Cheltenham Festival Adjusts Schedule for Mares’ Hurdle Event

The Cheltenham Festival has announced a significant change to its racing schedule, moving the prestigious Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle from Tuesday to Thursday. This shift marks the first time since 2009 that the race will not take place on Champion Hurdle day, allowing it to take center stage alongside the Ryanair Chase and Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.

The Mares’ Hurdle is now set to run on St Patrick’s Thursday at 14:40, with the Stayers’ Hurdle following at 15:20 and the Ryanair Chase at 16:00. The race will also move to the New Course, increasing its distance to just over two and a half miles, compared to the previous distance of just under.

Jon Pullin, head of racing at the Jockey Club and clerk of the course at Cheltenham, emphasized the importance of this change. “Having previously been run on Champion Day, the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle was always somewhat in the shadow of the Unibet Champion Hurdle,” Pullin stated. He noted that the race, elevated to Grade One status, deserved more attention than it received in its previous slot.

The Mares’ Hurdle is a pinnacle event in a program that has seen the number of mares in training in Great Britain increase from 18 percent to nearly 25 percent over the past two decades. Pullin highlighted memorable performances by mares at the Festival, including those by Honeysuckle and Epatante.

By moving the race to Thursday, Cheltenham aims to enhance the overall profile of the event. “We feel the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle will receive more attention and the coverage a race of its status merits,” Pullin added. This adjustment allows for a more balanced program across the Festival, ensuring each of the four days features at least three Grade One contests.

In addition to the change in the Mares’ Hurdle, the Festival’s organizers have also revised certain race approaches and start positions to minimize false starts. Pullin explained that the three-mile-and-half-a-furlong chase start on the Old Course will be removed due to limited space for activating the start. Instead, the three-mile-one-furlong start will be used for specific races, including the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase during the Festival.

Furthermore, the three-mile-two-furlong start on the New Course will also be discontinued for similar reasons. The revised start positions are expected to improve the approach to the tapes, enhancing the efficiency of the races.

Maximum field sizes have also been adjusted for some races. The Coral Cup and County Hurdle will now be limited to 24 runners, while the Champion Bumper will have a maximum field of 22. These changes reflect Cheltenham’s commitment to ensuring safe and competitive racing.

Overall, the adjustments to the Cheltenham Festival’s schedule are designed to elevate the profile of key races while enhancing the overall experience for participants and spectators alike. As the Festival approaches, these changes are expected to generate excitement among fans and competitors.