The Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, held from Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th March in 2015, was a resounding success on all levels, with a number of landmarks achieved and a record attendance.
Ireland's champion trainer Willie Mullins sent out a record eight winners as he captured the Irish Independent Dessie Hughes Leading Trainer Award for the third year in succession and a fourth time in all. The previous record for successes at a single Festival was held by Nicky Henderson, who saddled seven winners in 2012.
Mullins' eight triumphs were headlined by a memorable one-two-three in the Stan James Champion Hurdle, with Faugheen and Ruby Walsh making all to beat Arctic Fire and former two-time champion Hurricane Fly.
Walsh registered four victories in total and lifted the Boodles Leading Jockey Award for the ninth time. He is the most successful jockey of all-time at The Festival with 45 successes.
Coneygree became the first novice since Captain Christy in 1974 to win the highlight of the week, the £550,000 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Mark Bradstock-trained eight-year-old jumped superbly in front under Nico de Boinville, holding off Irish challengers Djakadam and Road To Riches on the run to the line.
AP McCoy celebrated his final year at The Festival with victory aboard Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase. The champion jockey bows out with 31 wins at The Festival in total.
The Prestbury Cup, sponsored by BetBright, went down to the wire with Next Sensation's victory in the AP McCoy Grand Annual Chase sealing the title for Great Britain, 14 to Ireland's 13.
The total attendance for The Festival in 2015 was 248,521, a new record, as against 232,340 last year.
In 2016, The Festival takes place from Tuesday 15th March to Friday 18th March.
successful festival 2015