Top Tips for The Cheltenham Festival 2024 – From the horses mouth!
Associate Partner, Marketing
Keep up to date with the latest properties, rural business insights, market commentary and events:
Join mailing listThe Cotswolds have the most trainers in one area of the United Kingdom outside Newmarket, and with Cheltenham as the home of jump racing, it is the best place to look for your top tips.
Jonjo O’Neill, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Ben Pauling and Fergal O’Brien to name but a handful, all live a stone’s throw from each other near Stow-on-the -Wold.
As Festival fever begins to build in the run up to meeting, locals together with punters from the Emerald Isle, begin to gather. Binoculars seem to fill the hills with those looking for a glimpse of their favourite bankers of Festival week in work, before the meeting opens on Tuesday 12th March, and the crowd roars.
On the first day, The Champion Hurdle is now slightly more open with Constitution Hill no longer running. State Man seems to have had an ideal preparation for the meeting and should put in a strong performance.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase could provide Nicky Henderson with a solid win if Jonbon maintains a rhythm and jumps comfortably.
Local Cotswold trainer, Ben Pauling, has a number of horses with a chance at the meeting and Handstands is looking an attractive each way bet in the Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle.
The Gold Cup has a hot favourite this year, in last seasons’ winner from the Mullins yard, Galopin Des Champs, when he beat Bravemansgame by seven lengths.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country race always attracts a huge following with its unique course over varied obstacles and a test of stamina at 3 miles 6 furlongs. The Irish love it and have been hugely successful over the years. This year’s list of runners looks no exception as they field some eleven runners between them. Enda Bolger has a good record in this race and runs two outsiders in Stealthy Tom, and Easyland for JP McManus. Gordon Elliott has the brave Delta Work, Conflated and Galvin sitting high up in the betting. Dan Skelton and Martin Keighley are boldly flying the flag for the English with Latenightpass Back on the Lash respectively. Both have respectable each way chances.
The JCB Triumph Hurdle is the opening race of the final day of The Festival, and whilst many will go with the safer option of Sir Gino, another Henderson horse, Burdett Road, trained by James Owen, may well challenge some of the many Mullins runners for a place, if not the top spot.
Have a great week, and remember the bank always wins!
SMOOTH MOVE – Simple steps taken in advance to prepare the way for a smooth move
Currently, in the UK, on average one in three house sales fall through. This is often due to surprises during a conveyance, and buyer fatigue at the length the process can take. There are simple steps Sellers and Buyers can take in advance to help ensure the process is as smooth as possible. The key approach is to reduce as many ‘sales irritants’ as you can and to be well prepared in advance. Unexpected matters will inevitably arise, but with plenty of preparation these will be easier to resolve.
SMOOTH MOVE – Simple steps taken in advance to prepare the way for a smooth move
Things that Go Bang in the Night – Halloween & Guy Fawkes in the Cotswolds!
The Cotswolds offer endless activities for all ages in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations the following weekend, from scary attractions, and pumpkin carving to big bangs, bonfires and fireworks!
Things that Go Bang in the Night – Halloween & Guy Fawkes in the Cotswolds!
Cotswold Residential Market - Stow-on-the-Wold – Helen Whitfield
The residential market around Stow-on-the-Wold has been incredibly active during this current period of political uncertainty, and there have been some notable sales. Many properties are still selling privately under competitive bidding. That being said, the headline guide price needs to be realistic, and the best results are still on the turnkey properties.
Cotswold Residential Market - Stow-on-the-Wold – Helen Whitfield
Ben Way, Head of Butler Sherborn Equestrian - Rounds Up the Eventing Season 2024 with Badminton Qualification
As we head into October, the 2024 eventing season is drawing to a close, with the last couple of events left to go for some of the younger horses. Many of the older horses have already started their winter holidays, where they get an eight week break out in the fields.
Ben Way, Head of Butler Sherborn Equestrian - Rounds Up the Eventing Season 2024 with Badminton Qualification
