The 2020 Cheltenham Festival was one of the last major sporting events in front of packed crowds before coronavirus prevented spectators from watching the vast majority of professional sports. With a vaccine on the way and with spectators allowed to return in small numbers to specific sports, we look forward to the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and predict what we might see.
Why is the Cheltenham Festival so special?
There are many reasons why the Cheltenham Festival is so unique and draws more than a quarter of a million visitors each year, along with millions if not billions wagered through UK betting sites and high street bookmakers. The racecourse itself is stunning and located in a beautiful part of the UK. It was voted the greatest racecourse in the world in 2019 by The Racing Post, so many people flock to the Festival to take in the atmosphere at one of the world’s finest horseracing venues.
The Festival is a truly historical event and has hosted race meets since 1861. Today, Cheltenham arguably provides the finest exhibition of jumps racing anywhere in the world, and the Gold Cup on the final day is one of the most coveted prizes in all of horseracing. However, it’s not just the Gold Cup that makes this Festival of racing so popular, as each day offers a prestigious race, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase. What’s more, a serious amount of money is placed on the horses during the Festival, more than £600 million to be precise. The Cheltenham Festival is always a special event, and 2021 will be no different.
What happened in 2020?
Given the Cheltenham Festival’s timing in 2020, spectators were lucky to attend, as it fell just before the coronavirus outbreak that led to a government-imposed national lockdown. It was a fine way for horseracing to sign off in front of spectators, as the week was packed with thrilling incidents and impressive wins across the board.
Perhaps the most memorable moment of the 2020 festival was Al Boum Photo’s dramatic win in the Gold Cup, which saw him enter the history books as one of few horses to win the Cup on more than one occasion. He became the first horse since Best Mate in 2002, 2003, and 2004 to win the Cup in consecutive years. It was quite an achievement.
It was also another excellent year for Willie Mullins, who cemented his place as Cheltenham’s most successful trainer. In addition to Al Boum Photo, he saw wins for his horses in the Triumph Hurdle, the County Hurdle, and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase. Willie will likely be ready to go again when the Festival comes around in March 2021.
What can we expect from the 2021 Cheltenham Festival?
The most important thing is we will get to see some racing! By March, we can also be hopeful that spectators can attend in decent numbers. As of December 2020, outdoor sports events are allowed to be attended by a few thousand supporters. Therefore, by spring, let’s hope that more can attend and create an excellent atmosphere, as is usually the case at the Cheltenham Festival.
Spectator numbers were down by 15,000 last year, and we will likely see a significant reduction again this year. But regardless of what happens with the spectators, we can look forward to another brilliant race card. All eyes will be on Willie Mullins, as many will be interested to see if he can continue his fantastic form, with bookmakers predicting a win from Al Boum Photo. It will be interesting to see how Gordon Elliot fares again this year. He was unlucky to lose out to Mullins after training seven winners but losing out on champion trainer because he had fewer placed horses.
Likewise, many will favour Al Boum Photo under Paul Townend to triumph for a third consecutive year, but there is a field of other contenders worthy of consideration. Santini under Nico de Boinville went really well and finished in second, as did the unfancied Real Steel under BS Hughes, who tired and fell away in the last 150 yards. Whatever happens in 2021, we can be sure that we are in for a fantastic festival of racing, so let’s hope spectators will be allowed to attend in their droves to generate a tremendous atmosphere and enjoy the spectacle.
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