The annual meeting in the UK’s National Hunt racing calendar kicks off tomorrow and runs until Friday, 13th March.
But what’s the big deal?
As an annual horse racing event, Cheltenham is only rivalled by the Grand National in terms of excitement and press coverage. It’s the foremost jump racing festival in the world and home to one of the single most prestigious national hunt races in the world: the Gold Cup.
The meeting usually coincides with St Patrick's Day and is particularly popular with Irish visitors. Over 230,000 race goers will flock to the event this year.
Willie Mullins is the most successful Irish trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival with 33 wins in the past 2 decades. Ruby Walsh is the Festival's most successful rider with 41 wins and was the leading jockey at the Festival in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.
The action will kick off at Prestbury Park tomorrow at 1.30pm.
Check out this infographic on 33 amazing facts about the Cheltenham Festival (credit - Cheltenhamfestival.net):
