It was all change at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, as the famous meeting went from a 3 day to a 4 day event, bringing with it record attendance and prize money figures too – not to mention an estimated £50 million spent in the local area by racegoers.
It also meant the introduction of several new races, such as the Ryanair Chase and the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, which would go on to become mainstays at Cheltenham.
There was a losing £100,000 bet on Azertyuiop in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The horse came 3rd, with the win going to Moscow Flyer for a second time. It wasn’t a great festival for punters in general, with only a scattering of favourites winning their races, Elsewhere, Hardy Eustace managed to retain the Champion Hurdle for the second year, while Kicking King rounded off a fantastic year when he won the prestigious Gold Cup.
It was a bit of a drizzly festival at times, but the weather wasn’t bad enough to cause any disruptions, and the racing conditions were mostly favourable.
There were three equine fatalities at this year’s festival, the same as 3 years previous, despite some safety improvements such as upgrading fences, but other than this, it was a thoroughly enjoyable 4 days.
15th March 2005 – Day One (Champion Day)
| Time | Race | Winner | Odds | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Arcalis | 20/1 |
J: Graham Lee
T: Howard Johnson
|
| 14:35 | Arkle Challenge Trophy | Contraband | 7/1 |
J: Timmy Murphy
T: D Pipe
|
| 15:15 | The Champion Hurdle | Hardy Eustace | 7/2 J |
J: Conor O'Dwyer
T: D T Hughes
|
| 16:00 | Festival Trophy Handicap Chase | Kelami | 8/1 |
J: Robert Thornton
T: F Doumen
|
| 16:40 | Cross Country Chase | Spot Thedifference I | 4/1 |
J: Mr J T McNamara
T: E Bolger
|
| 17:20 | Juvenile Novices' Hurdle | Dabiroun | 20/1 |
J: Paul Carberry
T: P Nolan
|
16th March 2005 – Day Two (Ladies’ Day)
| Time | Race | Winner | Odds | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | Ballymore Novices' Hurdle | No Refuge | 17/2 |
J: Graham Lee
T: Howard Johnson
|
| 14:35 | Brown Advisory Novices' Chase | Trabolgan | 5/1 |
J: Shane Fitzgerald
T: N J Henderson
|
| 15:15 | Queen Mother Champion Chase | Moscow Flyer | 6/4 F |
J: Barry Geraghty
T: Mrs John Harrington
|
| 16:00 | BetMGM Cup | Idole First | 33/1 |
J: Alan O'Keeffe
T: V Williams
|
| 16:40 | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup | Juveigneur | 12/1 |
J: Mr R Burton
T: N J Henderson
|
| 17:20 | Champion Bumper | Missed That | 7/2 F |
J: Ruby Walsh
T: W P Mullins
|
17th March 2005 – Day Three (St. Patrick’s Day)
| Time | Race | Winner | Odds | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | Novices' Handicap Chase | King Harald | 9/1 |
J: Mattie Batchelor
T: M Bradstock
|
| 14:35 | Ryanair Chase | Thisthatandtother | 9/2 |
J: Ruby Walsh
T: P F Nicholls
|
| 15:15 | The Stayers' Hurdle | Inglis Drever | 5/1 |
J: Graham Lee
T: Howard Johnson
|
| 16:00 | Plate Handicap Chase | Liberthine | 25/1 |
J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
T: N J Henderson
|
| 16:40 | National Hunt Chase | Another Rum | 40/1 |
J: Mr M J O'Hare
T: Ian Duncan
|
| 17:20 | Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle | Oulart | 10/1 |
J: Paul Carberry
T: D T Hughes
|
18th March 2005 – Day Four (Gold Cup Day)
| Time | Race | Winner | Odds | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | JCB Triumph Hurdle | Penzance I | 9/1 |
J: Robert Thornton
T: A King
|
| 14:35 | Spa Novices' Hurdle | Moulin Riche | 9/1 |
J: Robert Thornton
T: F Doumen
|
| 15:15 | The Cheltenham Gold Cup | Kicking King | 4/1 F |
J: Barry Geraghty
T: T J Taaffe
|
| 16:00 | Foxhunter Challenge Cup | Sleeping Night | 7/2 F |
J: Mr C J Sweeney
T: P F Nicholls
|
| 16:40 | Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase | Fota Island | 7/1 |
J: Paul Carberry
T: M F Morris
|
| 17:20 | County Handicap Hurdle | Fontanesi | 16/1 |
J: Timmy Murphy
T: D Pipe
|