All you need to know about Cheltenham Festival

Credit: PA

Cheltenham Festival gets underway today and as as one of the most popular jump-racing events in the world begins, here's some of the basic facts you need to know.

£4,305,000 of prize money is on offer this year, making it the most of any jump-racing festival in the world.

The festival is said to have been around since 1911 and changes over the years have adapted it into what the event is today. It became a three-day event in 1923, and in 2005, a fourth day was added. Various races been become part of it too, for example the Cheltenham Gold Cup since 1924.

An average of 62,000 people pass through the gates at Cheltenham race course each day to watch 28 races over the course of four days.

Some attendees drive, leaving 35,600 parked at the venue over the course of the festival, but many take the shuttle bus from the town centre - more than 80,000 shuttle bus trips are made between the two spots.

That translates into roughly 45,000 afternoon teas and 5 tonnes of cheese eaten at the Festival.

Cheltenham Festival Credit: PA

The five main championship contests are the:

  • Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup

  • Stan James Champion Hurdle

  • Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase

  • Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle

  • Ryanair Chase

These races and more will be broadcast on ITV. See the basic guide to the Cheltenham Festival here