giving these
their seriously ill child at home. £100 is enough to fund a day of a WellChild Family Coordinator’s time helping families access £1,250 worth of cost-of-living grants. Donate today at www.wellchild. org.uk/donate or via the QR code.
The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race
National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
The Badge Beer Handicap Steeple Chase
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FEATURE BARRY GERAGHTY
FEATURE HOSPITALITY
Core on Course The first British woman to be awarded three Michelin stars in the UK, Clare Smyth launches Core on Course by Clare Smyth at the Cheltenham Festival
Barry Geraghty is one of the most successful jockeys in the history of the Cheltenham Festival, a Grand National Winner and a multiple-time Irish Champion. Since his retirement in 2020, he has stepped into the role of ambassador at the racecourse and is now taking in the four days through new eyes. Here, he tells us exactly why that week in March is so special Eyes on the prize
C lare Smyth, chef patron and owner of the Core on Course will be the first sporting hospitality experience of Clare Smyth and her extraordinary cuisine, offering the very best in food and Jump racing. Having grown up in Northern Ireland, Smyth was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to the hospitality sector in 2013. She learnt her trade working under Gordon Ramsay for nearly 14 years as Chef Patron of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, where she first earned and retained three Michelin stars before opening her own restaurant. Core by Clare Smyth was the first restaurant to enter The Good Food Guide with a perfect ten out of ten score and in just three years was awarded three Michelin stars. world-renowned, three-Michelin-star restaurant, Core by Clare Smyth, in London, will bring her unique dishes to The Festival 2023. Core on Course by Clare Smyth will be located in The Village at the Cheltenham Festival, right at the heart of one of the sport’s most prestigious events. “I am delighted to be a part of such an iconic world-famous event with an extensive history of top-class racing,” says Clare. “I look forward to working with The Jockey Club to create Core on Course by Clare Smyth, starting at The Festival 2023.” Ian Renton, Managing Director of The Jockey Club, West, adds: “We’re all really thrilled that Core on Course by Clare Smyth will be launching at the Cheltenham Festival.”
CORE ON COURSE BY CLARE SMYTH DAY PACKAGE INCLUDES :
l Dom Pérignon or Irish Cocktail reception l Stunning six-course tasting menu l Three wines to pair with your tasting experience l Afternoon snacks and treats l Premium beers, wines and soft drinks (excludes Champagne and spirits) l Full upgrade wine, Champagne and spirits list available to purchase on the day or in advance l In-person appearance with Clare Smyth l Racing tipster to highlight top runners and riders l Unique dining experience themed on the three-Michelin- star Core by Clare Smyth l Unique Clare Smyth merchandise area l Club admission ticket l Preferred car parking area l Official Racecard
l TV racing coverage l Tote betting service
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FEATURE BARRY GERAGHTY
T he most memorable Cheltenham Festival for me was, undoubtedly, my last. For almost 25 years I took the annual pilgrimage to Gloucestershire, full of hopes to ride a winner at one of the most magical places in the world. That year, 2020, no fewer than five times was I first past the post and escorted into the winner’s enclosure. On the final day of the meeting, Friday, my last ride was in the County Hurdle. After that, I found a spot to watch the Gold Cup, and that’s the moment it hit me – from here on out, I was a spectator. The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the Jump Racing season, there is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world. It’s the Ryder Cup, the FA Cup Final match, the Six Nations. Growing up, all I would ever dream about was riding here. It’s a magical place where champions are crowned and dreams are made – or shattered. Nothing compares to the emotion, the hype, the excitement and the buzz of the Cheltenham Festival. It is very much everything that is made out to be. My first ride winner came in 2002, with the legendary Moscow Flyer – four years after
since then and I now attend in an altogether different capacity – as a spectator, a fan and an ambassador of this sport that I love. Last year was the first time I had attended since my retirement, totally detoxed from all of the adrenaline that the last 25 years had given me. I spent much of those days getting the lie of the land and trying to figure out where to go and how I could get a cup of tea. These were all things I had to learn after a quarter of a century coming to Cheltenham! Now, we’re just a few days out from this year’s festival and, as always, I’m very excited about it. I have a connection to Constitution Hill (unbeaten in his hurdling career and the favourite for this year’s Unibet Champion Hurdle), so he is the one who excites me the most. A friend and I bought him as a foal and his current owner, Michael Buckley, bought him off us as a four-year-old. To come back to Cheltenham last year and watch him race the way he did – a horse that all three of my children had ridden here at home – was amazing. He lived outside the back of the house for three years and was nearly as much a family pet as a racehorse can be. For me, this year’s
festival is all about Constitution Hill. I was lucky enough to ride some superstars in my time but this fella has the potential to be something we’ve never seen before. Being an ambassador for Cheltenham Racecourse is a real honour and to be in a position to carry on promoting the sport in this way is brilliant. It’s an easy sell for me as someone who has lived it for most of my memorable life. People travel far and wide to take in those four days, and if you haven’t yet, I’d really encourage you to come along to see what all the fuss is about. You won’t be disappointed.
I had ridden there for the first time in 1998. People often ask about my favourite winner at the Festival and it will always be the first. It’s the Holy Grail to get a score on the board and people go their whole lives striving for that – be that a jockey, owner or trainer. That really was a brilliant day for me. As the years rolled on many more special memories were made – there were Gold Cup wins with Bobs Worth and Kicking King as well as incredible
“Nothing compares to the emotion, the hype, the excitement and the buzz of the Cheltenham Festival. It is very much everything that is made out to be”
moments onboard Champ, Sprinter Sacre and Epatante. Things have changed a bit
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FEATURE CLUB ENCLOSURE
FEATURE CLUB ENCLOSURE
WHISPERING ANGEL Whispering Angel was created by Sacha Lichine following his acquisition of Château d’Esclans in Provence in 2006. His vision was to create the greatest rosés in the world, igniting the ‘rosé renaissance’. Sacha introduced new and innovative winemaking techniques that
An exclusive experience for Club Enclosure racegoers THE ORCHARD
revolutionised the styles of rosés being produced. This led to the creation of Whispering Angel. As Sacha says, “In the Esclans Valley angels whisper. If you drink this wine, you might hear them… If you visit us, you might see them.”
THE ORCHARD FOOD AND DRINK HALL New for 2023 is The Orchard Food & Drink Hall, a walk-in dining experience set within an orangery, and featuring a fabulous Asian-inspired menu. Think amazing curries, succulent skewers, a selection of mouth-watering sweet treats and lots more taste sensations coupled with drinks partners Whispering Angel, serving their world-renowned rosé, and Gloucester Brewery serving local premium beverages – it is a must-visit destination at The Festival, with no pre-booking required.
SUNSEEKER More than a brand of boat, Sunseeker is a lifestyle and a family. Individuality is at the heart of both Sunseeker’s service and luxury motor yachts and it is this element that creates a boat that is uniquely yours. With a world of cruising possibilities just over the horizon, Sunseeker is here to help you make the most out of your treasured downtime. Head into to The Orchard to catch a glimpse of the new high-performance Hawk 38 on display. GLENFARCLAS Glenfarclas Single Malt Whisky is a family run business that has created whisky for more than 150 years and is renowned for that unforgettable taste of its Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The Glenfarclas cocktail bar offers a variety of whisky cocktails available to Club enclosure racegoers.
Situated in The Village, The Orchard delivers extraordinary entertainment including a resident DJ spinning tunes from a Sunseeker Hawk 38, a brand-new Orchard Food and Drink Hall, live talkSPORT show, as well as luxury brands to enjoy. The Orchard is available to Club Enclosure ticket holders, including Hospitality guests, Owners and Trainers, and all Cheltenham Annual Members.
BOODLES Boodles was established over two centuries ago and is a British fine jeweller with an individual personality and a committed focus to achieving excellence in all facets of design, craftsmanship and service. Boodles is a premium jewellery brand showcasing a range of their products that are available to buy – it’s a great place to visit after placing a winning bet!
TALKSPORT talkSPORT will once again be at the heart of the Festival. The team will broadcasting two live shows a day including the Breakfast Show from the Coral Box
with Alan Brazil and Hawksbee and Jacobs every day from 1pm, from The Orchard alongside the commentary team of Rupert Bell and Lizzie Kelly.
NYETIMBER For a glass of world-renowned English Sparkling Wine, make Nyetimber’s beautifully reimagined vintage Routemaster bus a must-visit destination. Enjoy the range of sparkling wines including Classic Cuvee MV, Rosé MV, Blanc de Blancs 2014 or Cuvee Chérie MV. Sip bubbles on the top deck of the bus overlooking the racecourse, or in the beautiful garden area. Nyetimber is a pioneer of the English sparkling wine industry, being the first to plant the three celebrated grape varieties at the estate in 1988. They now have 11 estate-owned vineyards, spanning across West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.
THE FITZDARES CLUB The Fitzdares Club was created as a pop-up in 2018 for passionate fans to watch live sport in luxury. In 2020 Fitzdares then settled on its original home, a safe haven in London, Mayfair. The Fitzdares Club Partners Bar is an invitation-only area in The Orchard.
BENTLEY Bentley’s vehicles have always been designed and built by exceptional craftspeople using the finest materials. Take a look at the unique Bentayga Azure created by Bentley’s famous coachbuilding arm, Mulliner. Crafted to celebrate Bentley’s 7th year as Official Luxury Car of The Festival, this sole example can be viewed at the Bentley stand in The Orchard. Also on display is the Continental GT V8 S and Flying Spur V6 Hybrid S. Those arriving by helicopter will be chauffeured into the Festival by the Bentley fleet.
To find out more about The Orchard visit – The Orchard | Plan Your Day | The Cheltenham Festival (thejockeyclub.co.uk)
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THE FESTIVAL PREVIEW MAGAZINE
THE FESTIVAL 14-17 MARCH 2023
O ften described as ‘the Olympics of Jump racing’, The Cheltenham Festival is an event like no other. Four days of the most extraordinary sport, celebrating equine and human superstars and all culminating in the most prestigious prize – The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday 17 March. The excitement on Tuesday morning is palpable, and by the time the flag goes up at the start of the curtain-raising Grade 1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the ‘Cheltenham roar’ from some 60,000 plus spectator’s ushers in Act 1 Scene 1 of horseracing’s greatest play. From the Sky Bet Supreme to the Martin Pipe on Friday, the action never stops. The Cheltenham Festival is full of the thrills and spills that every sports fan loves, with fairy tales coming true and history being made in the presence of those lucky enough to attend the greatest show on earth.
There are a total of 28 races to savour across the meeting, including the five ‘Championship’ races which headline the four days – The Unibet Champion Hurdle, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, Ryanair Chase and The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. The excitement comes thick and fast, from the anticipation as you set off for The Cheltenham Festival, the goosebump moment of arriving at the racecourse, the adrenaline rush of watching the exhilarating racing to experiencing the exclusive Orchard, showcasing luxury brands, the unique shopping village and an array of fantastic bars and restaurants throughout. The Cheltenham Festival evokes joy, emotion, excitement, anticipation and exhilaration, which creates an unparalleled electric atmosphere over the most extraordinary four days.
Starting with the ‘Cheltenham Roar’ and finishing with one of racing’s most prestigious prizes, this is live sport at its best. Welcome to Cheltenham Festival
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THE FESTIVAL 14-17 MARCH 2023
The first day of the Festival, with four unmissable Grade 1 races, will have you chomping at the bit for more… DAY ONE
T he countdown to the Cheltenham Festival is a wait like no other and if you press them hard enough, there are plenty of Jump racing fans who will admit that the anticipation to Cheltenham begins the minute the gates close on Gold Cup Day the year before. And when the waiting is finally over, Champion Day kicks it off in style, with four Grade 1 contests across the seven-race card. There’s seldom an opportunity to pause for breath during Festival week, but the line-up for the first day has a particularly breathless feel to it, with each of the four top-level races having a knack for producing memorable moments. The feature is the Unibet Champion Hurdle, a two-mile contest and the first of the five Championship races to take place across the four days. The race is the ultimate test of speed and to scan down the Champion Hurdle’s roll of honour is to familiarise yourself with a who’s who of some of the greatest racehorses to have graced the hallowed Cheltenham turf. Hurricane Fly, Istabraq, Persian War, See You Then, Sea Pigeon, Hatton’s Grace, Night Nurse, Monksfield – the list is exhaustive. The last two renewals have gone to the outstanding mare Honeysuckle. Rachael Blackmore created history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Unibet
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“THE UNIBET CHAMPION HURDLE’S ROLL OF HONOUR IS A WHO’S WHO OF SOME OF THE GREATEST RACEHORSES TO HAVE GRACED THE HALLOWED CHELTENHAM TURF”
Mares’ Hurdle made headlines around the world back in 2015, when Annie Power’s fall at the final flight denied a pay-out which would have cost bookmakers in the region of £50 million. Last year’s winner Marie’s Rock is one of the leading contenders as she bids to defend her crown and win back-to-back renewals, where she could come up against previous Unibet Champion Hurdle winners Honeysuckle and Epatante. By 6pm on Tuesday it is time to take stock at the end of a breathtaking day’s racing… and to get ready to do it all again on Wednesday.
a new course record time, it was truly a performance of epic proportions. Equally impressive so far this season with two Grade 1 wins, he is set to take on last year’s Grade 3 McCoy Contractors County Hurdle winner, State Man, who was an impressive winner in the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. The Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase regularly serves as an express route to the following year’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase while the final Grade 1 contest of the day has an ability for producing drama, and The Close Brothers
Champion Hurdle when the pair came home six and a half lengths clear in 2021. Further history was made in 2022 when Honeysuckle became the first mare to win more than one Champion Hurdle as she came home three and a half lengths to the good over 2020 winner Epatante. Run over the same distance as the Unibet Champion Hurdle, the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is a race which not only sets the tone for The Cheltenham Festival but also regularly produces a star of the future. Like in the case of the 2022 winner Constitution Hill, who won by 22 lengths and set
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24 THE FESTIVAL PREVIEW MAGAZINE
THE FESTIVAL 14-17 MARCH 2023
Festival Wednesday is about the thrills, from the Betway Queen Mother to the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase DAY TWO
W hile Champion Day is about setting the scene for four extraordinary days of racing, Festival Wednesday delivers sensational sport – at speed. Few races on the Jump racing calendar capture fans’ imagination quite like the feature, the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. Run over a distance of two miles, the Grade 1 contest requires a blend of speed and an ability to be inch-perfect when meeting each of the 13 fences at rapid pace on Cheltenham’s Old Course. This demanding checklist means that winning this race on multiple occasions is not uncommon and famous multiple winners of the trophy include legends of the sport like Flyingbolt, Altior, Sprinter Sacre, Master Minded, Moscow Flyer and Viking Flagship. Last year saw a notable omission firmly corrected when the Cheltenham Festival’s most successful trainer, Willie Mullins, finally saddled the winner of the last remaining Championship contest to have eluded him courtesy of Energumene. Further Group 1 action comes in the shape of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Both races are renowned for producing stars of the future – a theme which
appearance and chasing his sixth Festival win, owner Michael O’Leary had already said that this race would be his swansong. It looked as if the script had been written perfectly, as he led turning for home. With the rain-softened ground not in his favour, the final half-furlong was just a fraction too much for the old warrior and he had to give way by three-quarters of a length – ironically to his stablemate Delta Work. One thing is for certain – as Festival Wednesday draws to a close and we reach the half-way stage of The Festival, it’s as much about looking forward to two more days of extraordinary as it is looking back at the 14 thrilling races we have already enjoyed.
continues to the finale, the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Winners of the Champion Bumper regularly go on to become household names, and no less than 11 of trainer Willie Mullins’ record 88 Festival winners have come in this race, including in 2022 with Facile Vega. Festival Wednesday also offers something unique in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. It’s usually all about the winners at the Cheltenham Festival but last year’s runner-up in this race came home to a reception never before seen for an also-ran. That is because the runner-up was the horse that has truly transcended racing in recent years – Tiger Roll. Making his eighth Festival
“RUN OVER A DISTANCE OF TWO MILES, THE GRADE 1 CONTEST REQUIRES A BLEND OF SPEED AND AN ABILITY TO BE INCH-PERFECT WHEN MEETING EACH OF THE 13 FENCES AT A RAPID PACE”
26 THE FESTIVAL PREVIEW MAGAZINE
THE FESTIVAL 14-17 MARCH 2023
It’s St Patrick’s Thursday, so who will have the luck of the Irish in the two Championships and can the reigning champion Flooring Porter retain his crown? DAY THREE
E very headline act needs a good supporting cast and if Gold Cup Day is the big hitter at the Cheltenham Festival, there aren’t many better precursors than St Patrick’s Thursday. Any regular Festival-goer will tell you that Cheltenham is not Cheltenham without Irish participation – Four Days of Extraordinary simply wouldn’t be as extraordinary without them - and St Patrick’s Thursday is our homage to our friends from the Emerald Isle. It doesn’t always fall on the real St Patrick’s Day and is 24 hours early in 2023. It features two Championship contests and both races have a distinctly Irish feel to them to boot, with the Ryanair Chase and the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle both sponsored by Irish businesses that have loyally supported the Cheltenham Festival for years. This day is a true celebration of everything Irish, although Ireland’s hugely successful yards took things a little too literally in 2021, winning 23 of the week’s 28 races. As you’d suspect, the standings for The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Prestbury Cup – a trophy that’s hotly contested between British and Irish runners – begin to take shape today and any Irish winner that is able to charge up that Cheltenham Hill is met with an even more affectionate
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“ANY IRISH WINNER THAT IS ABLE TO CHARGE UP THAT CHELTENHAM HILL IS MET WITH AN AFFECTIONATE BOOM OF NOISE FROM THE CROWD”
boom of noise from the crowd than usual. Thursday’s card is unique in that is the only one across the four days which features two Championship races, the Ryanair Chase and the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, which are held back-to- back – meaning that the only people busier than the bar staff in the Guinness Village are the jockeys themselves! Allaho produced one of the performances of the week when winning the Ryanair Chase by some 12 lengths in 2021 and last year was even more impressive as he came home 14 lengths clear to become only the contest’s second dual winner. It was also a case of more of the same in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle last year with Flooring Porter repeating his 2021 success and receiving the reception only an Irish winner on St Patrick’s Thursday can. The supporting contests include the Grade One Turners Novices’ Chase and the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle which will pay tribute to Jack de Bromhead in 2023.
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30 THE FESTIVAL PREVIEW MAGAZINE
THE FESTIVAL 14-17 MARCH 2023
As we head into the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, the action is brought to a gripping crescendo with the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup DAY FOUR
T his is the day that, for many, the whole season has been building towards, and the feature is horseracing’s blue riband event, the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. Ask any Jump jockey, trainer or owner what one race in the season is more prestigious than any other and their answer will be the same. Because, while the Randox Grand National is an iconic spectacle, the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, which celebrates its centenary next year, brings the very best together to compete for the biggest prize of them all. Racing analysts will use the term ‘Championship’ pace when talking about the big races at the Cheltenham Festival, and that rings particularly true with the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, testing the mettle of stayers looking to step up to the big leagues by seeing if they can add substance to their stamina over the three-and-a-quarter-mile trip.
Festival might be misconstrued by some as being all about one race, nothing could further from the truth. Friday begins with the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle, a race which has a knack for producing thrilling finishes and stars of the future in equal measure. Also on the card is the St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase. The race is known as the ‘Gold Cup for amateur riders’ due to being run over the same distance as the feature contest. It channels a traditional Corinthian spirit, which very few other sports are able to replicate. It is then up to the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle to bring the curtain down. No matter whether you are there to witness it, the final runner passing the winning post signals not only the end of four days like no other, but also the beginning of a 12-month countdown…
And perhaps the most significant statistic to demonstrate how hard the race is to win is that only eight horses have been successful more than once since it was first run in 1924. Legends to have won the great trophy more than once include Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009 – the only horse to regain the Gold Cup; Best Mate in 2002, 2003 and 2004; L’Escargot in 1970 and 1971; Arkle in 1964, 1965 and 1966, and Golden Miller in 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936. The most recent multiple winner was Al Boum Photo, who triumphed in 2019 and 2020. The 2022 running again saw Rachael Blackmore write her name in history to become the first successful female jockey in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup when A Plus Tard, the 2021 runner-up, reversed placings with Minella Indo in spectacular style to win by 15 lengths. While Day Four of the Cheltenham
“THE BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP, WHICH CELEBRATES ITS CENTENARY NEXT YEAR, BRINGS THE VERY BEST TOGETHER TO COMPETE FOR THE BIGGEST PRIZE OF THEM ALL”
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FEATURE STYLE
We caught up with two seasoned Cheltenham Festival goers, the ultra-stylish TV presenters, Rosie Tapner and Frankie Foster, to get their top Festival fashion tips Festival fashion W hen it comes to Festival trends, there’s a lot to consider – the perfect hat, the right shoes… the list goes on. Here is what Rosie and Frankie think are ‘Festival staples’:
Rosie: “My favourite thing about the Cheltenham Festival style is that it’s very much up to the individual and how they like to dress. And it’s timeless. So, if you’ve been before, you’ve probably got the perfect outfit tucked away in your wardrobe. “Comfort comes before anything and while style is personal, there are some safer options for a race day. No stilettos or super-high heeled shoes. I’d opt for a long boot, either flat or with a small heel. With hats, the fedora is the perfect choice. It’s classic, warm and far less likely to blow away than a big fancy hat!” Frankie: “I really think a smart overcoat makes almost any outfit look instantly smarter. You can wear one over stuff you already have, they will last for years and keep you warm, so it’s a worthwhile investment. Bar the obvious, comfy shoes as you will put in some miles, and for me personally I like a nice tie that stands out.’ If you really want to nail festival fashion, then there’s some things you just can’t go without. Rosie and Frankie share their absolute Festival must haves are: Rosie: “For me, there are three: number one is a warm, heavy coat and layers. The Festival is so much fun but you need that coat in the Cheltenham cold. “Along with fighting off the chilliness of Cheltenham, there’s also a sure way to keep your feet happy during race day. The right shoes. Sturdy, comfy, all-weather boots for me. You don’t want to be with your friends complaining about your feet hurting all day! Last but not least, Rosie’s top three is finished off with the perfect accessory. “A good handbag! This is actually quite underrated. But a good bag that’s not too big to carry your essentials like your phone, your race card and extra layers. I always have a scarf and some blister plasters, just in case.” Frankie: “You will rarely look smarter than when you are wearing a good suit. Otherwise, simply be smart, be comfortable, be warm, and maybe wear one thing that
A champion on any course. With exhilarating performance and a supremely luxurious ride, the Bentayga is a proven winner on the road, and beyond To discover more, visit us at The Orchard during the Festival or at BentleyMotors.com Bentayga (V8) WLTP drive cycle: fuel consumption, mpg (l/100km) – Combined 21.7 (13.0). Combined CO₂ Emissions – 294 g/km
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The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2023 Bentley Motors Limited. Model shown: Bentayga (V8).
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