Cheltenham Festival weather: Snow falls at the races as wintry showers hit the ‘greatest show on turf’ with thousands of punters facing chilly day two – temperatures set to reach just 9C

Snow has fallen at Cheltenham Festival – just days after Britain recorded its warmest temperatures of the year so far. 

Thousands of punters heading to the ‘greatest show on turf’ are facing a chilly day two with temperatures set to peak at just 9C on Wednesday. 

Wintery showers have been forecast throughout the morning at Prestbury Park in Gloucestershire – with the area already covered in a light dusting of snow.

Videos shared on social media show horses and riders who were on the course early on Wednesday battling through the wintery conditions.

The Met Office has said snow is forecast until around 10am on Wednesday with overcast conditions predicted for the rest of the day. 

One user posted on X: ‘Just when you think you’ve seen it all… snow has now arrived at Cheltenham. Bright blue skies an hour ago, can’t see the back straight now.’

It marks a sharp contrast from the weekend when Brits flocked to parks, beaches and pub gardens when highs of almost 20C were recorded in parks of the UK. 

The Met Office confirmed a record 19.7C hit in Crosby, Merseyside, on Sunday, beating Saturday’s peak of 19.1C in Cumbria.

London and Cardiff were at the weekend hotter than holiday hotspots such as the Balearic Islands, Costa del Sol and even Italy’s Amalfi Coast. 

However, temperatures have plummeted this week with the colder conditions first kicking in yesterday. 

Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: ‘Tuesday morning will start off bright but cold, with patchy frost likely. Plenty of showers will move in from the north, likely bringing snow to higher ground across Scotland.

‘The North Sea coasts are in the firing line for showers, while temperatures will fall widely below average, especially compared to the weekend. It will be feeling much colder than it has done of late.

‘Wednesday will see snow across north-eastern parts of Scotland, namely the Highlands, and high ground will see flurries to a lower level. Sunshine peaking through the clouds will likely melt the snow away to lower levels.

‘Temperatures will see highs of 8-9C but it will feel more like freezing. Thursday will also be a cold and frosty start and there will be icy stretches wherever there has been rain, so take care if you’re out and about in the early hours.

‘There will be plenty of showers across North Sea coasts bringing sleet and snow, mainly across high ground. It will be largely dry across the rest but we can’t rule out showers inland. The temperature will be more like freezing.’

The wintery conditions at Cheltenham today come after racegoers enjoyed a dramatic opening day at the festival. 

The shock of the day came in the 2025 Unibet Champion Hurdle with the loss of overwhelming favourite Constitution Hill.

The 2023 champion fell at the fourth-last hurdle, leaving the door open for 25/1 outsider Golden Ace to take the title.

One punter was so sure of Constitution Hill that they placed a £20,000 bet on the horse to win at odds of 1/2.

It was a big win for the bookies, with virtually no takers seen collecting winnings after the race.

However punters remained in good spirits as they hit the town for a boozy night out following a day of racing.