Cheltenham Festival and Gold Cup

Cheltenham Festival and Gold Cup 2011 will see more horse racing, hats galore, not to mention more than £600 million of wagers at the annual highlight of the jump racing calendar.

With a history dating back almost two centuries, Cheltenham has become synonymous with world class National Hunt horse racing, and from Tuesday 15 March to Friday 18 March 2011 a staggering 230,000 people will descend on Gloucestershire’s spa town for the world-famous spectacle of The Festival 2011.

Encompassing the internationally-renowned Cheltenham Gold Cup 2011, the four-day event will see more than 25 races take place, with almost £600 million being bet on some of the world’s finest race horses as they speed around Cheltenham Racecourse’s Old Course, New Course and Cross Country Steeplechase Course.

If you’re planning to travel to Cheltenham for the races, find a Gloucestershire hotel pretty smartish or visit booking.com to compare and reserve Cheltenham hotel rooms with no booking fees.

To place your bets on this year’s Cheltenham Festival and Gold Cup 2011 visit paddypower.com, coral.co.uk or betfair.com to find out the latest odds.

Tuesday 15 March 2011 at the Cheltenham Festival

Kicking off the Cheltenham Festival is the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle race, set to be another gripping highlight of the four-day event in 2011 – particularly as the winner is granted the most sought after prize anywhere in the world for two-mile hurdlers.

Wednesday 16 March 2011 at the Cheltenham Festival

A highlight of the second day of Cheltenham Festival is The Seasons Holiday Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Thursday 17 March 2011 at the Cheltenham Festival – Ladies Day

Thursday, the third day in the Festival 2011 line-up, sees what is arguably the most important race take place in the form of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle – when only the brave and the strong prevail in the thrilling three-mile race. Today is also St Patrick’s Day – meaning even more excuses to celebrate with a pint of Guinness or two!

Also, following on from a successful introduction in 2007, Thursday will also mark The Festival’s fifth annual Ladies Day, when fashion provides a very different slant to a day at races. Members of the fairer sex will be showing off their best glad rags and most overstated hats in the hope of scooping an award for the Best Dressed Lady, Best Accessories or Best Hat. So ladies, dress to kill if you have your eyes on this particular set of prizes.

Friday 18 March 2011 at the Cheltenham Festival – The Cheltenham Gold Cup 2011

Undoubtedly the highlight of The Festival – Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup 2011 is one of the most famous races in the world, and one which every horse owner, trainer and jockey dreams of winning. The testing three and a quarter mile course was won by outsider Imperial Commander in 2010 – but will Kauto Star and Denman return to contend the title in 2011?

With plenty of live music, entertainment, dining and trade stands to indulge in and explore in addition to the races, whether you’re a seasoned Festival fan or not – The Festival and Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010 is not to be missed.