The Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire, England, experienced a rare snowfall on Wednesday morning during the second day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, marking the first time since 2013 that the event has been affected by snow. Just three days prior, the region basked in warmer temperatures, reaching as high as 18C, bringing a stark contrast to the current chilling conditions. The Met Office has characterised this fluctuating weather pattern as “fool’s spring,” a phenomenon where a short burst of warm weather is abruptly followed by cold snaps common in the transitional months of March and April.

Oli Claydon, a spokesman for the Met Office, explained the situation, stating, “Some showers came through with lower overnight temperatures last night, meaning it comes through as snow.” He indicated that further similar weather is expected in the coming days, particularly with a front forecast to arrive on Friday, potentially affecting large areas of Scotland and bringing wintry showers to higher elevations in Ireland.

Jon Pullin, the Clerk of the Cheltenham course, explained the precautions taken due to the frost on Wednesday. He noted that temperatures had dipped to minus two overnight, prompting the team to take measures to safeguard the safety of participants during races. Despite the cold, predictions suggest temperatures may rise to around 7C by the time racing commences at 1.20pm. “Thursday to Friday is looking quite cold again now, so we’ll see where we go, but it should be dry from here on in,” he remarked in an interview with ITV Racing.

The snow-related challenges have impacted both the horses performing on the day and the racegoers in attendance. Many attendees, illustrative of the semi-formal “Style Wednesday” adherence, arrived dressed for warmer weather yet found themselves grappling with the unpleasant conditions, including snow and icy temperatures registering at only 1C overnight. Bookmakers thus reported a growing trend among punters, with betting shifts reflecting a newfound interest in the weather rather than solely the races themselves. As the Daily Express highlighted, odds of 6/4 were reported for the likelihood of snow continuing to affect the track through Thursday and Friday.

Alex Apati from Ladbrokes remarked, “It’s been more Chilltenham than Cheltenham up to this point!” reflecting on the weather disruptions that have led to some punters feeling let down by favourites who have not fared as anticipated during the festival.

Overall, the combination of sudden cold weather and snow at the Cheltenham Festival has created an unusual atmosphere at the event, impacting both the racing and the experience of those attending. As forecasted chilly conditions persist, the attention of racegoers and bookmakers alike appears to be shifting towards the evolving weather patterns.

Source: Noah Wire Services