Why Cheltenham Festival 2025 will mean so much more to Princess Anne: Zara Tindall’s husband Mike opens up on racing’s Cotswold takeover, last year’s ‘heartbreak’ and Tuesday’s special royal moment

‘I’ve spent the morning getting involved with the fans,’ Tindall says. ‘It’s day one at Cheltenham—Cheltenham Tuesday. This is when the excitement really starts. So, I decided to go to Paddington station with Sporting Life to hand out papers on what’s going on, the tips they should be looking at, the horses they need to keep an eye on, and all the things they want to be interested in.

‘Obviously, Cheltenham Tuesday is all about Constitution Hill. So, no better way to start the day than taking a look at the odds and whatnot. I’ve been trying to catch the racegoers before they head off to Cheltenham.’

Tindall and his wife Zara (above) are regulars at the Festival, attending the event every year

The 46-year-old’s mother-in-law is Princess Anne, The Princess Royal (pictured above)

For Tindall, that excitement never fades. Cheltenham is part of his life, not just as a fan but as a local who has spent years immersed in the Festival’s traditions.

Having spent nearly a decade playing for Gloucester, Tindall regarded Prestbury Park as the perfect escape from the relentless demands of professional rugby. 

Whether it was a well-earned day off or a quick trip after training, the racecourse was a go-to destination for players looking to switch off from the pressures of the game.

‘When you live in the area, it’s sort of all-consuming. Obviously, having played for Gloucester for nearly ten years, it was the perfect place to go when you have a day off. 

‘Every day off that you have, you would go down to the racetrack. Sometimes even after training, you would get changed pretty quickly and head down there for the afternoon.

‘Any professional sport can become all-consuming. So, it is quite nice when you can just switch off, go spend some actual social time with the lads or whatever. And it’s more about the team bonding side of it, and actually doing stuff that’s outside the game. 

‘A lot of rugby is about connections with the guys that you play with. And the more social engagements that you can sort of do together, the more you get to know people. And it always worked for us.’

Tindall’s connection to Cheltenham has only deepened since his playing days. His wife, Zara Tindall, a highly accomplished equestrian and Olympic silver medalist, shares his love for the sport. Their bond with the Festival extends beyond just being spectators.

In true racing spirit, Tindall started the day at Paddington Station, handing out Sporting Life papers to eager racegoers heading to Cheltenham

He was pictured taking photos with racegoers heading to Cheltenham, as well as those looking to make a punt while on the way to work

Having spent nearly a decade playing for Gloucester, Tindall found a day at Prestbury Park was the perfect escape from the relentless demands of professional rugby

‘I think for Zara and me, it’s always been special. Zara’s love for the horses, in general, is massive. Her past as well as her current role at Cheltenham, combined with myself having a horse that ran there, makes it special. The journey that we went on with Monbeg Dude, it sort of became a way of life.

‘I think it’s a week that everyone who lives in the Cotswolds looks forward to. Then, at the end of the week, you can definitely wait another year for it to come back around! It really tests your body and soul, but it’s a great week. 

‘From the roar at the start of each day to the standard of racing you get. The iconic horses you get to see run. It all just makes for a great day out. It’s a great journey. Everyone is on good form. There is never really any hassle around it. Everyone is in good spirits. I think that’s quite unique to horse racing.’

For all the thrills Cheltenham provides, Tindall admits that the Festival has brought him more heartbreak than joy when it comes to winners. 

‘When it comes to Cheltenham, I’ve not really had those big wins! I think Cheltenham is all about the heartbreak. When Ruby [Walsh] fell on that Mullins horse that everyone was on the fiver-timer, that was rough. 

‘It was Annie Power, I think. That was a real heartbreak story. I think Cheltenham has been more about heartbreaks than actual joys. I’ve had some joys elsewhere, but I think Cheltenham is more about heartbreak for me. That’s a shame, isn’t it!’

That’s not to say he hasn’t had his moments. One memory stands out—having Monbeg Dude run in the Gold Cup.

‘If we’re talking about iconic moments, then Cheltenham is great for that. To have Monbeg Dude running in the Gold Cup, even though that was solely done for us so we had a runner, we didn’t expect him to come anywhere near it—and he didn’t—but to be in the parade ring as an owner at the Cheltenham Gold Cup was incredible. It has to be one of my favourite memories.’

This year, the National Hunt Chase will pay tribute to Princess Anne (pictured above), a recognition of her lifelong passion for horses

As a dedicated equestrian and advocate for horse welfare, the Princess Royal (pictured on the right) has played a major role in the industry

Zara Tindall became the first member of the British Royal Family to win an Olympic medal when she competed at the London 2012 Games riding High Kingdom

This year, the National Hunt Chase will pay tribute to Princess Anne, a recognition of her lifelong passion for horses. As a dedicated equestrian and advocate for horse welfare, the Princess Royal has played a major role in the industry. Tindall believes this honour is well deserved.

‘It will mean a lot to Princess Anne. Both Princess Anne and Zara just love horses so much. It’s not just the racing side of things, it’s everything about horses. Zara’s obviously a global ambassador for Magic Millions, which now looks at show jumping, polo, all sides of it. It also looks at the welfare of horses, the retraining of retired horses.

‘Princess Anne and Zara are just so passionate about it. They care about the life of the horses. It’s not just their racing period or racing time. They look at everything that goes on afterwards and how to make sure a horse has a good life afterwards. It’s just a passion in both Zara and Princess Anne’s blood. 

‘So, given her passion for the horses, I think Princess Anne will love the fact the National Hunt Chase is honouring her. She loves racing. She’s also very knowledgeable when it comes to racing. She can remember a lot of detail when it comes to the various horses. I know she loves going to Cheltenham, and I know she will have a fantastic day.’

As the Festival kicks off, there’s one name that dominates the conversation: Constitution Hill.

‘When talking about who I am looking forward to watch, I think I am going to stick with today as it’s the opening day of Cheltenham. So many people love Constitution Hill. When you have an unbeaten horse, there is always that extra love for it. It’s like a boxer, isn’t it? There’s always additional hype around them.

‘In racing, people don’t want those unbeaten horses to lose. They want those iconic horses to keep pushing on. There is so much love for him, and it’s really special being able to see him run. I think, if we can get that one away, it’s a solid start to the week. Then we can move onto Wednesday. It’s one day at a time!’

And if you’re looking for some tips? Tindall has a few names in mind.

Tindall is looking forward to watching Constitution Hill (above) run at Cheltenham Festival

Tindall also said the majority of fans are looking to make a punt on Kopek Des Bordes (above)

‘I would love to see Constitution Hill rock up and win. There’s also Lossiemouth being ridden by Paul Townend. In the first one, everyone is tipping up Kopek Des Bordes—also being ridden by Paul Townend. It’s another Mullins horse. So yeah, it could be another good day for the punters. We will have to wait and see. Who knows!’

As the Festival unfolds, Tindall will be among the thousands caught up in the magic of Cheltenham—celebrating the wins, suffering the losses, and soaking in every moment of this extraordinary week.

To celebrate day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, Sporting Life has issued its first newspaper print run this millennium. Rugby legend and racing enthusiast Mike Tindall was on hand to help distribute the exclusive copies.