Cheltenham ( /ˈtʃɛltnəm/), also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, England, located on the edge of the Cotswolds. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held every March. The town hosts several festivals of culture often featuring nationally and internationally famous contributors and attendees; Cheltenham Literature Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Science Festival and Cheltenham Music Festival.

The town was awarded a market charter in 1226, and has been a health and holiday resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716. Horse racing began in Cheltenham in 1815, and became a major national attraction after the establishment of the Festival in 1902. On 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, the borough of Cheltenham was merged with Charlton Kings urban district to form the non-metropolitan district of Cheltenham. Four parishes — Swindon Village, Up Hatherley, Leckhampton and Prestbury — were added to the borough of Cheltenham from the borough of Tewkesbury in 1991.

James Champion VC MSM (1834 – 4 May 1904) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Champion was approximately 24 years old, and a Troop Sergeant-Major in the 8th Hussars (The King's Royal Irish), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 8 September 1858 at Beejapore, India, for which he was awarded the VC:

He later joined the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars.

The medal is displayed at Eastbourne Redoubt Fortress Museum, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex

Willie Mullins (born 5 September 1956) is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Muine Bheag, County Carlow, Ireland

He commenced racehorse training in 1988 having previously worked as an assistant to his father Paddy Mullins and Jim Bolger. Willie is a former six times amateur champion jockey in Ireland, winning the 1983 Aintree Fox Hunters on Atha Cliath and the 1996 Cheltenham Bumper on Wither Or Which.

He is the trainer of the 2005 Grand National winner Hedgehunter and the 2011 Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly and trained the horse, On His Own in the 2012 Grand National . He is also trainer of the three times David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle champion, Quevega. and Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle champion, Mikael d'Haguenet.

Statistics on Mullins' performance are here