Cheltenham chiefs have announced major on-and-off course changes designed to vastly improve the 2025 Festival.
The Jockey Club has confirmed alterations to the race programme as well as new initiatives for racegoers. On track, six key changes are being made to the Festival from next year with alterations made to the conditions of five individual races and also new requirements for horses running in non-novice handicaps.
The 2m 4f Turners Novices’ Chase will be replaced by a Grade 2 Limited Novice Handicap Chase over the same distance, while The National Hunt Chase will become a Class 2 Novice Handicap Chase (0-145) with professionals jockeys permitted to take part.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is changing back a handicap and conditions for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices Hurdle will be altered to remove the penalty structure, resulting in a level weights contest. Conditions for the Pertemps Final also change to provide a guaranteed run for all winners of series qualifiers within the weights at declaration stage.
Currently horses must have run at least three times for chases or four times for hurdles to be eligible to run in non-novice handicaps at The Festival, but, from 2025, this is increased to four and five and prize money over the four days is up by £115,000.
Off track, changes are also plentiful. More trackway will be laid in the grass car parks in an attempt to negate the nightmare 2024 issues caused by adverse weather.
A new park and ride system will be launched and The Jockey Club has partnered with National Express to offer coach travel direct to the course from more than 20 pick-up locations.
Punters will have more course-facing areas to try and ease queues with hot and cold meal deals also being offered.
All ticket prices for the 2025 Festival will be frozen at 2024 levels and a new partnership with sports tour operator Venatour Racing will give racegoers the choice to purchase discounted packages including tickets, hotels, travel and more in a one-stop shop initiative known as Room To Race.
Cheltenham MD Ian Renton said: “As with any major event it is important to evolve and improve to ensure everyone who joins us throughout the week has the best possible experience.
“As part of the process of reviewing this year’s Festival we analysed data and extensive feedback, including surveys, one-to-one meetings and focus group sessions to seek views ranging from those who come every year all the way through to people who have never visited The Festival to find out why.
“Throughout this review process, there have been three distinct strands which have been impossible to ignore. Value for money, the need to provide the best experience possible and the competitiveness of the race programme.”
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Explaining the reasons behind some of those changes to the races, clerk of the course Jon Pullin added: “The Festival is special because it pits the best horses against each other on the biggest stage of them all. Hopefully these changes help ensure that fans get to see the best of the best racing against each other come next March.”
Ruby Walsh, the Festival’s most successful jockey with 59 winners, was one of those consulted and has filmed a video explaining what they will mean for participants and fans.
He said: “All the changes are geared towards making the races more competitive. The aim is to attract as many of the best horses as possible to run at the Cheltenham Festival and for them to run in the right races.”