New stars and fallen idols, soaring dreams and searing frustration — the four fantastic days of the Cheltenham Festival are over but the fall-out from it continues to be vociferously debated.
Mail Sport highlights the good, the bad and the contentious from the 2025 Festival…
THE CROWD CONUNDRUM
Guy Lavender, the new Cheltenham chief executive, knew numbers would be down and tackled the issue head on. His intention was to make the experience as positive as possible for those who attended (218,38 this year, down from 230,000 in 2024).
Pictures have been posted on social media to suggest it was empty and the atmosphere was poor. Each to their own, of course, but each day on track felt full of life and the defeat of so many odds-on favourites can’t be used to say the days were disappointing.
Yes, there are issues for Lavender to address — £7.80 for a pint of Guinness will always be a barometer — but do not kid yourself racing is on its own when it comes to pricing for food and tickets: Lord’s, Twickenham, Wembley and any course that hosts The Open are all expensive.
Racing retains huge popularity — 1.8million tuned into ITV to watch Inothewayurthinkin win the Gold Cup — and if Lavender gets things right, people will come back. Whatever you have heard people say about beer and bets in Benidorm, it is not — and never will be — Cheltenham.
Cheltenham chief executive Guy Lavender admitted the significant decline in attendance but was adamant that this year was a success
There was a crowd of 68,026 on Boodles Gold Cup day, taking the cumulative attendance to 218,839 for the entire festival
BEST PERFORMANCE
Fact To File in the Ryanair Chase. Trained by Willie Mullins for JP McManus, he obliterated his rivals. He is a beautiful horse and connections have adored him from the moment he was foaled. He will win whatever race he runs in at next year’s Festival.
GLORIOUS UNCERTAINTY
Yes, Constitution Hill and State Man’s falls in the Champion Hurdle were dramatic but trainer Jeremy Scott and owner Ian Gosden deserved their moment in the sun. Golden Ace was successful at the Festival for the second year and hit the bullseye as rivals crumpled.
Yards such as Scott’s are the foundation of National Hunt racing, and are committed to enjoyment and making the best of what they have. This was a throwback story, one that led to joyous scenes in the winner’s enclosure. David should never stop dreaming he can topple Goliath.
Golden Ace was a suprise 25/1 winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham after previous victors Constitution Hill and State Man’s falls
Jockey Mark Walsh and Fact To File reasonably had one of the best performances at the festival after landing Ryanair Chase crown
A REAL NIGHT-MARE
Lossiemouth won the Mares’ Hurdle 40 minutes before the Champion Hurdle but it was the least exciting race of the week. She should have been running in the best race and the longer this contest remains on the card, the more it will detract from the showpiece. If it is to stay (can it not be moved, say, to Kempton in February to give a highlight to that course?) the conditions must be changed.
NO BADGE, NO ENTRY
The last people trainers usually want to see before a big race are members of the national media but that was not so on Tuesday.
Nicky Richards wanted to saddle Famous Bridge and speak to his jockey, Sean Quinlan, but was on the outside of the parade ring looking in as two officials would not budge.
As he protested, showing them proof of his identity, they would not listen. This observer vouched for Richards and, eventually, sense was seen.
Lossiemouth, meanwhile, achieved her third straight victory at the Cheltenham Festival after she landed the Grade One Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
RESPECT FOR A GENTLEMAN
After all that BBC commentator John Hunt has endured, he reported for work on Friday with the same enthusiasm that we all know. What a joy it was to see him, and, to nobody’s surprise, this consummate professional called the Gold Cup with his usual flair and clarity.
It is a privilege to call John a colleague and he knows the racing community is there for him and his daughter, Amy, at every turn. He is not just a master of his craft; he is the very best of men.
