‘Dreadful news’: most expensive jumps horse bought at public auction to miss Cheltenham Festival

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The world's most expensive jumps racehorse sold at auction, Palladium, wins at Huntingdon.
The world's most expensive jumps racehorse sold at auction, Palladium, wins at Huntingdon in January 2025.
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Palladium, a horse who entered the history books when becoming the most expensive jumps’ racehorse to be sold at public auction, will not run as intended at this week’s Cheltenham Festival.

The four-year-old, who won the German Derby last year, was purchased by Lady Bamford for €1.4m (£1.17m) at the Arqana Arc Sale in October 2024. Now in training with Nicky Henderson, he went on to win on his hurdles debut at Huntingdon in January.

Gemma Redrup
Gemma Redrup
Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor

Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.