Field sizes reduced for 6 Cheltenham races

Cheltenham Racecourse has announced a number of changes for the 2015 Festival which takes place from Tuesday March 10th to Friday March 13th, including a reduction in the maximum field sizes for six races.

Following a review by the BHA's Senior Inspector, the maximum field sizes for the following novice hurdles and handicap hurdles have been reduced to improve bypassing arrangements:

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle - 22 runners from 24 runners.

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle - 22 runners from 24 runners.

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle - 26 runners from 28 runners.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - 22 runners from 24 runners.

JCB Triumph Hurdle - 22 runners from 24 runners.

Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle - 26 runner from 28 runners.

There will also be some slight adjustments to the race distance for three races to improve starts:

The Festival Handicap Chase will be run over 3m1f, was previously 3m 1/2f.

The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup will be run over 3m2f, was previously 3m 1 1/2f.

The Festival Plate (reduced to 2m4f in 2014 by the request of the BHA) will revert to 2m5f.

The 3lb allowance for riders riding for their own stable and the 7lb allowance for riders who have not ridden a winner will be removed from the conditions in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.