How Competitors will Train for Cheltenham
It will soon be time for the Cheltenham Festival. Roaring crowds, live music, and of course lots of stunning thoroughbred horses. Nothing can simulate the pure power and beauty of a thoroughbred horse doing what they love to do.
The muscle tone, the focus and the shine of the coat – a well-oiled masterpiece.
While some horses are born with a drive and focus due to their diligently managed bloodlines, other horses need a little extra help.
And, no matter which horse you bet on, you’re betting on the training too.
So, how do you take a well-bred horse and turn them into showstoppers? And what is the difference between hurdle and a chase? Let’s find out!
How many horses compete at the Cheltenham Festival?
The Cheltenham Festival is stretched over four days and has a huge 28 races. There is a mix of hurdles and chases. The first day of the event hosts 6 races, and it is the first race that is known as the Cheltenham Roar.
It gets the races off to a flying start and is where the crowd starts going, the roar can be heard for miles.
There are up to 100 horses on the race card for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 26 on the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, and 57 on the National Hunt Chase race card (at the moment).
The total number of horses per race is subject to change, but in general, for the Gold Cup, you can expect 13-16 horses. That is a lot to watch and plenty of horses to learn about! By learning about the competitors, you can certainly increase your chance of betting successfully.
When deciding which horses you are going to back, take your time to go through all of the odds and free betting offers and if you fancy a flurry, click here.
Are there different horse race types?
There are different races some are hurdles, and others are chases. A hurdle race involves the horses jumping over hurdles.
The chase, a shortened name for steeplechase is where the horses run over fences. The hurdles are the smaller of the two obstacles.
Hurdles are a minimum of three and a half feet and fences are a minimum of four and a half feet in height.
How are the horses trained for the Cheltenham festival?
Depending on which race the horse will be taking part in will change some of how they are trained.
The horses trained for racing are the top of their breed; they are bred for this. The training is intense and starts early in the horse’s life.
For the Cheltenham Festival, many of the competitors come from Ireland too. According to The Guardian, as many as 35% of the runners come from Ireland.
The racehorse has to be raised in a way that leads them to be champions. They have to be accustomed to being handled, travelling and tacked up too.
A filly or colt will need to be comfortable with the weight of the saddle alone, then with the rider’s added weight, as well as the bit in their mouth.
A young horse will start out working on being walked into the starting gate, and standing still as the gate is shut.
Some horses tend to spook when this happens and might back out or move and injure themselves.
The horse’s personality is taken into account, and the trainer will work with the horse to ensure the right habits are learned.
Between the second and third year, the horse will begin to go out on the track. Trainers usually keep early hours, and the horses will be training between 6 and 10 am.
They’ll be going through their paces with a jockey, and doing plenty of galloping and jogs. Working with the horse’s pace, the trainer will decide when and how they run and the distance and speed.
As the horses age up, the trainer will increase the distance and the height of the hurdles or fences.
One of the earliest steeplechases was held in County Cork in Ireland in 1752; this was a 4-mile race.
Although there are different breeds of horses that can take part in steeplechase and hurdles, the horse will most often have either Anglo-Irish lineage or be a Thoroughbred.Both are known for their incredible jumping abilities. Both are known for their incredible jumping abilities.
The required work is dictated by the races and competitions that the horse has coming up. The owner might have several goals, and the trainer will work to these timelines.
Much depends on the horse’s skill and pace, the jockey and trainer will work with the horse’s strengths and personality.
Horses need to learn to race against each other and get used to other horses’ bumping, noise and excitement.
Although steeplechasing is slower than flats, the horses need a lot of speed and momentum to make the jumps and not lose speed on the land.
Chase horses and hurdle horses have a lot of muscle work done, so they see a lot of different ground and need various training.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race and comprises 22 fences. It is fast, furious, and incredible to watch.
Fun fact: Golden Miller won the Gold Cup 5 times between 1932 and 1936. He also won the Grand National in the same year.
While a horse will train from a young age, there might not be more than ten races per year. They remain in their training routine to ensure that they are prepared when the racing season comes around.
Can you spot a Gold Cup winner early on?
It is essential to understand the background of the horses in the races, and their previous performances to pick your winners.
When picking a Cheltenham Festival winner, a horse’s DNA is crucial.
The Cheltenham Festival is a celebration of the rich history of horse racing, and a display of the ability of these stunning well-trained horses.
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