IT was late September 2024 when Jockey Club Racecourses, owners of Cheltenham, announced a number of significant changes to the Festival programme for 2025.

The announcements came following strong criticism from all quarters in the wake of the 2024 Festival. Gripes centred on ticket prices, customer care and - most of all - the fact that the racing itself was watered down, the quality spread too thin, and many of the races uncompetitive.