How do you train a racehorse for Cheltenham?

BBC News

11-03-2025

The Cheltenham Festival is getting underway, with 28 races spread across four days and an estimated 200,000 spectators attending.Jamie Snowden has seven runners competing over the course of the week. They include Ga Law in Thursday's Stayers' Hurdle and Hollygrove Cha Cha in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.But perhaps his best prospect is Wendigo, who rides on Friday in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle."I feel a bit like the headmaster of a school," Mr Snowden says.
Mr Snowden grins as he stands in the middle of a bustling yard at Folly House, Lambourn, surrounded by his syndicate of horses and stable workers.The Berkshire trainer has raced more than 450 winners at tracks all over the UK, and has set his sights on more success at Cheltenham Festival 2025.His team work around the clock to nurture and look after each horse, helping them to prepare for the biggest races."Cheltenham is like the Olympics of our sport. It's where the best take on the best," he says.Racehorse training isn't just a job. In fact, it's a complete lifestyle.Mr Snowden oversees the development of a multitude of horses. He has 60 stables at his base in Lambourn, all of which are full.
He says he has "90 to 100 horses" in his care, including some pre-training yards in other parts of the UK."We want to see all of our horses progress and culminate on the biggest stages," he says.You need the jigsaw to piece together at the right time, and when it does it's incredibly rewarding."Folly House is always a hive of activity.Days usually begin at around 06:00 when horses are prepared and saddled, before being put through their paces on the gallops.They train in groups, and often ride in pairs for healthy competition - the same way you or I might go for a run with a friend.Some of the work they undertake includes jumping, interval training and even bleep tests.After the morning exercise is complete, they return to the stables where they are washed, fed and made comfortable.
One of the most pivotal parts of successfully training any animal or pet is trust.It is essential that racehorses have positive relationships with jockeys, so how are these connections established?Anna Lewis, assistant head-girl at the stables, says "lots of carrots" is the trick."Like people, horses have different personalities so everyone clicks with different ones," she says."Sometimes it comes naturally, other times it might take more work."Mr Snowden adds that familiarity and routine is also key, with each jockey riding the same horses on a daily basis in training.
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