Cheltenham Festival

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A highlight of the first day of the Festival is the Champion Hurdle race. The Queen Mother Champion Chase is held the second day while St. Patrick’s Day races are on the third day. The Gold Cup, which is the top race of the meet, winds up the Festival.

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The Festival is held at the Cheltenham Racecourse, which is located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, about 100 miles west of London. Cheltenham Racecourse has two courses, the Old Course and the New Course. The major differences in the New Course are a longer run-in for steeplechases, with most of the hurdles early in the race, and a challenging downhill fence.

The Gold Cup is for Grade 1 horses, five years old and older. It is run over 3 miles, 2 ½ furlongs on the New Course with 22 fences to be jumped. It was first run in 1924 and is regarded as the most prestigious chase in the United Kingdom.

War of Attrition, a seven–year-old, ridden by Conor O’Dwyer and trained by Mouse Morris, won the 2006 Gold Cup. Kicking King was the 2005 cup winner and Best Mate won three in a row from 2002-2004.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is also a Grade 1 event for horses five years old and older. It is contested over two miles and has 12 fences to be negotiated. It was first run in 1959 as the Champion Chase. The Queen Mother name was added in 1980.

Eight-year-old New Mill won the 2006 Queen Mother event. Andrew McNamara was the jockey and John Joseph Murphy the trainer. Moscow Flyer won in 2005 and 2003 while Azertyuiop captured the 2004 race and Flagship Uberalles was victorious in 2002.

The Champion Hurdle Race is a Grade 1 race for four year olds and older run over 2 miles, 110 yards on the Old Course. Horses have eight hurdles to jump. It was first run in 1927.

Brave Inca, an eight-year-old ridden by Tony McCoy and trained by Colm Murphy, won in 2006. Hardy Eustace won in 2005 and 2004 while Rooster Booster captured the 2003 running and Hors La Loi III won in 2002.

First run in 1972, the World Hurdle race is a Grade 1 contest for four year olds and older run over three miles on the New Course with 12 hurdles to be jumped.

My Way de Solzen, a six-year-old, took home the 2006 trophy. Robert Thorton was the jockey and Alan King the trainer. Inglis Drever and Iris’s Gift won in 2005 and 2004, respectively, while Baracouda claimed the 2003 and 2002 titles.

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