Cheltenham has announced a number of key changes to the 2025 festival to make the course more competitive during the National Hunt. From 2025, the 2.5-mile Turner Novice Chase will be replaced by the Grade 2 Limited Novice Handicap Chase of the same distance, while the National Hunt, contested by amateur riders, will also be opened to professionals. A novice handicap chase for horses at odds of 0-145. Cheltenham race director and track official John Pullin said: “It seems like an appropriate opportunity as we have to recognize that the driver pool is limited due to the restrictions that have been in place for previous races. Let the experts tell their story. “Amateur jockeys are an important part of the festival and we want to give them the opportunity to participate on all four days.
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase and St James’s Field Hunt Festival are open to amateurs only. “With two Novice Handicap Chases, we will run two competitive races over a large field and hope to invite the best Novice Chasers of the season to take the graded course at My Pension Expert Arkle and Brown Council.”The Glenfarclas Cross County Chase also makes the switch from a conditioning race to a limited handicap, with Pullin citing previous top performances such as Delta Work and two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll as reasons for his return at the races. Original condition.
He said: “I think there is an opportunity to come back to the handicap and race competitively. Numerically, the races have been very good in terms of field size, but what we have done in recent years are some quality horses. , we want to see the festival compete and lead in races that only two or three horses can win.”The festival includes three races limited to the arugula division, which are included as an incentive for owners to continue racing their mares. The Grade 1 Filly Hurdle and Grade 2 Filly Chase will remain unchanged and the conditions for the Ryanair Filly Novice Hurdle will be adjusted slightly, removing the penalty structure to allow for even racing and hopefully wider connections. Campaign the festival without worrying about being overweight.
Pertemps finals have been changed. All qualifiers in the series are now guaranteed to run proven weight limits at the declaration stage, while festival non-novice handicappers now have four hurdles and five over hurdles. Horses that haven’t yet been exposed will need to adjust their routes if they need extra runs, and Pullin added: “We still have starter options for horses that don’t have the minimum number of runs.” The changes are the result of a comprehensive review after the 2024 festival, which aims to ensure “better experiences and value for all visitors”. In March, continuous rain ahead of the festival led to parking problems on highways. It was therefore decided to build more tarmac ‘tracks’ in the grass car parks and introduce a new parking and traffic system.
Coach travel options are available from over 20 pick-up locations, including 2025 festival tickets frozen at 2024 levels, discounts on tickets purchased for more than one day at the meeting (excluding Gold Cup Day) and group bookings. 6 or more. Bar facilities are being refurbished to provide more choice, indoor seating and reduce queuing, and food offerings are offered around the tables as Cheltenham offers more value to its customers. Accommodation prices in the Cheltenham area have also sparked controversy. The scheme has partnered with Venatur Racing to offer discounted packages including tickets, hotels and travel.
Ian Renton, Cheltenham managing director, said: “As part of the evaluation process for this year’s festival, we looked at extensive data and feedback, including surveys, one-to-one meetings and focus group sessions to gather feedback from the participants. For those who have never attended the festival each year, “there were three particular aspects that could not be overlooked in this review: value for money, the need for the best experience and competitive programming. “As with all events of this magnitude, it is never possible to create change that will be welcomed by everyone. However, we have made it a priority to listen to our attendees and put their experience at the heart of the festival, with our ultimate goal being to not only meet but exceed expectations.”
