Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Broken Drain Delays Cheltenham Festival Trials by 30 Minutes

1/27/2026

34 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Cheltenham racecourse identified a broken drain as the likely cause of a hole in the track, delaying the final Festival Trials Day race by about 30 minutes.
Trainer Ben Pauling voiced concerns about visibility.
Railings were realigned to bypass the affected area.
Clerk of the course Jon Pullin said safety assessments allowed the race, and an investigation will follow before the Cheltenham Festival, which runs March 10–13.

1 of 1

Story summary

Cheltenham racecourse identified a broken drain as the likely cause of a hole in the track, delaying the final Festival Trials Day race by about 30 minutes.
Trainer Ben Pauling voiced concerns about visibility.
Railings were realigned to bypass the affected area.
Clerk of the course Jon Pullin said safety assessments allowed the race, and an investigation will follow before the Cheltenham Festival, which runs March 10–13.