The mercury has dropped and the sun is setting far too early which means one thing… the Jumps are in full swing!
With the Flat season firmly in the rear view mirrors, attention has returned to the old favourites and exciting new stars of the National Hunt game – and the big event of the season, the Cheltenham Festival, is already on a few minds.
To add to the excitement, Prestbury Park bigwigs have given the mega March meeting a fresh lick of paint after calls to make a few changes.
The Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase – won by Grey Dawning in 2024 – will be replaced by a Grade 2 limited novices’ handicap, the Cross Country Chase – abandoned in 2024 due to a waterlogged track – will switch to a limited handicap, with a 20lb weight range, from a conditions contest, while the National Hunt Chase becomes a 0-145 novice handicap chase and the amateur rider requirement has been removed.
The changes don’t stop there as runners in non-novice handicaps will need more experience to be eligible to run, penalties will be removed from the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and winners of Pertemps qualifiers will be given protection to run in the Pertemps Final.
They will be hopefully make the action on the track even more competitive at this year’s edition of the Cheltenham Festival, but when is the fun all set to begin?
Cheltenham Festival odds can be found on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise, the dates for this year’s meeting are below.
Cheltenham Festival 2025 dates
The Cheltenham Festival is set to take place from Tuesday, 11th March to Friday, 14th March.
The Champion Hurdle is the feature on the opening day of the meeting. Will Constitution Hill regain the crown from State Man or can Mares’ Hurdle heroine Lossiemouth or Brighterdaysahead make the step up?
The Champion Chase is the big race on day two of the fiesta. Captain Guinness landed his maiden Grade 1 in last season’s edition after hot favourite El Fabiolo blew out, but the prize could be heading to the Brits this year as Jonbon is looking imperious after a series of dazzling displays.
The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle tops the bill on the third day as the racing switches to the New Course. Can Teahupoo win the crown for the second season on the spin? He’s started the season in losing fashion in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, however…
The final day of the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by the Cheltenham Gold Cup. A hat-trick would seal Galopin Des Champs’ place in the history books as one of the greats, but stablemate Fact To File could have a thing to say about that!
Read These Next
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- Cheltenham Festival race times and schedule for 2025 meeting
- Cheltenham Festival: Gaelic Warrior and Energumene will need a bog to beat Jonbon in the Champion Chase
- Cheltenham Tips: Jonbon to win but these 25/1 & 50/1 plays can pick up the pieces in the Champion Chase
- David Power Jockeys’ Cup: All you need to know about the biggest prize in Jumps racing history
- Pertemps Final qualification races and eligible horses for Cheltenham Festival 2025
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