On each day of the Cheltenham Festival there is a special feature race. These are the Champion Hurdle on the Tuesday, the Queen Mother Champion Chase on the Wednesday, the World Hurdle on the Thursday and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the Friday.
Champion Hurdle
This is a Grade One hurdle race for four years and older horses. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 110 yards on the Old Course and includes eight hurdles.
The race was first run in 1927 when prize money was somewhat less than it is nowadays. The first race was run by a horse called Blaris which won £365 for its owner.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
This is a Grade One chase over two miles and is also run on the Old Course. It is for five year olds and older and the race includes 12 fences. It was originally known as the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase but was renamed in honour of the Queen Mother on her eightieth birthday in recognition of her contribution to jump racing.
For the last two years the race has been won by Master Minded, a Paul Nicholas trained horse ridden on both occasions by Ruby Walsh.
World Hurdle
This is a Grade One hurdle race for four year old and older horses. Run on the New Course, it is three miles long and the course includes twelve hurdles.
The race is a relatively recent introduction and was first run in 1972. Last year it was won by Big Buck’s, another Paul Nicholls trained horse which also was ridden by Ruby Walsh.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
This Grade One chase for five year old and older horses is also run on the New Course and extends over three miles two and a half furlongs. The course includes twenty two fences.
This is the most prestigious race of the National Hunt calendar and is the major highlight of the Festival. In its present form it dates back to 1924.
In 2007 the race was won by Kauto Star, a Paul Nicholas trained horse. The following year another Paul Nicholas trained horse, Denman, won the race. Then, for the first time in the race’s history, Kauto Star the deposed champion came back to win it again. This year both horses will again compete for this coveted cup. Will Kauto Star retain it or will Denman come back? The horse racing world waits with baited breath.

Tue, Mar 9, 2010
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