• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cheltenham Betting Offers

  • Home
  • Free Bets
  • Meetings
    • New Year’s Day Meeting
    • Festival Trials Day
    • Cheltenham Festival
    • April Meeting
    • Race Night
    • Showcase Meeting
    • November Meeting
    • International Meeting
  • News
  • Articles
    • Stats & Trends

Courses At Cheltenham: Old, New and Cross Country

cheltenham racecourse layoutRacing lovers will no doubt be aware that Cheltenham Racecourse boasts three different courses. When the Cheltenham Festival gets underway, it does so on the Old Course for the first couple of days, with proceedings switching to the New Course on Day Three of the meeting. There is also a Cross Country Course, which is used for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase during the Festival.

Obviously one of the main questions that punters will want to know is what, exactly, the difference are between the three course types. How much is the course that a race takes place on likely to affect the running and the ability of the horses to complete the event, for example? From a spectator’s point of view, there are pluses and minuses to each of the courses, but we’ll explain the major differences here.

The Old Courses Versus The New

old new street signsThe Old Course is the most used track at Cheltenham Racecourse, with the races on the first two days of the Cheltenham Festival, as well as for the November Meeting and the Showcase. That’s not to say that the New Course is barely used, however. As well as the final two days of the Festival, the course is also the one on which the International, the New Year’s Day meeting and Festival Trials Day takes place, plus the April and May meetings.

Both courses have undulations that can cause problems for horses caught unawares, with both also running left-handed. Sound jumping is necessary for the horses to avoid getting caught out by the stiff fences that each course promises. Despite the fact that the last half a mile is uphill regardless of which course a race is taking place on, the lead doesn’t change as often as one might expect.

The key difference is that the Old Course has a slightly sharper feel to it than the New Course. There are just four starting positions on the Old Course, too. There is a fence right in front of the stand that is placed ahead of the journey out into the country, where it’s obviously harder to keep track of the racing for those watching at the racecourse itself. Shorter distance races will often see prominent racers do well.

The hurdles track on the New Course only has two flights during the final six furlongs, meaning that stamina is the most important attribute for a horse. If there is a large field taking part in a race that is more than two miles in distance, you can expect a hold-up horse to come out on top. That’s because keener horses tend to go for home too quickly and begin to tire before that final uphill stretch.

The Old Course

cheltenham old course hurdleLooking in more detail at the two courses now and starting with the Old Course. Of the two, it is the Old Course that tests a horse’s strength more than anything else. The field will usually stay close to each other through the track’s centre, especially thanks to the narrow turn that comes before the home stretch. It’s also earlier than the same turn on the New Course, boasting two jumps before the downhill section.

The run-in on the Old Course is shorter than that on the New, with just one obstacle for the tired horses to navigate. That’s not to say that the ascent isn’t one that will test the competitors, though. The second-to-last fence on the course was moved ten yards further uphill in 2019, largely because it was known to catch horses unsighted and caused a number of injuries, leading to jockeys to make the request.

Fleet-footed horses are more likely to do well on the Old Course, with fast horses likely to get up to speed pretty quickly as long as the Going is in their favour. Horses that enjoy running from the front early on will do well here, provided they’ve got enough running in their legs to hold off challengers during the run-in. That said, it’s not a course that lends itself to late flourishes from horses coming through the field.

The New Course

cheltenahm-course-panoramic-view

It might seem like the two courses are similar to each other because they’re based at the same racecourse, but the truth is that the two tracks boast totally difference characters from each other. Whilst the Old Course is all about speed, the New Course is a strong test of a horse’s stamina, which is what makes it such an exciting one to watch races on. There have been many a famous charge up the final hill.

Both courses tend to start form the same position, but the decent from the hill’s crest is wider on the New Course. That means that the field runs further away from the finishing line, which gives the course the ability to offer different lengths of races. The final bend that leads to the run-in is much more protracted here, requiring immense guts from the horse that wishes to cross the line ahead of the pack.

Those two hurdles in the last six furlongs mean that some flat-out running is needed as the race reaches its climax, which is why it rewards stamina over speed. Stayers are always more likely to do well on the New Course, especially if they’ve got the ability to finish a race strongly. Many of the biggest-field races are hosted on the New Course, giving victories to those horses and jockeys that can time their finish well.

Unlike the Old Course, the New Course is one that often sees races won by a horse that has come charging through the field from the back. Horses that go for home too soon can be punished, so the ones that have conserved their energy can use it to their advantage as the rest of the field tires. If your horse isn’t prominent early on then you don’t need to panic and tear up your betting slip.

The Cross Country Course

cross country chase race 2020

As theme suggests, the Cross Country Course is used for longer and more challenging races. The most obvious example of one is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, which takes place during the Cheltenham Festival and is a horse for only the strongest and most willing competitors. It is also used during the November Meeting and the International, with cross country events taking place in November, December and March.

The Glenfarclas Series is for horses that want to take on those longer events, with the three Cheltenham races also joined by one at Punchestown in Ireland and another at Pau in France. If a horse competes in a nominated race in all three countries then the possible prize money they’ll be competing for during the cross country event of the Festival will be doubled to reward their competitiveness.

The 3 miles and 6 furlongs of the Cross Country Course at Prestbury Park require a unique approach from the horses running on it. It takes place partly on the New Course before having its own mapping, with special obstacles for the horses to get over. It is designed to be far more like the steeple chases of old, where horses would run from church steeple to church steeple, jumping whatever was in their way.

Biggest Cheltenham Races By Course

packed-cheltenham-stands-at-the-festival

The three courses have their own big races that they play host to, with some being more obvious than others. We’ve already mentioned the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in relation to the Cross Country Course, but perhaps the most famous race run at Cheltenham Racecourse during any meeting is the Gold Cup. This is run on the New Course on the final day of the Festival.

Here’s a quick look at some of the different races that take place on each of the courses:

Course Meeting Race Length
Old Festival Arkle Challenge Trophy 2 Miles
Old Festival National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup 4 Miles
Old Festival Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2 Miles, 110 Yards
Old Festival Champion Hurdle 2 Miles, 110 Yards
Old Festival Queen Mother Champion Chase 2 Miles
Old November November Novices’ Chase 2 Miles
Old November Greatwood Hurdle 2 Miles, 110 Yards
Old November Hyde Novices’ Hurdle 2 Miles, 5 Furlongs
Old November BetVictor Gold Cup 2 Miles, 4 Furlongs, 110 Yards
Old November Prestbury Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle 2 Miles, 110 Yards
New Festival Gold Cup 3 Miles, 2 Furlongs, 110 Yards
New Festival Triumph Hurdle 2 Miles, 1 Furlong
New Festival Ryanair Chase 2 Miles, 5 Furlongs
New Festival Stayers’ Hurdle 3 Miles
New Festival Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup 3 Miles, 1 Furlong, 110 Yards
New April Silver Trophy Chase 2 Miles, 5 Furlongs
New International Bristol Novices’ Hurdle 3 Miles
New International International Hurdle 2 Miles, 1 Furlong
New International December Gold Cup 2 Miles, 5 Furlongs
New International Unicoin Group Handicap Chase 3 Miles, 1 Furlong, 110 Yards
Cross Country Festival Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase 3 Miles, 7 Furlongs
Cross Country November Cross Country Handicap Chase 3 Miles, 7 Furlongs

As you can see, the types of race hosted by each course differs within the course itself, let alone from the other courses. The above is also just a sample of the races that take place on each track, with more on offer throughout the year. Hopefully, though, it’s given you a good sense of what to expect when you want a race at Cheltenham Racecourse and discover which course it will be run on.

Primary Sidebar

Cheltenham Free Bets

Meetings at Cheltenham

  • Cheltenham Festival
    • Champion Day
    • Ladies Day
    • St Patrick’s Thursday
    • Gold Cup Day
  • Festival Trials Day
  • New Year’s Day
  • November Meeting
    • Countryside Day
    • Gold Cup Day
    • November Meeting Sunday
  • Race Night
  • Showcase Meeting
    • The Showcase Friday
    • The Showcase Saturday
  • The April Meeting
    • April Meeting Day One
    • April Meeting Day Two
  • The International Meeting
    • International Friday
    • International Saturday

Race Types

  • Amateur Races
  • Championship Races
  • Conditions Races
  • Cross Country Races
  • Cup Races
  • Fillies' Races
  • Grade 1 Races
  • Grade 2 Races
  • Grade 3 Races
  • Handicap Races
  • Hurdle Races
  • Juvenile Races
  • Listed Races
  • Maiden Races
  • Mares' Races
  • Novices' Races
  • Premier Handicap Races
  • Standard Open Flat Races
  • Steeplechase Races
  • Trial Races
  • Trophy Races
  • Discontinued Races

Latest News

  • Aintree & Cheltenham Amongst Jockey Club Courses To Drop Dress Code
  • What Can Be Done To Combat Race Fixing In Horse Racing?
  • Jockeys Are Struggling With The New Whip Rules
  • Cheltenham Festival Trials Day Likely To Go Ahead As Temperatures Rise This Week
  • BHA Whips Rules Changed At The Last Minute Following A Jockey Backlash

Articles

  • Who Are The BHA?
  • Origins Of Steeplechasing
  • Is Horse Racing Too Traditional? Why Is It So Confusing?
  • Robot Horse Racing
  • Are There More Fatalities On Hard Ground In Horse Racing?
  • Types Of Jump Racing Fences
  • Biggest Comebacks In Horse Racing
  • Difference Between A Hurdle & A Fence In Jump Racing
  • What Are Hurdles & Fences Made From?
  • Why Are Race Distances Measured In Miles, Furlongs & Yards
  • Stag And Hen Do's At Cheltenham
  • Each-Way vs Place Betting: Which Is Better?
  • What Are Final Declarations
  • Does Illegal Horse Racing Still Happen?
  • What Is Pony Racing? How Is It Different To Horse Racing?
  • Ladies At The Races
  • What Do Nose, Head, Neck and Length Mean?
  • What Is A Furlong?
  • When Is A Race Declared Void?
  • False Starts In Horse Racing
  • What Are Official Ratings in Horse Racing?
  • Can You Run A Race With Only One Horse?
  • What Is Point To Point Racing
  • Best Day Of The Cheltenham Festival
  • How Much Does It Cost To Buy and Train a Racehorse?
  • Cheltenham Festival Ticket Types
  • How Much Does Racing Make From The Betting Levy?
  • Are There Less Horse Deaths In Racing Today?
  • Origins Of Jockey Silks In Horse Racing & Rules
  • Can A Jockey Remount A Horse?
  • What Happens If No Horse Wins A Race?
  • Why Do Horses Jump Fences?
  • How High and Far Can A Horse Jump?
  • Use Of The Whip In Horse Racing
  • What Are The Different Types Of Racehorses?
  • Who Sponsors Cheltenham Races
  • How Do Racehorse Owner Syndicates Work?
  • How Much Do Racehorses Weigh?
  • How Does Travelling Affect Racehorse Performance?
  • What PPE Do Jockeys Wear And Why?
  • Can Racehorses Overheat?
  • Benefits Of Owning Race Horses
  • What Is The Top Speed Of A Racehorse?
  • Do Racehorses Have Special Diets & Nutrition?
  • How Are Racehorses Transported & What Are The Rules
  • What Happened To All-Weather Jumps Racing?
  • What Was Tic Tac? The Sign Language For On-Course Bookmakers
  • The Road To Cheltenham
  • Retraining of Racehorses
  • What Happens To Retired Racehorses?
  • Horse Racing Mix-Ups
  • Youngest Jockeys In Horse Racing History
  • What Are Blinkers & Why Do Race Horses Wear Them?
  • How Long Do You Have To Claim A Winning Bet At A Racecourse?
  • Female Jockey Pioneers
  • Oldest Jockeys In Horse Racing History
  • Record Jockey Wins For Cheltenham Festival Races
  • Record Trainer Wins For Cheltenham Festival Races
  • Cheltenham Festival Races Record Horse Wins
  • Biggest Prize Money Races At The Cheltenham Festival
  • The Life Of A Racing Jockey
  • Races With The Most Fences At The Cheltenham Festival
  • How Often Do Mares' Win At The Cheltenham Festival
  • Average Winner Age Cheltenham Festival Races
  • Longest Races At The Cheltenham Festival
  • Cheltenham Festival's Newest Races
  • How Often Does the Favourite Win at the Cheltenham Festival?
  • Average Winner Odds Cheltenham Festival Races
  • Cheltenham Festival Stats & Trends
  • Veganism & Horse Racing
  • Horse Doping In Horse Racing
  • Most Feared Fences In Horse Racing
  • Jockey Injuries
  • How To Become A Jockey
  • Horse Injuries
  • What Is Going In Horse Racing
  • Richest Races In Horse Racing
  • What Is The Starting Price In Racing
  • When Is The Best Time To Bet Ante-Post
  • Impact Of Wetter Winters On UK Jump Racing
  • How Long Do Racehorses Live For?
  • How Much Do Jockeys Weigh?
  • Rules For Naming Race Horses
  • What Is A Dead Heat In Horse Racing?
  • Who Would Win A Race Between A Horse And A Dog?
  • What Makes A Good Jump Stayer?
  • What Is A Stewards Enquiry?
  • Why Are Horses Disqualified and Who Decides?
  • Courses At Cheltenham: Old, New and Cross Country
  • How Are Jump Horses Trained Differently To Flat Horses?
  • Longest Odds Winners In Horse Racing History
  • How Much Money Is Bet At Cheltenham?
  • How Much Is Cheltenham Worth To The Economy?
  • Top 5 Cheltenham Festival Owners
  • Accessibility At Cheltenham The Cheltenham Festival
  • Cheltenham Festival's Oldest Race Still Running
  • Biggest Female Trainers
  • Celebrity Race Horse Owners
  • Can Jockeys, Trainers & Owners Bet?
  • British vs Irish Trainers And Stables At Cheltenham
  • Things To Do & Places To Visit In Cheltenham
  • The Royal Family And The Cheltenham Festival
  • How Much Does It Cost To Be An On-Course Bookmaker?
  • How Much Money Do Race Horse Owners Make?
  • How Much Money Do Trainers Make?
  • Cheltenham Race Types
  • Cheltenham Hotels & Cheltenham Festival Accommodation
  • Top 5 Cheltenham Festival Trainers
  • Top 5 Cheltenham Festival Jockeys
  • Top 10 Cheltenham Festival Horses
  • How Much Money Do Jockeys Make?
  • Richest Jockeys In Horse Racing History
  • Getting To Cheltenham Racecourse
  • Cheltenham Festival vs Grand National, Which Is Better?
  • Cheltenham Racecourse History
  • Why Is The Cheltenham Festival So Big?
  • Cheltenham Festival History
  • The Prestbury Cup
  • Cheltenham Festival Quiz
  • Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer
  • Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey
  • Cheltenham Racecourse During The War
  • Ante-Post Betting - Risk vs Reward
  • Jump Racing Distances
  • How to Read a Race Card
  • How To Bet On Horse Racing
  • Disqualification, Non-Runners and Rule 4
  • Age, Sex and Weight in Horse Racing
  • History And About National Hunt Racing
  • A-Z Glossary Of Horse Racing Terms
  • Horse Racing News, Statistics & Blogs
  • Live Streaming of Horse Racing
  • Live Betting In Play On Horse Racing
  • Cash Out And Partial Cash Out On Horse Racing
  • Grades and Classes In National Hunt Jump Racing

Offers

  • Acca Offers For Horse Racing
  • Extra Places Each-Way & Enhanced Each Way Terms Cheltenham Festival 2023
  • Horse Racing Loyalty Free Bet Clubs
  • Horse Racing Money Back
  • Best Odds Guaranteed For The Cheltenham Festival
  • Tote and Totepool Betting
  • Lucky Bets and Bonuses For Horse Racing
  • Non-Runner No Bet
  • Free Bets And Bonuses For Winners
  • Best Odds Guaranteed For Horse Racing
  • Faller & Fail To Finish Insurance For Horse Racing

Copyright © 2023 CheltenhamBettingOffers.com | 18+ Gamble Aware | Privacy & Cookie Policy