Jockey Steve Smith Eccles was leading rider at the festival in 1985 and won eight Cheltenham Festival Races between 1978 and 1987. He rode his 1st winner on November 28th 1973 at Market Rasen on Ballysilly and went on to ride over 900 winners worldwide with 876 in the UK.
We have Steve on these eight festival winners.
| Race | Year | Horse | Trainer |
| RSA Chase | 1978 | Sweet Joe | Harry Thomson Jones |
| Champion Hurdle | 1985 | See You Then | Nicky Henderson |
| Triumph | 1985 | First Bout | Nicky Henderson |
| Grand Annual | 1985 | Kathies Lad | Alan Jarvis |
| Supreme Novices | 1986 | River Ceiriog | Nicky Henderson |
| Champion Hurdle | 1986 | See You Then | Nicky Henderson |
| Champion Hurdle | 1987 | See You Then | Nicky Henderson |
| Triumph | 1987 | Alone Success | Nicky Henderson |
He won three Champion Hurdles in succession on Nicky Henderson’s three time Champion Hurdle Winner See You Then.
1986 Champion Hurdle
1987 Champion Hurdle
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