‘You can’t expect 20-plus racehorses to come around a corner in a straight line’, says Davy Russell on the false starts at the Cheltenham Festival

Retired three-time Irish champion jockey Davy Russell shares his views on Cheltenham’s star performer and the reason for the Festival’s frustrating false starts

Alamy Live News. 3E0HEMM A false start before the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle on day three of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Thursday March 12, 2026. This is an Alamy Live News image and may not be part of your current Alamy deal . If you are unsure, please contact our sales team to check.