Former England rugby skipper Mike Tindall previously claimed the Cheltenham Festival has been a source of anguish for him. The 47-year-old said it’s “a shame” that he’s had more losing experiences than winning ones at the famous meet.
Tindall is a long-time racing fan, alongside his wife, Zara Tindall, an accomplished equestrian and Olympic silver medalist.
During his legendary nine-year career for Gloucester, Tindall found that embracing racing was a relaxing departure from the stresses of being a professional rugby player.
“Every day off that you have, you would go down to the racetrack,” he told the Daily Mail. “Sometimes even after training, you would get changed pretty quickly and head down there for the afternoon.”
Yet, Tindall admitted that he unfortunately associates the Festival more with heartbreak than with actually winning. He said: “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 [Willie] Mullins horse that everyone was on the fiver-timer, that was rough.
Mike and Zara Tindall attending day one of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.)
“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!”
Tindall can count having Monbeg Dude, who he owned with fellow rugby stars Nicky Robinson and James Simpson-Daniel, run in the Gold Cup among his favourite memories. He added: “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.”
However, during an interview on the last day of the Cheltenham Festival in 2025, Tindall revealed that, despite the losses, he still knows how to have a good time.
Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo)
Speaking to Raceday.RTV, he said: “It’s been a really tough week for the punters… It’s been really hard.” He added that “everyone’s still in a good mood… Guinness is still flowing… that’s what it’s all about.”
Zara, daughter of Princess Anne, who has been spotted next to her Rugby World Cup-winning husband at this year’s festival, is no stranger to the four-day event. Mike and Zara, in her role as Cheltenham Racecourse Director, have attended every day of the festival so far.
They even joined Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal and Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, at Ladies Day on Wednesday.