{"id":1459,"date":"2025-07-29T22:43:44","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T21:43:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/?p=1459"},"modified":"2025-07-29T22:43:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T21:43:47","slug":"cheltenham-vs-aintree-whats-the-favourite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mansionbet.com\/blog\/sports\/horse-racing\/cheltenham-festival\/cheltenham-vs-aintree-whats-the-favourite\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheltenham vs Aintree: What\u2019s the Favourite?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photo by Flickr, CC by 2.0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheltenham and Aintree stand as two of the most iconic names in jump racing, each hosting festivals that capture the imagination of racing fans worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheltenham\u2019s Festival is renowned for its prestige and intense competition, while Aintree\u2019s Grand National Festival boasts one of the most famous and challenging races on the calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when it comes to choosing a favourite, which event truly holds the crown? We\u2019ve dived into the details, consulted experts, and examined every angle across five key categories to see which festival takes the lead. The rivalry is fierce\u2014so who will cross the winning post first?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s our breakdown of the Cheltenham vs Aintree festivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cheltenham and Aintree both made their debut at the start of the 19th<\/sup> century. The first organised flat race meeting in Cheltenham took place in 1815. The first official recorded Grand National<\/a> was in February 1839; known then as the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase. Horses had to jump a stone wall, cross a ploughed field, and finish over two hurdles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile in Cheltenham\u2026 violent protestors, encouraged by\nanti-racing priest, the Reverend Francis Close, burnt the racecourse grandstand\nto the ground. The attack in 1830, prompted the move to the Cheltenham\nFestival\u2019s current location \u2013 Prestbury Park \u2013 in 1831. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Grand National\u2019s current course was established in 1839 and the race was flipped from a weight-for-age race to a handicap in 1843. Basically: the race has not changed for nearly 200 years. The Cheltenham Gold Cup<\/a>, however, was not created until 1924. The aim was to create a race that would encourage farmers to breed high-class horses: a true steeplechase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both meetings began life in the earlier 19th<\/sup> century but the Grand National is the race with the true heritage and the global reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner: AINTREE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Runners and Races<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One swallow doesn\u2019t make a summer and one race doesn\u2019t make\na meeting. The hype around the Grand National makes it easy to forget that it\nis just one race in a three-day National Hunt meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Grand National Festival kicks off on April 2, with\nLiverpool\u2019s Day: a tribute to the people of the city with seven races,\nincluding four Grade 1. Friday is Ladies Day, where style and fashion share the\nspotlight with four more Grade 1 races.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday is Grand National Day. Eight minutes of National\nHunt racing, watched by millions. In fact: it is a Grade 3 handicap race. This\nis the Blue Riband event: the race everyone wants to bet and watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Cheltenham, the equivalent is the Cheltenham Gold Cup.\nAlthough very well known among sports fans and horse racing enthusiasts, the\nGold Cup is nowhere near as reputable as the Grand National.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheltenham, however, has four days of racing and 15 Grade 1 races; a chance for visitors to see the best horses in the world compete. Every day at Cheltenham has an important race. Day one is the Champion Hurdle<\/a>; day two, the two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase<\/a>; Day three: the Stayers\u2019 Hurdle; with the Cheltenham Gold Cup on day four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the Grand National is one of the best known races in the world, when it comes to racing and value for money, Cheltenham is a three-course dinner of equine entertainment. The Grand National is a stunning entr\u00e9e but not enough to beat its southern competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner: CHELTENHAM.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n