Cheltenham Festival Weather

/ Editor / 07 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

The weather is one of the most popular topics of conversation amongst Brits but when it comes to horse racing it is actually a very important factor to consider. The weather in the days and weeks leading up to a big event like the Cheltenham Festival is key to see how the going is on the course. When you factor in the stamina sapping course that Cheltenham is - if you couple that in with a lot of pre-Festival rain then a lot of horses might not be in tip-top condition for the event.

The Cheltenham weather is not just about the conditions of Cheltenham racecourse but when it comes to placing your Cheltenham bets - it is. Whether your hat will fly off is important for certain racegoers but for punters it isn't a consideration.

In 2008 one of the days of the Festival was actually postponed due to adverse weather conditions. This wasn't due to the course being unsafe for the horses but mainly due to the fact high winds left hospitality tents in tatters and rendered these structures unsafe for the public. Back in 2001 the whole of the Cheltenham Festival had to be scrapped due to the foot and mouth outbreak in the country.

The weather at the Cheltenham Festival though rarely dampens the atmosphere from the tens of thousands of fans who'll flock into the course over the four days in March. The local council estimate that around quarter of a million tourists will come into the small spa-town during the days leading up to and the Festival itself.

Many of these people will be placing hard earned cash on horses throughout the event. If they are soaked through thanks to the Cheltenham weather on the racecourse they might be buoyed by the news that they can have two chances of a £25 bet with Betfair. Place a bet up to the value of £25 on any race at the Cheltenham Festival and should you lose - Betfair will refund your account with your stake and give you a second chance to win big on the Cheltenham Festival.

For all the latest Cheltenham Festival weather and more importantly the going at the course, please check out betting.betfair as the team will be all over the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival as well as many updates during the event itself.

For all the latest on the 2011 Cheltenham Festival then please click here and check out our dedicated Cheltenham Festival Betting and Tips page