Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13, 2025.Photo:Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty
Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty
Mike Tindallis a pro at navigating the long days of equestrian events, and he has shared his particular trick for the Cheltenham Festival.
After chatting about the action on the track, the relaxed atmosphere and the good weather, the interviewer asked, “Last question. Have you gotten any tips for surviving four days of Cheltenham?”
“It’s all about management, liver management,” Mike joked. “It’s not easy to do. All it takes is bumping into an old friend to push you over the limits.”
“But you always have to remember, with Guinness, you get a little Zero, and no one knows,” he continued, referring to the brewer’s non-alcoholic beer option. “A little Guinness Zero in the middle when no one knows. It goes a long way.”
“Genius,” the reporter replied, and they both laughed.
Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13, 2025.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty
Mike offered the lighthearted comment behind the scenes on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival. The event is considered to be the Olympics of horse racing, bringing the sport’s best horses, jockeys and trainers together for four days each March at the Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire.
Mike and Zara are known to go annually, and they have attended every day of the festivities running this year from March 11 to March 14.
The couple — who wed in 2011 and share children Mia, 11, Lena, 6, and Lucas, 3 — had a double date withPrincess EugenieandJack Brooksbankat the Cheltenham races on March 12. Royal cousins Zara and Eugenie, 34, seemingly coordinated their outfits with burgundy hues on what’s dubbed “Style Wednesday” at the festival, and they all took a picture together.
It was a royal repeat for Zara, Mike, Eugenie and Jack, 38, as the couples went to Cheltenham together last year on “Style Wednesday” as well.
Elsewhere during the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, its National Hunt Chase race on March 11 was permanently renamed to the Princess Royal National Hunt Chase in tribute to Princess Anne. The homage honors her equestrian success and support for the Cheltenham Racecourse, and her son-in-law Mike said it meant much to her.
“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,” he told theDaily Mailearlier this week.
“Princess Anne and Zara are just so passionate about it,” he added. “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 afterward and how to make sure a horse has a good life afterward. 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 honoring 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.”
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Both mother and daughter have previously saddled up to compete on the equestrian team for Great Britain in the Olympics, and Zaraexclusively told PEOPLEin 2023 that “there’s always horse conversation” happening in her family.
source: people.com