Jump racing returns to Cheltenham Racecourse this October 2026, following the completion of major works to improve drainage on the home straight.
The 2025-26 season was cut short in April 2026 when its last three racedays were cancelled to allow the works to take place.
The months-long upgrade works included replacing the 600-metre main drain on the home straight with a modern plastic drainage system, as well as replacing over 1,000 metres of the overall drainage infrastructure.
Cheltenham's clerk of the course, Jon Pullin, said: 'We’re very happy with how the drainage upgrade and recovery has gone. We worked closely with specialists in turf management and drainage throughout the project to make the right decisions for the long-term management of the track.
'Starting the work in April was critical because it gave us the time to investigate the drainage system properly and take the opportunity to replace other areas that would benefit from an upgrade. For the first five weeks, our in-house team worked with our agronomists to understand exactly what was happening within the system.
'There are five main drains running down the track, with a network of other drains feeding into them before reaching the outlet at the bottom of the straight. We had to open up various stretches of the home straight as part of the investigation process and this gave us a much better understanding of what was happening beneath the surface.'
Warwickshire-based contractor, D W Clark, even developed bespoke equipment to help preserve the existing turf and support its recovery.
Jon added: 'We made it clear to D W Clark before the project started that, ideally, we wanted to be able to reuse the existing turf to support the recovery process later in the summer. The bespoke equipment they developed was invaluable in helping us achieve that.
'This has been a significant project and one that we wouldn’t normally undertake on this scale during the summer break. However, it has given us the opportunity to upgrade the drainage system ready for a new season.'
While this summer's hot and dry weather has proved a challenge for Jon and the team, watering commenced in August 2026 and preparations are now well underway for the first race of the 2026-27 season.
The William Hill Showcase opens the season at Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2026, with tickets and hospitality packages on sale now.
