Saturday 27 January 2024
This raceday has now passed, click here to view our upcoming racedays at Cheltenham Racecourse.
THE STAGE IS SET
Excitement, anticipation and expectation is building. It is the final opportunity to see the sports protagonists go out to battle on Cheltenham Racecourse’s hallowed turf before the Cheltenham Festival. What horses will catch the eye before those four days of extraordinary in March, will we see returning champions defending their crown? Whilst anything can happen in March, Festival Trials day maybe able to give us a clearer picture.
With a seven-race card, where every race is a trial for a race at the Cheltenham Festival, it doesn’t get much more exciting, unless it is the Festival itself. The excitement isn’t restricted to the track, with fantastic on-course entertainment during the day and live music after racing, it is a seamless prelude to the Cheltenham Festival.
Last year’s renewal was an epic nine race card with the addition of the rescheduled Albert Bartlett Clarence House chase and Glenfarclas Cross Country chase.
The highly anticipated match between 2022 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Energumene and the 2022 Sporting Life Arkle winner Edwardstone didn’t disappoint, however it was the Gary Moore trained Editeur Du Gite that returned first past the post. But when he returned in March, Energumene reversed the form when winning back-to-back Queen Mother Champion Chases.
The Dahlbury Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle, the highly recognised trial for the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, a race the Emma Lavelle trained Paisley Park has made his own in recent years. However, last year’s race was won by French raider Gold Tweet, with Dashel Drasher in second and the peoples Paisley Park in third.
Ahoy Senior was a hugely popular winner of the Grade 2 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase for dual Grand National winning trainer Lucinda Russell.
Come along this year, to mark your card ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
Under 18’s race free and do not require a ticket to enter.
Timings and races are subject to change.
Gates Open
10:00am
First Race
12:40am
Last Race
4:10pm
Start Times |
Race |
Distance |
Type |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
12:40 |
The JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle Race (Class 1) (Grade 2) (Registered as the Finesse) (GBB Race) |
2m abt 1f |
Hurdle |
|
1:15 |
The SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) | 2m abt 4½f | Steeple Chase |
|
1:50 |
The Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1) (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) | 2m abt 4½f | Steeple Chase |
 |
2:25 |
The Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (Class 1) (Grade 2) |
3m abt 1½f |
Steeple Chase |
 |
3:00 |
The Unibet International (Class 1) (Grade 2) | 2m abt 1f | Hurdle |
 |
3:35 |
The Cleeve Hurdle Race (Class 1) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) | Abt 3m |
Hurdle |
 |
4:10 |
The Novices’ Hurdle (Class 1) (Registered as the Classic Novices’ Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) | 2m abt 4½f |
Hurdle |
