Cheltenham Festival Hospitality

Cheltenham Racecourse, 15th – 18th March 2011

Cheltenham Festival 2011 marked the centenary of the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival, with 100 years passing since it made its debut on the racing calendar back in 1911, stirring many Cheltenham memories from our Festival stalwarts.

The long awaited Cheltenham Festival 2011 got underway with Tuesday’s Centenary day to mark the famous 100th anniversary of the Festival at the Cheltenham racecourse, as huge crowds gathered for another wonderful racing occasion. Guests came from all over the UK and Ireland to enjoy the finest meeting on the jump race calendar.

Eager guests were greeted by the ever-popular Cheltenham Festival hospitality hostesses at the exclusive Platinum Suite on Cheltenham’s Champions Drive, located at the heart of the racecourse. Champagne flowed freely from the complimentary bar while guests soaked up the vibrant atmosphere ahead of the hotly anticipated opening festival race.

With the day’s hospitality in full swing, it was time for Hospitalityfinder’s champion jockey and trainer, John Francombe to give his own expert advice on the day’s runners and riders, before clients took to their seats for a fabulous four course luncheon.

Any last minute bets could be conveniently placed at the tote betting stands within the Cheltenham Festival hospitality suite ahead of each race. With the Cheltenham Festival Platinum Suite ideally located near the racetrack, clients are provided with the perfect base to enjoy the superb entertainment on offer. Upon leaving the facility, hospitality guests were trackside within seconds, and perfectly placed for each race along with the traditional roar from the Cheltenham crowds.

The feature race on Centenary day was the Stan James Champion Hurdle, which proved well worth the wait for the expectant racegoers converged at the Cheltenham racecourse.

An exciting finale to Centenary day’s main race saw Ruby Walsh eclipse the field on Hurricane Fly, an extremely popular winner with the ever-present Irish contingent at the Festival.

Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival was Ladies day, as the world-famous racecourse witnessed an extravagant array of hats, shoes and dresses arrive, as Cheltenham Festival-goers showcased their glamorous side.

Cheltenham Festival hospitality guests took up their seats on their private tables within the beautifully decorates platinum suite, ready for an exquisite four course luncheon, served with fine wines, ports and brandys. In between courses guests mulled over their favourite runners and riders of the afternoon, whilst hostesses served drinks to the tables.

Next up was the main race on Ladies day – Queen Mother Champion Chase, which saw Sizing Europe come away with the victory with the popular Big Zeb finishing a close second.

With enough time to make their way back to the facility between races, guests had the opportunity to enjoy another drink whilst browsing over the runners for the next race.

Cheltenham Festival’s Thursday saw the arrival of the highly anticipated St.Patrick’s day, which saw whole swathes of the Cheltenham crowds emblazoned with emerald green, as the Irish contributed to the 2011 festival with traditional spirited celebration.

Guests had the luxury of coming and going as they pleased from the facility throughout the day; many choosing to enjoy the complimentary bar and view all the engaging racing action on the plasma screens, others preferring to get out onto the track and soak up the atmosphere of the festival from trackside.

Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival saw a spectacular line-up of racing action for the crowds to feast upon in the glorious spring sunshine which blessed the racecourse throughout the Festival week.

One of the finest races of St.Patrick’s day was undoubtedly the Ryanair Chase, which saw last year’s winner and 2-1 favourite Poquelin only manage fourth, as Albertas Run and Kalahari King set up a grandstand finish over the final furlong, with Tony McCoy eventually taking the spoils with Albertas Run claiming the victory.

The atmosphere in the Guinness Village at the Cheltenham Festival was second to none with celebrations abundant throughout the racecourse, from river dancing in the parade ring to live music in the Guinness Village itself, St. Patrick’s day at Cheltenham was proving good craic.

The headline race on Thursday at Cheltenham was undoubtedly the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, an enormous test for any top quality horse. The Cheltenham Festival hospitality guests gathered trackside at the final furlong to witness the main event of the Cheltenham week so far from prime positioning on the rails.

The odds-on favourite Big Buck’s was highly fancied to take the World Hurdle title for his third year in a row, with jockey Ruby Walsh in confident mood ahead of the race.
The race itself was a thriller, with Ruby Walsh keeping Big Buck’s in touch with the leading pack until finally, with the roar of the ecstatic Cheltenham Festival crowds from the grandstands, Ruby Walsh unleashed the true power and pace of Big Buck’s who burst away from the chasing pack to claim his hat-trick of World Hurdle titles.

The delighted Cheltenham Festival hospitality guests were delighted with the heavily back Big Buck’s, with some following their winner to the parade ring adjacent to the Platinum Suite, others preferring to return to the hospitality suite to claim their winnings at the onsite tote betting facility.

The Guinness flowed steadily from the complimentary bar, as Cheltenham Festival hospitality guests enjoyed the celebrations as the exclusive corporate entertainment rolled on throughout the day at the sun drenched Cheltenham racecourse.

Sunshine blazed over Cheltenham throughout the first day of the festival, ideal for corporate clients who were able to cool off with the wide range of drinks from the complimentary bar to choose from.

Friday at Cheltenham saw crowds welcomed to the momentous Cheltenham Gold Cup Day at the Cheltenham Festival. Clients were again welcomed into the Platinum Suite hospitality facility in the heart of the Cheltenham racecourse for another full day of corporate entertainment. The Gold Cup Day celebrations were abundant throughout Cheltenham, with festival goers sporting the colours of their favourite horse in Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Along with the usual Cheltenham festivities, Friday at Cheltenham saw flamboyant Brazilian samba dancers parading along Champions Drive, as Gold Cup fever took over the racecourse as well as racing enthusiasts up and down the nation.

Experienced hostesses again welcomed clients into the Cheltenham Festival hospitality at the start of the day to get the festivities underway. With the champagne flowing, John Francombe, the face of Channel 4 Racing and National Hunt Champion Jockey gave guests his insight into Gold Cup day’s prestigious racing fixtures.

Excited Gold Cup Day guests studied their race cards carefully, before backing their chosen horse at one of the tote stands within our Platinum Suite restaurant.
Shortly after, guests savoured the four course luncheon in the comfort of the exclusive restaurant facility, located right in the heart of the hospitality village at Cheltenham.

The atmosphere on course was electric and the merriment of Gold Cup Day had spread throughout the course. The adjacent Guinness Village was also hub of excitement, with live entertainment going on throughout the day. The Cheltenham Gold Cup hospitality in the restaurant allowed clients to enjoy the first class corporate entertainment on offer whilst relaxing in the comfort of the superbly located facility.

Experienced hostesses were on hand inside the hospitality suite to serve drinks and ensure the entertainment continued without a hitch. Following a further round of drinks in the facility, guests prepared themselves for the highly anticipated Cheltenham Gold Cup, which swiftly followed on the racetrack.

There was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the racecourse and the glorious spring sunshine ensured it was smiles all round on a popular Gold Cup day at the Cheltenham Festival.

Situated just yards from the main grandstand and the parade ring, clients need only make the short walk from the facility to join the enormous crowd gathered trackside. There was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the racecourse ahead of the main showdown of the Gold Cup and the excitement in the crowd grew with each passing moment.

Any last minute bets on the feature race could be placed at the private tote betting stands inside the hospitality suite, avoiding the swathe of punters queuing outside. An enormous crowd gathered at the final furlong for what was sure to be the showpiece event of the entire week.

The sun emerged from the clouds as the crowd quietened to a deathly hush before the start, then a huge roar erupted from the grandstands as they set off.

Previous Gold Cup winner Kauto Star made a strong start in the early stages, joined by Midnight Chase and China Rock at the front of the field. Pre-race favourite Long Run was jumping poorly which was preventing him from challenging for the lead, with Denman going well alongside. Kauto Star soon found his stride though and went into the lead, closely followed by the other main player in the field – Imperial Commmander, Denman and Long Run. Denman soon came up strong on the outside, pushing Kauto Star hard all the way, however it was a late burst from Long Run which saw him go past the two Gold Cup champions to take the crown in emphatic fashion, in one of the most thrilling finales to a Cheltenham Gold Cup race in living memory.

Denman finished the race in second with Ruby Walsh on Kauto Star in third, rounding off a magnificent spectacle for the Cheltenham Festival hospitality guests and a jubilant crowd at Cheltenham.

Clients made their way back to the hospitality suite following the last race to enjoy the rest of the day in style. Guests couldn’t have wished for a more ideally placed facility, and its prime location at Cheltenham means it is the closest facility in the Hospitality Village to the racetrack.

As the final day of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival drew to an end, corporate clients left in fine spirits having thoroughly enjoyed a tremendous day of corporate entertainment with Hospitalityfinder.

Click below to see our Official Corporate Hospitality Packages for this years Cheltenham National Hunt Festival