Two races on Champion Hurdle day at the Cheltenham Festival this year have extended titles as the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Princess Royal National Hunt Chase.
These amended and extended race names from The Jockey Club are the result of different reasons. Irish professional jockey Michael O’Sullivan tragically died aged just 24 as a result of injuries sustained from a fall at Thurles in February.
He partnered Marine Nationale to Supreme success in 2023 for trainer Barry Connell. O’Sullivan was Irish champion conditional jockey that season as well and had since ridden out his claim.
Following discussions between race sponsors Sky Bet and his family, the opening contest of the Cheltenham Festival will be run as the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as a tribute to him this year.
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, is a former equestrian performer herself. Inheriting a passion for horses from her mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, she competed in Eventing including at the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Games.
The Princess Royal National Hunt Chase is a permanent renaming of this race on the Cheltenham schedule for day 1. First run in 1860, only the Grand Annual Chase which lacks the permanent and continuous history of this contest, dates back further among events at the Festival.
With the National Hunt Chase now a handicap and open to professional jockeys, having previously been a Grade 2 race for amateur riders, the new full race title reflects the change made to it.
Revised Cheltenham Festival Order of Running for Champion Hurdle Day (11 March)
| Race Times | Race Name | Class of Race | Race Distance | Horses Open to | Total Prize Money |
| 1:20 | Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m 87y | 4yo+ | £150,000 |
| 2:00 | Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase | Grade 1 | 1m 7f 199y | 5yo+ | £200,000 |
| 2:40 | Ultima Handicap Chase | Premier Handicap | 3m 1f | 5yo+ | £150,000 |
| 3:20 | Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m 3f 200y | 4yo+ | £120,000 |
| 4:00 | Champion Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m 87y | 4yo+ | £450,000 |
| 4:40 | Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle | Premier Handicap | 2m 87y | 4yo only | £80,000 |
| 5:20 | Princess Royal National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Handicap) | Class 2 | 3m 5f 201y | 5yo+ 0-145 | £100,000 |
