SOUL OF SPORT: 260,000 people are expected to attend the Cheltenham Festival this week, with the iconic event set to bring millions of more excitement, fear and ecstasy – ANDY HOOPER captures all the backstory and behind-the-scenes stories in pictures
By Andy Hooper for the Daily Mail
7:19 am Mar 13, 2023, updated 7:19 am Mar 13, 2023
Each week on a Monday, our Soul of Sport series takes readers behind the scenes at top sporting events
Andy Hooper traveled to the legendary Cheltenham Racecourse ahead of this year’s festival, which begins on Tuesday
His photographs capture all facets of the build and help tell the untold stories of the four-day event
Welcome back to the soul of sport. For our third installment in the series, ANDY HOOPER traveled to Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire ahead of this week’s legendary Cheltenham Festival.
During the four-day event, an estimated 260,000 people will come to witness the best horses, jockeys and trainers compete in 28 races. The excitement, fear and exhilaration will be felt by millions more viewers from afar in what is undoubtedly one of the biggest weeks on the British sporting calendar. Ahead of this year’s festival on Tuesday, our man captured all the work required to prepare the venue using a Nikon Z9 camera and 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses.
The calm before the storm at Cheltenham Racecourse – View of the finish line from the Royal Box in the Princess Royal grandstandGroundsmen at Cheltenham Racecourse prepare the hurdles ahead of the festival’s action which begins on Tuesday afternoonA shot of Cheltenham’s historic steam railway helping to transport racegoers to the racecourse during the eventNeil Carr (pictured) is the driver of the steam train, giving racegoers a unique experience upon arrivalThe parade ring at the festival will be prepared ahead of Tuesday’s first meeting, with 28 races taking place over the four daysA shot from the Gold Cup – the most prestigious national hunt race of the year – which has a highly competitive line-up this yearThe Main Stand at Cheltenham – pictured empty above – which will be packed to capacity during the festivalThe Guinness tent area is being prepared and players are expected to swallow a significant pint load over the four-day eventA behind-the-scenes snap of Rachael Blackmore’s brace in the weigh room, autographed after she won the Gold Cup last yearA dawn shot of the racecourse on Sunday as horses and jockeys head out for an early morning gallopFestival favorite Honeysuckle – who has won back-to-back Champion Hurdle events – ate some weed on Sunday morningA line of horses, ridden by renowned trainer Gordon Elliott, head out for the early morning canter on SundayA lone horse and jockey early Sunday morning on the course with the Cheltenham stands in the background behindAnother line of horses trained by Gordon Elliott continue their preparation for Sunday morning’s early morning canterInstructor Jon Pullin with his modern stick for measuring going (left hand) and his old-fashioned stick (right)Trained by Willie Mullins, Honeysuckle also gallops early morning with the horse, which is due to retire after this year’s festivalA shot of more horses trained by Gordon Elliott being put through their paces at Cheltenham Racecourse on Sunday at dawnMan State – another horse trained by Willie Mullins – uses the sand bath before training at the canter on Sunday morningLegendary British jumping coach Nicky Henderson takes to the track to check the ground ahead of Cheltenham on SundayA shot of the platform at Cheltenham Racecourse with an estimated 260,000 people expected to attend the event over the four daysRacegoers can head straight to the racecourse after a scenic drive through the Cotswolds, Malverns and the Vale of EveshamA long distance shot of Cheltenham Racecourse with the photo by Cleeve Hill showing the track and grandstandsA picturesque photo of Cheltenham Racecourse at dawn on Sunday morning as the sun rises ahead of the festival
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