Wednesday, March 6, 2019 - Cheltenham's racecards during the four days of The Festival™ presented by Magners 2019 will have the exact distances that the horses race over, rather than the advertised race distances, for the first time next week.

Movements of rails, which ensure horses have the best possible ground available, mean that the distances raced over can be longer than the advertised distances.

On the first day of The Festival, Champion Day, Tuesday, March 12, two of the seven races will be run over further than advertised on the Old Course.

These are the final two contests on the card, the Listed Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (4.50pm) and the G2 National Hunt Chase (5.30pm).

 

Race name	Advertised distance	Raced over distance	Difference
Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase	2m 4f 44y	2m 4f 63y	+19y
National Hunt Chase	3m 7f 147y	3m 7f 166y	+19y

The Old Course is also used on the second day of The Festival, Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13, but without any dolling out so the race distances will be the same as advertised.

The racing action switches to the New Course on Thursday, St Patrick's Thursday, March 14, with rail movements causing four races - the G1 JLT Novices' Chase (1.30pm), the G1 Ryanair Chase (2.50pm), the G3 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable (4.10pm) and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (5.30pm) - to be run over longer than the advertised race distances.

 

Race name	Advertised distance	Raced over distance	Difference
JLT Novices' Chase	2m 3f 168y	2m 4f 5y	+57y
Ryanair Chase	2m 4f 127y	2m 4f 184y	+57y
Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate	2m 4f 127y	2m 4f 184y	+57y
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase	3m 2f	3m 2f 75y	+75y

 

The final day of The Festival, featuring the G1 Magners Gold Cup, also takes place on the New Course, but with all rails back at their original line so there are no changes to advertised distances.

Simon Claisse, Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham Racecourse and Director of Racing, Jockey Club Racecourse, South West Region, said: "When the chases are dolled out, we want to make sure the racegoers have the same information in the racecard that is published on the British Horseracing Board's Racing Admin site.

"We are giving the exact yardage that the horses race over. There are two races on the first day and four races on the third day that have increased distances because of dolling out.

"By doing this, everyone will have the correct information."

Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the northern outskirts of the historic spa town of Cheltenham. The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for the world's pre-eminent Jump meeting. The Festival™ presented by Magners, which happens in March over four days every year, next takes place from Tuesday, March 12, to Friday, March 15, 2019 inclusive and tickets are on sale. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural arena and offers the highest-quality action throughout the Jump season.

More information is available at www.cheltenham.co.uk and through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces), Facebook www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing and Instagram (@CheltenhamRaces).

About The Jockey Club

Cheltenham is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Festival™ presented by Magners and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences The Jockey Club offers through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny made goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. The Jockey Club was founded in 1750 and today is the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and the charity, Racing Welfare. For more information, visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

If you need any information about racing at Cheltenham, please contact: Sophia Dale, Communications Manager - Jockey Club Racecourses South West 01242 537 683 sophia.dale@thejockeyclub.co.uk