6 major Cheltenham Festival 2025 changes as punters boosted by ticket price freeze

Cheltenham chiefs have announced major on-and-off course changes designed to vastly improve the 2025 Festival.

The Jockey Club has confirmed alterations to the race programme as well as new initiatives for racegoers. On track, six key changes are being made to the Festival from next year with alterations made to the conditions of five individual races and also new requirements for horses running in non-novice handicaps.

The 2m 4f Turners Novices’ Chase will be replaced by a Grade 2 Limited Novice Handicap Chase over the same distance, while The National Hunt Chase will become a Class 2 Novice Handicap Chase (0-145) with professionals jockeys permitted to take part.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is changing back a handicap and conditions for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices Hurdle will be altered to remove the penalty structure, resulting in a level weights contest. Conditions for the Pertemps Final also change to provide a guaranteed run for all winners of series qualifiers within the weights at declaration stage.

Currently horses must have run at least three times for chases or four times for hurdles to be eligible to run in non-novice handicaps at The Festival, but, from 2025, this is increased to four and five and prize money over the four days is up by £115,000.

Off track, changes are also plentiful. More trackway will be laid in the grass car parks in an attempt to negate the nightmare 2024 issues caused by adverse weather.

A new park and ride system will be launched and The Jockey Club has partnered with National Express to offer coach travel direct to the course from more than 20 pick-up locations.

Punters will have more course-facing areas to try and ease queues with hot and cold meal deals also being offered.