Cheltenham Festival 2025: The Pinnacle of Jump Racing
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the world of horse racing, where passion, tradition, and elite sporting excellence come together. Held from Tuesday 11th to Friday 14th March 2025, this four-day festival is a true spectacle, featuring 28 thrilling races, culminating in the prestigious Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Inkerman London are entering their 5th year as the official trophy supplier to Cheltenham Racecourse, a highlight in their sporting calendar and something they are immensely proud of to be a part of this extraordinary event. Inkerman work closely with the racecourse and it's sponsors to design, create and produce trophies that reflect the the brands, grandeur and legacy of the festival, they also engrave every winners' details onto the prestigious perpetual trophies and ensure they are maintained in the best possible condition.
A Horse Racing Festival Like No Other
Every day at Cheltenham Festival offers a unique experience:
- Champion Day (Tuesday 11th March) – The festival’s opening day, featuring the Unibet Champion Hurdle, one of the most anticipated hurdle races in the sport.
- Style Wednesday (Wednesday 12th March) – A blend of elite racing and high fashion, where the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase takes centre stage.
- St Patrick’s Thursday (Thursday 13th March) – A celebration of Irish success in horse racing, with the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase among the day’s highlights.
- Gold Cup Day (Friday 14th March) – The grand finale, headlined by the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most coveted prize in jump racing.
Each of these races carries immense prestige, with winning jockeys, trainers, and owners etching their names into racing history.
Inkerman’s Role at Cheltenham Festival
As the official trophy supplier, Inkerman London plays a vital role in the Cheltenham Festival. Each year, our team head to Cheltenham to takes up residence in the Trophy Room, located just above the Winners’ Enclosure. Here, we ensure that every trophy is immaculately cleaned, and prepared read for its moment in the spotlight on the presentation table.
Our responsibilities include:
- Providing trophies for owners, trainers, jockeys and stable staff
- Maintaining and engraving the perpetual trophies held by Cheltenham Racecourse
- Creating identical replica trophies, allowing owners to cherish their winning moment with a handcrafted piece of racing history
The Prestigious Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
The race we now recognise as the Cheltenham Gold Cup started in 1924. Back then a new trophy was made every year, with a different design, and was kept by the winner. That original from 1924 was auctioned off in 1979. It was privately owned until Cheltenham bought it back in 2018. Since 2019, it has been the perpetual trophy, and is on permanent dispaly at Cheltenham, 365 days a year. Inkerman came on board in 2025, and make an exact replica, identical in every dimension, that the winning owner keeps. On the presentation table on Gold Cup day there are four trophies: the original, the replica, and the goblets for the trainer and jockey. The original is presented to the winners - that's the one the jockeys hold high, then it goes back in the cabinet.
The Gold Cup is a really tricky piece to make; it's a labour of love. Modelled on a classic old fashioned sugar bowl, it has horses's heads as handles. It 's an intricate shape that can't easily be spun on a lathe; it's created by pouring silver in to a mould. We allow about three months to produce it, as there are many stages. It's mouled in two halves as it's the only way of forming the shapes, which are then soldered together, cleaned and polished. All the engraving - "The Boodles God Cup" and the year is by hand.
The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is the pinnacle of jump racing. First run in 1924, it has grown into one of the most anticipated races in the sporting calendar. The Grade 1 steeplechase, run over 3 miles and 2½ furlongs, features 22 fences, demanding extraordinary stamina and jumping ability from the competing horses.
The race has seen some of the greatest names in racing history:
- Golden Miller (1932-1936) – The only horse to win the race five consecutive times.
- Arkle (1964-1966) – One of the most dominant Gold Cup winners.
- Best Mate (2002-2004) – The most recent horse to win three consecutive Gold Cups.
- Desert Orchid (1989) – A fan favourite with an unforgettable victory.
- A Plus Tard (2022) – Ridden by Rachael Blackmore, the first female jockey to win the race
At the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, a new champion will join this esteemed list. The anticipation will be immense as reigning champion Galopin des Champs aims to defend his title, while challengers will look to etch their names in Gold Cup history.
Behind the Scenes with Inkerman London
During Cheltenham Festival week, the Inkerman London team is fully immersed in the event, staying nearby in an airbnb. Each morning, we prepare the trophies for that day’s races, ensuring they are pristine and ready for presentation in the Winners’ Enclosure.
Beyond our work with the trophies, we also relish the atmosphere of Cheltenham. With over 250,000 racegoers attending the festival, the event is electric with excitement, tradition, and world-class competition. It is this passion for excellence that makes our role as trophy makers for Cheltenham Racecourse such an honour.
A Celebration of Legacy and Craftsmanship
For Inkerman London, the Cheltenham Festival is more than just a race. As the official trophy supplier, we take immense pride in creating trophies that reflect the prestige and grandeur of this legendary festival.
Whether you are a seasoned racing enthusiast or attending Cheltenham for the first time, the festival’s atmosphere, thrilling races, and moments of glory will stay with you forever.
As the world watches in March 2025, we will once again play our part in ensuring that the winning moments are marked with elegance and tradition. A perfect tribute to the greatest jump racing festival in the world.
Read all about this years festival in the Cheltenham Preview Magazine
