Punchestown 2011

redhead said:
Cheltenham always used to be the second Tuesday of March - no matter how early. I can recall it falling on 9th March before now.

These days it seems to be whichever week St Patrick's Day falls in, so it has begun to fall a week later. I suppose it is so that our Irish visitors can use their national holiday as part of their week off work (also lets the local pubs and clubs benefit from the celebrations), but it can muck up the schedule for the Aintree-bound horses.

Edward, however, has said that Cheltenham and Aintree had recently agreed to ensure 3 weeks between their major meetings.
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The Festival didn't fall on Paddy's day between 2007-2009. Since 1988, at least, it has followed the pattern of the Tuesday after the second Sunday in March, except for 1998 when it started on the Tuesday after the third Sunday (which was Paddy's Day, and Istabraq!).

Last year, which had the same March calendar as 1998 (the 1st being a Sunday), the Festival started on the 10th, in line with the pattern above.
 
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