Cheltenham Festival 2008 Results

It was a funny festival in 2008.

After the first day went ahead as planned, day 2 of the festival was cancelled due to heavy winds and rain – up to 50 mile an hour gales at points – so the remaining races had to be spread across the following two days. This led to an extremely busy couple of days of racing with 10 races on day 3 and 9 on day 4.

A nightmare logistically, and for those trying to manage the expectations of ticket holders too I should imagine. Nevertheless, all the races were run in the end, and those who were present experienced first hand some thrilling racing.

In the 80th running of the Gold Cup, Denman ran a strong race, staying towards the front as he likes to do, before taking the lead just before the final circuit and never letting it go, leaving rival and favourite Kauto Star seven lengths behind.

Denman’s win helped Paul Nicholls retain his top trainer crown for the third year in a row, also claiming the Queen Mother Champion Chase thanks to Master Minded’s memorable triumph. At just 5 years old, he became the youngest winner of the race since its inception in 1959, and he won it by a mile too.

Ruby Walsh was riding two of Nicholls’ winners, but won top jockey with 3 wins thanks to another on top of a Willie Mullins trained horse called Fivetothree, who won the Novices’ Hurdle.

So there was plenty of action, and although the overall attendance was down due to Windy Wednesday, the Friday saw crowds of over 70,000 people for the first time in living memory.

11th March 2008 – Day One (Champion Day)

12th March 2008 – Day Two (Ladies’ Day)

13th March 2008 – Day Three (St. Patrick’s Day)

14th March 2008 – Day Four (Gold Cup Day)