The programme for next year's Cheltenham Festival has undergone some key changes in order to improve competitiveness in a number of races.
From 2025, the two-and-a-half-mile Turners Novices' Chase will be replaced by a Grade 2 limited novice handicap chase over the same trip, while the National Hunt Chase, which has been contested by amateur riders, will be open to professionals and become a novice handicap chase for horses rated 0-145.
Jon Pullin, head of racing and clerk of the course at Cheltenham, said, “We have had to acknowledge that due to the restrictions that were previously applied to the race, there was a limited pool of riders available to ride in it, so this looks the right opportunity to open it up to professionals as well.
“Amateur jockeys are a key part of the Festival and we are obviously keen to ensure they continue to have opportunities to ride over the four days. Both the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase and St James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase will continue to be restricted to amateurs.
“It is hoped that by creating two novice handicap chases, we will have two competitive races with large fields and encourage the top novice chasers of the season to go down the Graded route in the My Pension Expert Arkle and the Brown Advisory.”
Further changes include the Glenfarclas Cross County Chase being made a limited handicap rather than a conditions race.
In the mares-only division, the G1 Mares' Hurdle and G2 Mares' Chase have been left unchanged, but conditions for the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle will be altered to remove the penalty structure, resulting in a level weights contest.
An alteration has been made to the Pertemps Final, with all winners of series qualifiers now guaranteed a run proved they are within the weights at the declaration stage, and all entries in non-novice Festival handicaps must now run four times over fences and five times over hurdles.
In addition to alterations to some races, infrastructure at the track is also being improved following problems caused to the car parks after heavy rain last March. More hard-standing 'trackway' will be laid in the grass car parks and there will be a new park and ride system.
Coach travel options from more than 20 pick-up locations will be offered, with other moves including tickets for the 2025 Festival being frozen at 2024 levels, discounts if purchasing tickets for more than one day at the meeting (excluding Gold Cup day) and if groups of six or more book together.
Bar facilities will be upgraded in a bid to provide more choice, offer indoor seating and reduce queues while meal deals will be offered on track as Cheltenham seeks to offer more value for customers.
Accommodation prices in the Cheltenham area have also prompted discussion, with the track partnering with Venatour Racing to offer discounted packages that include tickets, hotels and travel.
Ian Renton, managing director of Cheltenham, said, “As part of the process of reviewing this year's Festival we analysed data and extensive feedback, including surveys, one-to-one meetings and focus group sessions to seek views ranging from those who come every year all the way through to people who have never visited the Festival to find out why.
“Throughout the course of this review process there have been three distinct strands which have been impossible to ignore – value for money, the need to provide the best experience possible and the competitiveness of the race programme.
“As with any event of this size, it is never possible to make changes which are welcomed by everyone. However, we have prioritised listening to our racegoers to put them and their experiences at the heart of the Festival, with the ultimate goal of delivering something that not only meets but exceeds expectations.”
The Cheltenham Festival's most successful jockey of all time, Ruby Walsh, who is now a broadcaster, was involved in the consultation process for the implemented changes.
He said, “Cheltenham is the pinnacle of jump racing and these changes help to maintain that. Of course there will be some people who think these changes go too far and there will be some who think they don't go far enough. The important thing to remember is that those making these changes have done so in the best interests of jump racing and the Festival.”
One of those who is not impressed by the announcement was leading National Hunt owner Michael O'Leary of Gigginstown House Stud, who is also a major sponsor at the event through Ryanair. He released a statement on Thursday afternoon to protest at what he deems to be “inane and misjudged changes”.
He said, “The decision to downgrade the Turners Novices Chase from a Grade 1 to a handicap, will inevitably mean that these Grade 1 horses will not switch to the two-mile Arkle or the three-mile Brown Advisory Novice Chase, but will instead avoid Cheltenham altogether and switch to the Grade 1 two-and-a-half-mile Novice Chases at Fairyhouse or at Aintree. This silly downgrading of quality will damage the Festival program for no benefit, other than to other racecourses and bookmakers.
O'Leary added, “Similarly, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, which for many years was ignored when it was a handicap for horses that no one ever heard of (Gigginstown's Rivage D'or beat Any Currency in 2015 when it was last a handicap), has in recent years dramatically improved its public appeal when it became a prep race for older higher-rated horses seeking a prep run for the Grand National and produced winners like Tiger Roll, Easysland and Delta Work. Linking the Cheltenham Festival with the Grand National in Aintree three weeks later has dramatically improved the quality, and also the public appeal of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. The baseless argument that this race will now be 'more competitive' ignores the reality that only two favourites in the last five runnings have won this race.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
