Cheltenham Festival 2021

With a nationwide lockdown still in place, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 Cheltenham Festival took place behind closed doors, with no owners or spectators in attendance. Covid-19 restrictions also meant that amateur jockeys were not permitted to compete, such that the three traditional amateur riders' races, the National Hunt Chase, the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup and the Festival Hunters' Chase, were contested by professional jockeys instead.

In what became known as a "greenwash", British trainers saddled just five winners. Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson fared best of the home contigent with two winners, Shiskin in the Arkle Challenge Trophy and Chantry House in the Marsh Novices' Chase. Elsewhere, Sue Smith, Jonjo O'Neill and Will Biddick chipped in withVintage Clouds in the Ultima Handicap Chase, Sky Pirate in the Grand Annual Challenge Cup and Porlock in the Festival Hunters' Chase, respectively.

The remaining 23 races all went the way of Irish-trained horses, leaving the final scoreline in the Prestbury Cup a chastening 23-5 in favour of Ireland. Closutton maestro Willie Mullins, with six winners, was leading trainer for the third year running, and the eighth time in all, staging a late rally to pip compatriot Henry de Bromhead to the title on countback of placed horses after winning the last two races of the week.

De Bromhead, nonetheless, enjoyed a highly memorable week, as did his stable jockey, Rachael Blackmore. The Knockeen handler had the distinction of becoming the first trainer in history to win the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup at the same Cheltenham Festival, while his winning tally also included Bob Olinger in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, Telmesomethinggirl in the Parnell Properties Mares' Novices' Hurdle and Quilixios in the Triumph Hurdle.

Blackmore won the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle, thereby becoming the first female jockey to win the two-mile hurdling championship, and finished the week with six winners, likewise becoming the first woman to secure the top jockeys' award at the Cheltenham Festival. Reflecting on her success, Blackmore said later, "It's phenomenal. I can’t even comprehend being leading jockey at Cheltenham. That’s crazy."