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Cheltenham Festival

The latest news, views, analysis and opinions on Cheltenham from the Irish Examiner sports desk and our team of award-winning horse racing writers, tipsters and fans.

Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh

The voice of racing

A Champs no more as 70,000 Cheltenham shoulders slump in unison after Gold Cup upset
A Champs no more as 70,000 Cheltenham shoulders slump in unison after Gold Cup upset
Willie Mullins' iconic two-time winner may have seen his bid for immortality ended by a good horse in Inothewayurthinkin but it still took the air out of a historic afternoon

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Gold Cup Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Inothewayurthinkin tears up Galopin Des Champs' Gold Cup script
It looked as though 8-13 favourite Galopin Des Champs was about to become the first three-time winner since Best Mate, but Inothewayurthinkin (15-2) was cruising in behind and in the end he fairly sprinted home to win by six lengths.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Four
Friday at Cheltenham Festival: live updates, news and reaction from Gold Cup day
After a Cheltenham week full of emotion and drama, we go again for Gold Cup day in the Cotswolds. 

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Four
Watch: Cheltenham's ability to take your breath away remains but crowds continue to dip 
Tommy Lyons and Brendan O’Brien talk through the latest, alarming dip in crowd numbers at the Cheltenham Festival, even as the quality of racing and the drama continues to take the breath away.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Darren Norris: Galopin Des Champs will show class to make Gold Cup history
Darren Norris: Galopin Des Champs will show class to make Gold Cup history
Surely only bad fortune can deny Galopin Des Champs from becoming the first Irish-trained horse since Arkle to complete a Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham file photo
Tommy Lyons: Galopin Des Champs can seal legacy in Cheltenham Gold Cup
Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend are seeking a fifth win in the race.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning onboard Bob Olinger 13/3/2025
Cheltenham Festival 2025: Three things we learned on Thursday
Rachael Blackmore is back to winning ways while Gordon Elliott is still waiting to get off the mark.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Three things we will learn on Friday 
Cheltenham Festival 2025: Three things we will learn on Friday 
Galopin. Des. Champs. As history awaits, he's the be-all and end-all to the closing day of this year's gathering

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner at the Cheltenham Festival: Day 4 video preview with Ruby Walsh
Irish Examiner at the Cheltenham Festival: Day 4 video preview with Ruby Walsh
Racing correspondent Tommy Lyons and columnist Ruby Walsh look ahead to Gold Cup Friday.

 Listen | Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

 Listen |
Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day Three - St Patrick's Day
'A magical place to be' - Blackmore treasures the view after returning to Festival summit
A 152-1 Thursday double for the beloved jockey and her trainer Henry de Bromhead was enough to get the galleries to raise the roof

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Three
Mug's Game: A welcome air of enlightenment with Rachael and Henry on our side
Existential questions are put to bed as we claw back Tuesday's losses with a little interest on top. What could possible go wrong on Day Four?

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Fact To File's seamless Ryanair domination fires up Gold Cup debate again
Fact To File's seamless Ryanair domination fires up Gold Cup debate again
Willie Mullins admits the seven-year-old is likely to go for the biggest Cheltenham prize of all next year 

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Henry de Bromhead celebrates after Rachael Blackmore wins with Bob Olinger 13/3/2025
Henry De Bromhead times his Cheltenham run to perfection yet again
The Waterford trainer enjoyed an excellent Thursday at Prestbury Park. 

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Three
As it happened: updates, news and reaction from St Patrick's Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival 
After a Cheltenham day 2 full of emotion and poignancy, we go again for day 3 in the Cotswolds. 

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Three
Blackmore and De Bromhead strike again as Bob Olinger battles to dethrone Stayers' Hurdle champ Teahupoo
It was Bob Olinger who came out on top by a length and threequarters to triumph at 8-1.

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Fact to File coasts to impressive Ryanair Chase victory 
Fact to File coasts to impressive Ryanair Chase victory 
Willie Mullins' eight-year-old made light work of it. 

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Tommy Lyons: The Wallpark reaching peak of his powers and ready to brew a Teahupoo upset
Tommy Lyons: The Wallpark reaching peak of his powers and ready to brew a Teahupoo upset
If this race turns into a stamina test, which it ought to, Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old will come into his own and can run down the pacesetters close home.

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Style Wednesday - Cheltenham Racecourse
Mug's Game: Back in the Cheltenham hunt with forgotten bet
Am I sorry that I didn't cash out that lucky 15 when it was far more profitable than it turned out to be? Not in the least. 

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Three things we learned on Wednesday 
Cheltenham Festival 2025: Three things we learned on Wednesday 
Jumps racing is called exactly that for a very good reason. Day two of the Festival reminded us why.

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival 2024 - Day Two
No coincidence if Fact To File hits cruising altitude to land Ryanair Chase 
Darren Norris previews Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival 

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Teahupoo file photo
S Ruby Walsh: Teahupoo can deny all looking to dethrone him and deliver Stayers glory
Il Est Francais will guarantee there are no hiding places for those wishing to collect Micheal O’Leary’s money in the Ryanair

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner at the Cheltenham Festival: Day 2 video preview with Ruby Walsh
Irish Examiner at the Cheltenham Festival: Day 3 video preview with Ruby Walsh
Racing correspondent Tommy Lyons and columnist Ruby Walsh look ahead to Thursday at Prestbury Park.

 Listen | Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

 Listen |
Cheltenham Festival 2025: three things we will learn on Thursday
Cheltenham Festival 2025: three things we will learn on Thursday
Can Caldwell Potter justify a lofty price tag for Paul Nicholls?

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

'That's my background' - Dab hand Donoghue proves Cross Country pedigree again
'That's my background' - Dab hand Donoghue proves Cross Country pedigree again
Donoghue has made the race his own in recent times. When he drove 5-2 chance Stumptown, trained by Gavin Cromwell, to victory it was the County Meath rider’s fifth win in seven runnings of the race since 2018.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Sean Flanagan hugs the late Michael O’Sullivan’s girlfriend Charlotte Giles after winning on Marine Nationale 12/3/2025
'What happened today just doesn’t happen' — O'Sullivan echoes through breathtaking day two
There has been common ground in Cheltenham in the certainty that one man has been looking down on this corner of England this week. You don’t need to pray to any god to share that as a truth.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Cork's Jody Townend keeps up family tradition with first Cheltenham Festival winner
Cork's Jody Townend keeps up family tradition with first Cheltenham Festival winner
Townend joining the likes of Katie Walsh and Rachael Blackmore as female jockeys to win the closing race on day two.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Style Wednesday - Cheltenham Racecourse
Jazzy Matty does his bit to honour memory of Michael O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan enjoyed a fine day one of the 2023 Festival when registering a memorable double aboard both Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty and two years later, both were back to triumph again.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Sean Flanagan on Marine Nationale celebrates as he wins 12/3/2025
Marine Nationale honours the late Michael O'Sullivan by winning Queen Mother Champion Chase
O'Sullivan will always be inextricably linked with Barry Connell's stable star, having steered the eight-year-old to Supreme Novices' Hurdle success in 2023.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Two
Stumptown storms home for convincing cross country victory
Cromwell said: "I was very concerned for a while to be honest, but he's run out a good winner in the end."

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Style Wednesday - Cheltenham Racecourse
Jimmy Du Seuil makes light of long absence to land Coral Cup
The six-year-old was a 16-1 chance with his last run coming at Punchestown in May last year.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Sean Flanagan on Marine Nationale celebrates after winning 12/3/2025
As it happened: Cheltenham Festival day 2 news and reaction 
Keep up-to-date with the latest results at Cheltenham. 

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Style Wednesday - Cheltenham Racecourse
Lecky Watson an unexpected Willie Mullins-trained winner of Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
The chestnut was a 20-1 shot under Sean O'Keeffe.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Two
The New Lion lives up to the hype in opening race of Cheltenham Festival day 2
The six-year-old is trained by Dan Skelton and was ridden by his brother Harry as well as the silks of his new owner JP McManus.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Jonbon can make it third time lucky in Queen Mother Champion Chase
Jonbon can make it third time lucky in Queen Mother Champion Chase
Tommy Lyons previews day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Dan Skelton Stable Visit - Lodge Hill - Friday February 21st
The New Lion can defy gloomy Turners Novices' Hurdle history
Darren Norris previews day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Festival 2025: Three things we will learn on Wednesday
Can Skelton get his threepeat?

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Three things we learned on Tuesday
Cheltenham Festival 2025: Three things we learned on Tuesday
Golden Ace, a 25/1 outsider trained by Jeremy Scott and ridden by the unheralded Lorcan Williams, won the Champion Hurdle.

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner at the Cheltenham Festival: Day 2 video preview with Ruby Walsh
Irish Examiner at the Cheltenham Festival: Day 2 video preview with Ruby Walsh
Racing correspondent Tommy Lyons and columnist Ruby Walsh look ahead to Wednesday at Prestbury Park.

 Listen | Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

 Listen |
Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day One
Emotions sprint and stay with O'Sullivan out in front of so many Cheltenham minds 
The Festival is both marathon and sprint but deep and moving sentiments rushed to the surface once the curtain was raised on a day to remind you of the real power of sport

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Mug's game: Poor forecast on Costa del Cheltenham after stormy opening day
I begin to congratulate myself on my perspicacity. Enda, you old shrewdie! How could the reigning champion have started at such bizarrely long odds indeed? You knew!

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day One
Bookmakers saved from '£50m' hammering at Cheltenham
Myretown (13-2) winning the Ultima Handicap Chase and Lossiemouth prevailing as 4-6 favourite in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle had matters finely balanced, but when 1-2 favourite Constitution Hill fell in the Champion Hurdle, the pendulum began to swing.

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Lorcan Williams onboard Golden Ace celebrates winning 11/3/2025
Golden Ace takes full advantage of scarcely believable Champion Hurdle
Constitution Hill departed relatively early on in the Cheltenham showpiece and it was Brighterdaysahead who looked set to battle it out with State Man up the hill, but Willie Mullins' defending champion came down at the final flight.

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
For Charlie McCarthy, for Michael O'Sullivan, for Cork, Kopek Des Bordes lands Cheltenham glory
The Charlie McCarthy-owned horse neatly delivered.

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day One
As it happened: Cheltenham Festival day 1, minute-by-minute
Here comes that Cheltenham roar. It's Champion Hurdle day in the Cotswolds.

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

A view of Gordon Elliott’s string on the gallops 10/3/2025
Irish punters and trainers ready to dominate Cheltenham again
Thousands of Irish punters head to Cheltenham, hoping for another year of racing dominance at the prestigious festival

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Shane McCann with Brighterdaysahead 10/3/2025
Brighterdaysahead will have to produce special performance to take down Constitution Hill
Tommy Lyons previews the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. 

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner at the Cheltenham Festival: Day 1 video preview with Ruby Walsh
Irish Examiner at the Cheltenham Festival: Day 1 video preview with Ruby Walsh
Racing correspondent Tommy Lyons and columnist Ruby Walsh look ahead to the first day from Prestbury Park.

 Listen | Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

 Listen |
Colm Greaves: Lark In The Mornin can hit right notes for County glory
Colm Greaves: Lark In The Mornin can hit right notes for County glory
The joint favourites, Unexpected Party and Liberty Hunter were first and second in the race last year and with luck in running both are sure to be prominent again.

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 Previews - Monday March 10th
Ruby Walsh: After an emotional start, expect Irish raiders to start as they mean to go on
The Cheltenham Festival will get underway on Tuesday with a race renamed this year in honour of Micheal O’Sullivan.

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Previews
Cheltenham Day One: Kopek Des Bordes can get punters off to perfect start
Constitution Hill has already seen off one top-class mare this season and Brighterdaysahead will have to produce something truly exceptional to avoid the fate that befell Lossiemouth at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

Mon, 10 Mar, 2025

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