The 2021 Cheltenham Festival was perhaps one of the weirdest we have ever had, thanks to the fact it was run during the covid pandemic and took place with no spectators. This meant prize money was down by about £1 million too on the previous year and there was naturally a big impact on the local economy.
Rules at the time meant that professional sports were allowed but amateur sports were not, this meant that the three amateur races at Cheltenham were run using professional jockeys for the first time.
Despite the fact there was almost no one there to watch the horses themselves didn’t seem to mind too much and the racing was as good as ever. This was especially true for the Irish trainers who managed to win an astonishing 23 of the 28 Festival races, a win rate of over 82%, to take the Prestbury Cup yet again.
Willie Mullins took the top trainer trophy for another year with six wins in a tight fought last day battle with fellow countryman Henry de Bromhead. Henry won’t have minded too much, however, as he became the first trainer to win the Champion Hurdle, QM Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the same year.
Despite those achievements neither Willie or Henry were the most notable winners from the Emerald Isle. That was Rachael Blackmore who shattered the glass ceiling for female jockeys by winning six races to take the top jockey crown, the first woman to do so. This included her win with Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle, becoming the first woman to win a Championship race.
The 2021 edition was also notable for some long odds winners, including the 80/1 Jeff Kidder who win the Juvenile Novices’ Chase. It is thought that perhaps the lack of spectators favoured some horses that may have been more distracted in usual years. The 2021 Festival will certainly be remembered for the fact it was unique being run during a pandemic but more so because of the exploits of the Irish, and Rachael Blackmore especially.
16th March 2021 – Day One (Champion Day)
| Time | Race | Winner | Odds | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:20 | Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Appreciate It | 8/11 F |
J: P Townend
T: W P Mullins
|
| 13:55 | Arkle Challenge Trophy | Shishkin | 4/9 F |
J: N de Boinville
T: N J Henderson
|
| 14:30 | Festival Trophy Handicap Chase | Vintage Clouds | 28/1 |
J: Ryan Mania
T: Mrs S J Smith
|
| 15:05 | The Champion Hurdle | Honeysuckle | 11/10 F |
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: H De Bromhead
|
| 15:40 | Mares' Hurdle | Black Tears | 11/1 |
J: J W Kennedy
T: Mrs D Foster
|
| 16:15 | Juvenile Novices' Hurdle | Jeff Kidder | 80/1 |
J: S W Flanagan
T: N Meade
|
| 16:50 | National Hunt Chase | Galvin | 7/2 |
J: J W Kennedy
T: I R Ferguson
|
17th March 2021 – Day Two (Ladies’ Day)
| Time | Race | Winner | Odds | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:20 | Ballymore Novices' Hurdle | Bob Olinger | 6/4 F |
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: H De Bromhead
|
| 13:55 | Brown Advisory Novices' Chase | Monkfish | 1/4 F |
J: P Townend
T: W P Mullins
|
| 14:30 | BetMGM Cup | Heaven Help Us | 33/1 |
J: R J Condon
T: P Hennessy
|
| 15:05 | Queen Mother Champion Chase | Put The Kettle On | 17/2 |
J: Aidan Coleman
T: H De Bromhead
|
| 15:40 | Cross Country Chase | Tiger Roll | 9/2 |
J: K M Donoghue
T: Mrs D Foster
|
| 16:15 | Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase | Sky Pirate | 14/1 |
J: Nick Scholfield
T: Jonjo O'Neill
|
| 16:50 | Champion Bumper | Sir Gerhard | 85/40 F |
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: W P Mullins
|
18th March 2021 – Day Three (St. Patrick’s Day)
| Time | Race | Winner | Odds | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:20 | Golden Miller Novices' Chase | Chantry House | 9/1 |
J: N de Boinville
T: N J Henderson
|
| 13:55 | Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle | Mrs Milner | 12/1 |
J: B J Cooper
T: P Nolan
|
| 14:30 | Ryanair Chase | Allaho | 3/1 F |
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: W P Mullins
|
| 15:05 | The Stayers' Hurdle | Flooring Porter | 12/1 |
J: D E Mullins
T: G P Cromwell
|
| 15:40 | Plate Handicap Chase | The Shunter | 9/4 F |
J: J C Gainford
T: E Mullins
|
| 16:15 | Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle | Telmesomethinggirl | 5/1 |
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: H De Bromhead
|
| 16:50 | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup | Mount Ida | 3/1 F |
J: J W Kennedy
T: Mrs D Foster
|
19th March 2021 – Day Four (Gold Cup Day)
| Time | Race | Winner | Odds | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:20 | JCB Triumph Hurdle | Quilixios | 2/1 |
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: H De Bromhead
|
| 13:55 | County Handicap Hurdle | Belfast Banter | 33/1 |
J: K C Sexton
T: Peter Fahey
|
| 14:30 | Spa Novices' Hurdle | Vanillier | 14/1 |
J: M P Walsh
T: G P Cromwell
|
| 15:05 | The Cheltenham Gold Cup | Minella Indo | 9/1 |
J: J W Kennedy
T: H De Bromhead
|
| 15:40 | Foxhunter Challenge Cup | Porlock Bay | 16/1 |
J: Lorcan Williams
T: W Biddick
|
| 16:15 | Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase | Colreevy | 9/4 |
J: P Townend
T: W P Mullins
|
| 16:50 | Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle | Galopin Des Champs | 8/1 |
J: S F O'Keeffe
T: W P Mullins
|