How Often Do Horses Fall at the Cheltenham Festival?

During the week of the Cheltenham Festival, there are 28 races that take place. In the majority of cases the horses taking part in said races need to get over either some hurdles or some fences in order to stand any chance of winning. The only exception to this is the Bumper, in which young horses take part in a flat race that is run under National Hunt conditions. The fact that there are no jumps in this race means that we’ve decided not to look at it here, simply because they can’t fall during the event. We will, however, look at the other 27 races run over the four day meeting.

As well as taking a look at how many horses fall at the fences, we’ll also take a look at the horses that ended up declared as Did Not Finish. This is different to falling and shouldn’t be confused for fallers, with the horse failing to finish the race for some other reason. Many of the races that are run during festival week date back many years, so looking at every single race ever would be impractical. Instead, we’ll have a look at the five years between 2019 and 2023, which should give us a fair sense of whether some races cause more fallers than others.

Fallers at the Cheltenham Festival

Before we look at the individual races in more detail, lets start by looking at the number of fallers at the Cheltenham Festival. We’ve chosen the last five meetings, running from 2019 to 2023.

As the number of runners in each race can vary, especially from the Graded races to the Handicaps, we can also look at the percentage of fallers in each race, to give an overall idea of how likely a runner is to fall.

There are four races that didn’t have any fallers during the the five year period that we’re looking at: the Albert Bartlett (Spa) Novices’ Hurdle, the Boodles (Fred Winter) Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and the Triumph Hurdle. That doesn’t mean that there have never been any falls in any of those races nor that there never will be any, but it isn’t interesting to note that not one horse has fallen across the five years that we’ve specifically look at.

At the same time, the worst race for fallers, with 11 horses falling out of the 59 that have run in the event during our time year period for a percentage of fallers standing at 18.6%, is the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup. In other words, if you’re looking at placing a bet on any of the events that take place during the Cheltenham Festival, the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is one that is most risk of seeing your horse fall at one of the fences.

Cheltenham Festival Races in Detail

We now know the overall number of runners and fallers and what the percentage of those runners have fallen across the 27 races of the Cheltenham Festival, but there is a lot of information in the tables above. As a result, we’ll now look in more detail at each race, seeing how many fallers and non-finishers there have been in each of the five meetings between 2019 and 2023.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

The first race that we’ll look at is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Run over two miles and 87 yards, the event is for horses aged four and over. The weight limit is 10 stone 11 pounds for four-year-olds, whilst horses aged five and over shift to 11 stone 7 pounds and fillies and mares are given a seven pound allowance. There are eight hurdles jumped during the race, which obviously isn’t very many compared to tougher races, but the event is for novice hurdlers so there is still a challenge. Here is how they’ve got on across the five years we’re looking at:

Arkle Chase – 2019 to 2023

A Grade 1 event, the Arkle Challenge Trophy is named after one of the most famous horses ever to race at Cheltenham. Run over one mile, seven furlongs and 99 yards, the event is for horses aged five and over with a weight limit of 11 stone and 7 pounds. Mares are given an allowance of seven pounds in the race, which features 13 fences. That makes it a tricky course, but not the most difficult that is run during the week of the Festival. Here is a look at how the horses have got on over the five years in question:

Ultima Handicap Chase – 2019 to 2023

The word ‘chase’ in the title of this race tells you that it is a steeplechase event, making it tougher than hurdle races. Run over three miles and one furlong, it is a handicap event, which means that the handicapper decides how much weight each horse will run with. Over the course of the event, which is run on the Old Course, there are 20 fences that present problems for the horses. This is the most so far on our list, so how have the competitors got on over the five years between 2019 and 2023?

Champion Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

Open to horses aged four and over, the Champion Hurdle is, as the name suggests, a hurdling event and is run over two miles and 87 yards. The weight for horses is 11 stone and 0 pounds if they’re four, or 11 stone and 10 pounds if they’re five or over. Fillies and mares receive an allowance of seven pounds. When it comes to the number of actual hurdles that have to be jumped, there are 8. This race is a good example of why we’re looking at a five year period, given it was first run in 1927. With that in mind, here is how the horses have got on over five years:

Note that though all horses finished the race in 2022, Zanahiyr was disqualified after finishing third when testing positive for a banned substance.

David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

This race is limited to mares that are at least four years old. Weight wise, it’s 10 stone 7 pounds for four-year-olds and 11 stone 5 pounds for those aged five and over. As it’s a race specifically for female horses, there are no allowances given. During the two miles, three furlongs and 200 yards of the race, there are ten hurdles that need to be negotiated if the horses hope to win the event. Over the five years that we’re looking at, here’s how the horses have coped:

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

The word ‘juvenile’ will give you a sense that the horses running in this race are not particularly experienced. As a result, you might expect them to fall at a more regular rate than in the other races. It is run over two miles and 87 yards, with eight hurdles needing to be jumped during that time. A handicap event, it is up to the handicapper how much weight each horse carried in a bid to make it as even a race as possible. During our five years in question, here is how the horses have coped:

National Hunt Challenge Cup – 2019 to 2023

Whilst the horses in this race have to be aged five or older to take part, the jockeys are amateurs. That doesn’t mean that they’re inexperienced, necessarily, but rather have just not turned professional. Even so, how do they cope with the 23 fences that need to be jumped during the three miles, five furlongs and 201 yards of the race? It is also worth noting that five-year-olds have a weight of 11 stone 3 pounds, whilst those aged six and over have 11 stone and 7 pounds, with mares given an allowance of seven pounds. Here is how the five years have gone:

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

The last hurdle event for novices that we looked at we suspected might see an increased number of fallers because of their inexperience, but in the end none fell. This race is run over two miles and five furlongs and is open to horses aged four and over. If they’re four then the weight is 10 stone 9 pounds, whilst those aged five and over have 11 stone 7 pounds. Fillies and mares are given an allowance of 7 pounds. There are ten hurdles that horses have to jump, so how have they got on during our five years in question?

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – 2019 to 2023

Most of the novice races that we’ve seen so far have been over hurdles, but the Brown Advisory (Broadway) Novices’ Chase is, as the name suggests, a steeplechase event over fences. There are 20 of them during the three miles and 80 yards of the event, which is open to horses aged five and over. Five-year-olds have a weight of 11 stone 3 pounds, whilst those aged six and over have a weight of 11 stone and 7 pounds, whilst mares are given an allowance of seven pounds. Over the course of the five years in question, here is how the inexperienced chasers have got on:

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

A Premier Handicap event for horses aged four and over, the Coral Cup is run over two miles and five furlongs. During its running there are ten hurdles that the horses need to cope with if they are to have a hope of winning. Once again, it is the job of the handicapper to assign weights in the hope of making the event as event as it can possibly be. First run in 1993, here is how the horses have got on over the five years that we’ve been looking at:

Queen Mother Champion Chase – 2019 to 2023

One of the feature races of the Cheltenham Festival, the Queen Mother Champion Chase is run over one mile, seven furlongs and 199 yards. It is for horses aged five and over with a weight of 11 stone 10 pounds, though mares are given a seven pound allowance. The leading minimum-distance chase for the National Hunt, it was first run in 1959 and there are 13 fences that need to be jumped. Over the five years that we’re looking at, here are how the horses have got on:

Note: Though 8 horses finished the race in 2019, Hell’s Kitchen was disqualified after finishing fourth when testing positive for a banned substance.

Cross Country Chase – 2019 to 2023

One of the most challenging races run during the Festival, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is often compared to the Grand National in terms of the challenge that it presents. There are 32 obstacles that need to be jumped during the three miles, six furlongs and 37 yards of running that the horses do, so plenty of opportunity for horses to fall. It is open to horses aged five and over and across the five years that we’re looking at, here’s how the results have panned out:

Grand Annual Handicap Chase – 2019 to 2023

A Premier Handicap event, meaning that the handicapper assigns the weights in order to make the race as fair as possible, the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is run over one mile, seven furlongs and 99 yards. During that time there are 14 fences that the horses need to get over, presenting them with a solid challenge. Again, this race is a good example of why we’re limiting what we’re looking at to five years, given the fact that it first took place in 1834. It’s open to horses aged five and over and here’s how the event has gone over our five chosen years:

Turners Novices’ Chase – 2019 to 2023

Another steeplechase for novices, this is officially named after Golden Miller, another of the famous horses from Cheltenham’s history. Currently this is titled as the Turners Novices’ Chase for sponsorship reasons. It is run over two miles, three furlongs and 168 yards. During that time there are 17 fences that the inexperienced jumpers need to get over. They are five and over, with five-year-olds having a weight of 11 stone 5 pounds, whilst those aged six and over have a weight of 11 stone 7 pounds and mares get a seven pound allowance. Here is how the horses have got on during the period of time in question:

Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

As with all of the races that are run over the final two days of the Cheltenham Festival, the Pertemps Final takes place on the New Course. It is run over two miles, seven furlongs and 213 yards, with the handicapper deciding what weight each horse should carry in a bid to make it as far as possible. If they’re to stand a chance of winning then they’ll need to negotiate the 12 hurdles that are in place around the course. Over the five years that we’re focussing on, here’s how things have gone:

Ryanair Chase – 2019 to 2023

When a fourth day was added to the Festival in 2005, several new races needed to be added. This was one of them, being open to horses aged five and over with weight information of 11 stone 8 pounds for five-year-olds and 11 stone 10 pounds for horses aged six and over, with mares given a seven pound allowance. The race takes place over two miles, four furlongs and 127 yards and there are 17 fences to be jumped during that time. We continue to look at the same five year period between 2019 and 2023, with the following being how things have worked out:

Stayers’ Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

First run in 1912, the Stayers’ Hurdle is the leading long-distance event that the National Hunt has and is the feature race of Day Three of the Festival. Open for horses aged four and over, the weight information is 10 stone 9 pounds for four-year-olds and 11 stone 10 pounds for horses aged five and over, with fillies and mares given an allowance of seven pounds. It is run over two miles, seven furlongs and 213 yards, with 12 hurdles that must be negotiated successfully during that time. Over the five years we’re looking at, this is how things have gone:

Plate Handicap Chase – 2019 to 2023

Another race in which the handicapper tries to make it as fair as possible by deciding how much weight each horse should carry, the Magners Plate Handicap Chase is run over two miles, four furlongs and 127 yards. There are 17 fences that need to be jumped successfully during that time if a horse is going to win the event, which has been taking place since 1951. Across the five years that we’re looking at, here’s how the horses have got on:

Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

This race is limited to female horses and four and over and the weight information is quite complicated. It works as follows:

• 4-years-olds: 10 stone 6 pounds
• 5-year-olds and over: 11 stone 2 pounds
• Class 1 weight-for-age hurdle winners are given a 5 pound penalty
• Class 2 weight-for-age winners are given a 3 pound penalty
• Class 1 handicap hurdle winners are given a 3 pound penalty

Run over two miles and 179 yards, the race features eight hurdles that the novice female hurdlers have to get over. Over the five years in question, here’s how things worked out:

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase – 2019 to 2023

A race that is limited to amateur riders, the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup is a handicap race in which the handicapper chooses how much weight each horse carries with the ultimate aim being to make it as fair as possible. It is for horses aged five and over and is run over three miles and two furlongs, with 21 fences to be jumped during that time. It is a challenging course for jockeys that might not have a wealth of experience, with the following being how things have gone during the five years that we’re looking at:

Triumph Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

The leading event that the National Hunt organises exclusively for juveniles, the Triumph Hurdle is run over two miles and 179 yards. The fact it is for juveniles means that the horses are all four-years-old (as of January that year), with the weight being 11 stone 2 pounds, although fillies are given a seven pound allowance. The race features eight hurdles during the distance, with the following being how things have panned out over the five years that we’re looking at:

County Handicap Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

A Premier Handicap race, meaning that the handicapper assigns weights to all of the horses running in it, the County Handicap Hurdle is run over two miles and 179 yards. During the running there are eight hurdles that the horses will need to get over, with most managing it successful during the years that it has been run since 1920. Here is how the horses have got on during the five years that we’ve been focussing on:

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

The Albert Bartlett (Spa) Novices’ Hurdle is open to horses aged five and over that don’t have a wealth of experience in hurdling events. The weight information is 11 stone 7 pounds, whilst fillies and mares are given an allowance of seven pounds. The race is run over two miles, seven furlongs and 213 yards, with 12 hurdles to be jumped during the course of it. Here is how things have gone for the horses over our selected five years:

Cheltenham Gold Cup – 2019 to 2023

Without question the most prestigious event of the Cheltenham Festival, the Gold Cup is run over three miles, two furlongs and 70 yards and has been taking place since 1924. There are 22 fences that have to be jumped during that period, making it a challenging event that not all horses can cope with. Open to horses aged five and over, five-year-olds have weight information of 11 stone 6 pounds, whilst those aged six and over have 11 stone 10 pounds and mares are given an allowance of seven pounds. Here is how horses have got on over the five years in question:

Festival Hunters’ Chase – 2019 to 2023

There is a risk of the race run after the Gold Cup being a little bit ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’, but the St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase is run over the same course and distance as the blue riband event, with the difference being it is only open to amateur jockeys. That means it is run over three miles, two furlongs and 70 yards, with 22 fences being jumped. Open to horses aged five and over, five-year-olds have weight information of 11 stone 10 pounds, whilst it’s 12 stone 0 pounds for horses aged six and over and mares get a seven pound allowance. Here is how it’s panned out over our five years:

Liberthine Mares’ Chase – 2021 to 2023

Part of the reason why it is helpful to look at the overall percentage of fallers across the five years that we’ve been looking at is that the Liberthine Mares’ Chase has only been taking place since 2021. This small sample can therefore still be compared to other races. Run over two miles, four furlongs and 127 yards, it is limited to mates aged five and over, with five-year-olds given weight information of 11 stone 0 pounds and six-year-olds and over 11 stone 2 pounds. During the race there are 17 fences that must be jumped, so here’s how the mares have got on over the five years we’re looking at:

Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle – 2019 to 2023

Run over two miles, four furlongs and 56 yards, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle is, as the name suggests, a race for conditional jockeys. The horses have to be aged four and over, whilst the weight carried by each of them is decided by the handicapper. Established in 2009 and named after the highly successful National Hunt trainer Martin Pipe, the race has nine hurdles that must be negotiated. Here is how things have gone for the horses across the five years that we’re looking at: