Although the Cheltenham Festival is still over a month away, excitement and anticipation are already mounting around the biggest event in the (British) horse racing calendar. This four-day event held this year from Tuesday, 12 to Friday 15 March, attracts some of the best horses and jockeys from around the world, who come to win prestigious events such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Champion Hurdle. While the jockeys and horses are doing their thing out on the racetrack or making preparations before they blast out the starting gate, the spectators are socialising and enjoying drinks over discussions of the upcoming races. The atmosphere is incredible.

Just now you’ve read mention of some of the standout events at this immense racing festival but there are, in fact, 28 different races run over the four days. Below is a look at more races worthy of the attention of serious racing fans.

Triumph Hurdle

The Triumph Hurdle is a hurdle race for young hurdlers over four years and is contested on the New Course. The course is two miles and roughly a single furlong. It places eight hurdles in the path of the horses. This handy little course has helped four different horses cut their Cheltenham teeth before going on to win the Champion Hurdle: Clair Soleil, Persian War, Kribensis and Katchit. 2014 Triumph Hurdle winner Tiger Roll later won the Grand National in 2019 too.

Last year, the result was a 1-2-3 for trainer Wille Mullins, as Lossiemouth, Gala Marceau and Zenta claimed the first three places in respective order. This year, Lossiemouth is the favourite to win and, in doing so, successfully defend her trophy. She’s received odds of 7/4.

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

The Albert Bartless Novices Hurdle, open to horses over four years old, came to the Cheltenham Festival in 2005 and puts the very best long-distance runners to the test. This relatively new festival event takes place on the New Course and is about three miles long. Horses must vault 12 hurdles in this gruelling challenge of the horses’ stamina.

In the 2023 festival, Stay Away Fay, rode by Harry Cobden and trained by Paul Nicholls, romped home to victory.

This year, bookers have made Willie Mullins-trained horse High Class Hero the favourite in their Cheltenham odds, setting them at around 5 to 7/1, depending on the bookmaker. Some bookmakers have also made another Willie Mullins-trained horse, Readin Tommy Wong, joint favourite with odds of 7/1 or close second favourite with odds of 6/1.

Ryanair Chase

The Ryanair Chase entered the festival in 2005 when the racing feast expanded to four days. The chase is run over two miles and 4.5 furlongs. It’s a Grade 1 steeplechase, but originally, it was a Grade 2 race. The race is ideal for horses who tend to perform best in a race that offers a challenge level somewhere between the Champion Chase and the Gold Cup.

At the 2023 meeting, jockey Rachael Blackmore rode Envoi Allen, trained by Henry de Bromhead, to victory and made it her third victory of the festival. Willie Mullins-trained horse Allaho has become the favourite of bookmakers to win the 2024 steeplechase and make it a third Ryanair Chase win. The experts trimmed the horse’s odds down to 3/1 following a highly convincing win at the Grade 2 Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase earlier in January 2023, which he was already favourite to win. The animal surged 13 lengths clear of Stattler to pass the post first and more than justify the favouritism.

Ballymore Novices Hurdle

Any novice hurdler looking for a big event wants to be part of the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle race. This race is the premier event in jump racing for novice hurdlers and is run over around two miles and five furlongs. The jockeys and their horses contest the event on the Old Course. The course places 10 hurdles in the horses’ path to jump.

Just like the Triumph Hurdle, the Ballymore Novices Hurdle has been something of a race for horses to cut their teeth on before going on to win other big events at the festival. Istabraq and Faugheen are two horses that have charged to victory and then, the following season, won the Champion Hurdle.

Last year, Impaire et Passe won the event in a 1-2-3 for trainer Willie Mullins, with Gaelic Warrior and Champ Kiely taking second and third place respectively. This year, the favourite is Ballyburn at 4/1, followed by Firefox at 6/1 and Ile Atlantique at 8/1.

The Cheltenham Festival is a terrific event that spoils horse racing fans with thrilling, prestigious races. Besides the main events and the events above, you may wish to see the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, which features 20 hurdles for the horses to clear, and the opening race of the festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.