SOUL OF SPORT: 280,000 people attended Cheltenham Festival last week with the iconic event bringing excitement, anguish and ecstasy to millions more – ANDY HOOPER captured all the drama, emotion and behind-the-scenes stories in pictures


  • Every week on a Monday, our Soul of Sport series will take readers behind the scenes at top sporting events 
  • Andy Hooper travelled to the iconic Cheltenham Racecourse for this year’s Festival which went on last week
  • His photographs capture all facets of the event and help to tell the untold stories of the four-day Festival

Advertisement

Welcome back to the Soul of Sport. For our latest episode of the series, ANDY HOOPER travelled to Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire for the iconic Cheltenham Festival which took place last week.

Over the four-day event, an estimated 280,000 people came to witness the best horses, jockeys and trainers battling it out across 27 races, with the Glenfarclas Cross-County Chase abandoned due to heavy rain.

The excitement, anguish and elation from Cheltenham was felt by millions more watching from afar in what is no doubt one of the greatest weeks in the British sporting calendar. At this year’s Festival, our man captured all the emotion, drama and storylines, using a Nikon Z9 and Z8 Camera, and 24-70mm, 70-200mm and 400mm lenses.

The iconic Cheltenham Festival took place from Tuesday to Friday last week as plenty of drama and storylines unfolded

The iconic Cheltenham Festival took place from Tuesday to Friday last week as plenty of drama and storylines unfolded

A shot of one race taking place at the Festival, with an estimated 280,000 people attending Cheltenham over the four days

A shot of one race taking place at the Festival, with an estimated 280,000 people attending Cheltenham over the four days

A long distance view showing the racecourse and the picturesque background where it sits in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire

A long distance view showing the racecourse and the picturesque background where it sits in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire

Last week's heavy rain and wet conditions saw the environment become relatively treacherous for horses and their jockeys

Last week’s heavy rain and wet conditions saw the environment become relatively treacherous for horses and their jockeys

Declan Lavery, who rode A Wave Of The Sea in the Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase, was left covered in mud after the race

Declan Lavery, who rode A Wave Of The Sea in the Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, was left covered in mud after the race

Horses gallop off into the distance in one race, more than 200 years after racing first took place at Cheltenham back in 1815

Horses gallop off into the distance in one race, more than 200 years after racing first took place at Cheltenham back in 1815

One fan gets in the St Patrick's Day mood, with green taking centre stage every year at Cheltenham on St Patrick's Thursday

One fan gets in the St Patrick’s Day mood, with green taking centre stage every year at Cheltenham on St Patrick’s Thursday

A punter reads the Racing Post one morning, perhaps looking for best betting tips for that upcoming day of action

A punter reads the Racing Post one morning, perhaps looking for best betting tips for that upcoming day of action

Trainer Dan Shelton shows the elation of winning as he is lifted up by a colleague. Shelton trained four winners over the week

Trainer Dan Shelton shows the elation of winning as he is lifted up by a colleague. Shelton trained four winners over the week

Fans get in the Cheltenham mood by sipping on their pints of Guinness while wearing a horse mask and Paddy Power scarf

Fans get in the Cheltenham mood by sipping on their pints of Guinness while wearing a horse mask and Paddy Power scarf

One fan dresses to impress by wearing an all green suit, with their bold outfit complemented by sparkling gold shoes

One fan dresses to impress by wearing an all green suit, with their bold outfit complemented by sparkling gold shoes 

Legendary Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson (centre) celebrates the second of his race victories on Thursday afternoon

Legendary Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson (centre) celebrates the second of his race victories on Thursday afternoon

Monmiral gave the part-owner a first ever win at Cheltenham, before Protektorat, ridden by Harry Skelton (above) also won

Monmiral gave the part-owner a first ever win at Cheltenham, before Protektorat, ridden by Harry Skelton (above) also won

Ferguson has been a long-term racing fan and owner and finally realised his ambition of a Festival winner on two occasions

Ferguson has been a long-term racing fan and owner and finally realised his ambition of a Festival winner on two occasions

Other supporters roar on the horses they've backed while holding their betting slips up on an entertaining day of action

Other supporters roar on the horses they’ve backed while holding their betting slips up on an entertaining day of action

Queen Camilla arrives to much public attention on the second day of the Festival, which was dubbed as Style Wednesday

Queen Camilla arrives to much public attention on the second day of the Festival, which was dubbed as Style Wednesday

The parade ring at Cheltenham Racecourse being readied last week, with 27 races having taken place across the Festival

The parade ring at Cheltenham Racecourse being readied last week, with 27 races having taken place across the Festival

Standout jockey Paul Townend celebrates after winning The Gold Cup on Galopin Des Champs, who defended his title

Standout jockey Paul Townend celebrates after winning The Gold Cup on Galopin Des Champs, who defended his title

A fan wears a rather cheeky pair of Paddy Power pants, with the Irish gambling company a major backer of the Festival

A fan wears a rather cheeky pair of Paddy Power pants, with the Irish gambling company a major backer of the Festival 

One lady shows off her extravagant hat, also known as a fascinator, with hats a key part of the Cheltenham Festival dress code

One lady shows off her extravagant hat, also known as a fascinator, with hats a key part of the Cheltenham Festival dress code



Source link