Racing

Cheltenham 2016 prize-money boosted to all-time high

March’s meeting will see increases in value in the Gold Cup and the National Hunt Chase

“We continually strive to provide the very best experience for everyone involved with jump racing.” Photograph: Getty Images
“We continually strive to provide the very best experience for everyone involved with jump racing.” Photograph: Getty Images
Thu Jan 07 2016 - 13:10

Prize-money at the Cheltenham Festival in March will exceed £4million (€5.4m) for the first time.

An increase in value to the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup to £575,000 had already been announced and there are also bigger purses on offer in the National Hunt Chase (£100,000), the JLT Novices' Chase (£130,000) and the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (£70,000).

Nine of the 10 handicaps at the Festival will also be more valuable.

Simon Claisse, regional director of racing, Jockey Club Racecourses South West, and clerk of the course at Cheltenham, said: “Cheltenham is delighted to offer record prize-money of over £4million at the Festival in 2016.

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“We continually strive to provide the very best experience for everyone involved with jump racing and, with these prize-money increases, along with the recent investment in the owners’ and trainers’ facilities and the new owners’ and trainers’ bar in the Princess Royal Stand, we are proud of what we offer to owners and trainers.”