- Cheltenham to take place from 12 – 15 March
- High quality fields every day
- Check out the schedule and the latest odds
The Cheltenham Festival, the showpiece event of the National Hunt season, is approaching. It is a major highlight in the horse racing calendar and as ever there are a number of high quality races, with each day’s main event stacked with quality. Betting.com preview the event and bring you the latest odds, tips and results.
Dates of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival: Full timetable
This year’s festival runs from Tuesday, March 12 to Friday, March 15. Plans to add a fifth day, on the Saturday, have, for now, been put on hold. This is because of concerns about damage to the racetrack and the uncertain economic situation in Britain.
Check out the full schedule for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
Looking to have a punt at Cheltenham? Check out our top list of Cheltenham Festival betting sites.
Day 1: Champion Day – Tuesday March 12
Seven races are scheduled for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival. The feature race of the day is the Unibet Champion Hurdle, a 2 mile Grade 1 race. This takes place at 15:30.
| TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE | TYPE |
| 13:30 | The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | 2m abt ½f | Hurdle |
| 14:10 | The Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | abt 2m | Chase |
| 14:50 | The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Premier Handicap) | 3m abt 1f | Chase |
| 15:30 | The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) | 2m abt ½f | Hurdle |
| 16:10 | The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | 2m abt 4f | Hurdle |
| 16:50 | The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap) | 2m abt ½f | Hurdle |
| 17:30 | The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase) (Grade 2) | 3m abt 6f | Chase |
Day 2: Style Wednesday – Wednesday March 13
On the second day, the highlight is the Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase. Runners in this Grade 1 event jump over 12 fences over the course of 2 miles. It is the highlight of the traditionally known ladies day and is off at 15:30.
| TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE | TYPE |
| 13:30 | The GallagherNovices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | 2m abt 5f | Hurdle |
| 14:10 | The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | 3m abt ½ f | Chase |
| 14:50 | The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) | 2m abt 5f | Hurdle |
| 15:30 | The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | Abt 2m | Chase |
| 16:10 | The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase | 3m 6f | Chase |
| 16:50 | The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap) | abt 2m | Chase |
| 17.30 | The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) | 2m abt ½f | Bumper |
DAY 3: St Patrick’s Thursday – Thursday March 14
One of the key dates for Cheltenham Festival 2024 is St Patrick’s Day, as it marks the third day of racing. The feature races today are the Ryanair Steeple Chase at 14:50 and the The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at 15:30.
| TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE | TYPE |
| 13:30 | The Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 2m abt 4f | Chase |
| 14:10 | The Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Listed) (Premier Handicap) | Abt 3m | Hurdle |
| 14:50 | The Ryanair Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | 2m abt 5f | Chase |
| 15:30 | The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | abt 3m | Hurdle |
| 16:10 | The TrustATrader Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Premier Handicap) | 2m abt 4½f | Chase |
| 16:50 | The Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m 1f | Hurdle |
| 17:30 | The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (Sponsored by The JRL Group) Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145) | 3m abt 2f | Chase |
Day 4: Gold Cup Day – Friday 15 March
The focus of the day will be The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, as the name suggests. Over three miles and two furlongs long, this is the premier race of the event. It will begin at 15:30, and the winner will take home the Gold Cup.
| TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE | TYPE |
| 13:30 | The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m abt 1f | Hurdle |
| 14:10 | The County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap) | 2m abt 1f | Hurdle |
| 14:50 | The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | abt 3m | Hurdle |
| 15:30 | The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | 3m abt 2½f | Chase |
| 16:10 | The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase | 3m abt 2½f | Chase |
| 16:50 | The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2) | 2m abt ½f | Chase |
| 17:30 | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-145) | 2m abt 4½f | Hurdle |
The top betting sites are pulling out all of the stops ahead of the Cheltenham Festival. Check out our blog on the best Cheltenham offers.
Cheltenham’s races
Each day has seven races, all of a high standard. The headline race of each day is at 15.30. Antepost odds provided by bet365 and are correct at the time of writing. Odds subject to change.
Day One
3.30pm Champion Hurdle. This race was won past two years in a row by Rachael Blackmore aboard Honeysuckle in 2021 and 2022. However, last year the Nicky Henderson trained Consitution Hill, with Nico de Boinville on board, beat Willie Mullin’s State Man, ridden by Paul Townend to win. After Constitution Hill’s withdrawal with a health issue State Man is a strong favourite.
Latest Odds:
| Horse | Odds |
| State Man | 4/9 |
| Irish Point | 11/2 |
| Ibirico Lord | 11/1 |
| Nemean Lion | 20/1 |
| Zarak The Brave | 22/1 |
| Not So Sleepy | 40/1 |
| Luccia | 40/1 |
| Colonel Mustard | 50/1 |
Results:
- State Man
- Irish Point
- Luccia
Day Two
3.30pm Queen Mother Champion Chase. Won in 2022 and 2023 by Willie Mullins’ Energumene.
Latest Odds:
| Horse | Odds |
| El Fabiolo | 8/15 |
| Jonbon | 4/1 |
| Edwardstone | 6/1 |
| Captain Guinness | 12/1 |
| Elixer De Nutz | 28/1 |
| Gentleman De Mee | 33/1 |
| Boothill | 50/1 |
| Funambule Sivola | 150/1 |
Result:
- Captain Guinness
- Gentleman de Mee
- Funambule Sivola
Day Three
Day three has two feature races.
2.50pm Ryanair Chase. Won in 2023 by Evoi Allen who is 4/1 this time round.
Latest odds:
| Horse | Odds |
| Envoi Allen | 4/1 |
| Banbridge | 10/3 |
| Stage Star | 9/2 |
| Conflated | 7/1 |
| Capodanno | 15/2 |
| Fil Dor | 10/1 |
| Ahoy Senor | 12/1 |
| Protekorat | 14/1 |
| Fugitif | 25/1 |
| Hitman | 25/1 |
Result:
- Protektorat
- Envoi Allen
- Conflated
3.30pm Stayers’ Hurdle. Won in 2023 by Sire Du Berlais.
| Horse | Odds |
| Teahupoo | 2/1 |
| Crambo | 7/2 |
| Noble Yeats | 11/2 |
| Flooring Porter | 8/1 |
| Sir Gerhard | 9/1 |
| Home By The Lee | 14/1 |
| Paisley Park | 14/1 |
| Sire Du Berlais | 16/1 |
| Champ | 20/1 |
| Dashel Drasher | 25/1 |
| Asterion Forlonge | 40/1 |
| Buddy One | 50/1 |
| Janidil | 50/1 |
Result:
- Teahupoo
- Flooring Porter
- Home By The Lee
Day Four
3.30pm Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase. Won in 2023 by 7-5 favourite Galopin Des Champs, owned by Mrs Audrey Turley, trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend. Mullins and Townend were both winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup for a third time in five years, after the victories of Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020.
Looking to have a bet on the Gold Cup? Check out our preview.
Latest Odds:
| Horse | Odds |
| Galopin Des Champs | 5/4 |
| Fastorslow | 9/2 |
| Shishkin | 13/2 |
| Gerri Colombe | 10/1 |
| L’Homme Presse | 12/1 |
| Hewick | 16/1 |
| Bravemansgame | 16/1 |
| Gentlemansgame | 16/1 |
| Corach Rambler | 20/1 |
| Monkfish | 25/1 |
| The Real Whacker | 33/1 |
| Nassalam | 33/1 |
| Jungle Boogie | 40/1 |
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Tips
Betting.com will provide tips for the feature races each day at Cheltenham, through our Cheltenham Festival tips blog.
Picking out your horses for Cheltenham is virtually the same as betting on a horse to win in any race, and it is best to stick to the same principles. However, with Cheltenham being such a high profile and high quality event it is arguably more satisfying to pick a winner! There are several things which punters need to be especially aware of.
1) Find the best Cheltenham trainers
While Cheltenham Festival winners come from up and down the country, there are some trainers who seem to excel at bringing their horses to a peak for this event. So do some research and focus on the yards who have an excellent record at this meeting. Currently Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls are three of the trainers who always seem to have their top horses in form at the Gloucestershire showpiece.
2) Find the best Cheltenham jockeys
Equally you get jockeys who seem suited to certain courses and Cheltenham is no exception. As well as handling the course, jockeys who consistently perform well at Cheltenham are capable of performing on the big occasion. Rachael Blackmore, Paul Townend, Harry Cobden, Harry Skelton, Nico de Boinville and Bryony Frost are all worth watching out for.
In the big handicaps races keep an eyeout for conditional jockeys. These are less experienced riders who are developing their skills and, due to their inexperience, they can claim up to 7lbs off a horse’s weight. Some trainers, who have faith in their conditionals, like to use them in closely matched handicap races where they feel that the weight difference will be crucial.
3) Monitor form
This is key when betting on any race and it is worth looking at the horse who come into Cheltenham in good form when making your selection. However, like in all races, an out of form horse, or a horse returning from injury or coming off a break can win. With Cheltenham being such a big event, some trainers may prefer to race their horses sparingly in the weeks before the race and may be confident of them coming into the festival in peak condidtion.
4) Keep an eye on shifts in the markets
The Cheltenham Festival betting markets are fluid and competitive, with odds frequently fluctuating. The price on a horse can shorten or lengthen at any time. Look out for horses who prove popular among other punters, especially if their odds start to come down.
5) Use opinions of pundits and tipsters in your research
Read up on what the experts think about trainers, jockeys and horses you may want to back.
6) Study the odds
Study the best Cheltenham Festival betting sites and compare bookies in order to find the best quality odds in order to maximise any potential winnings.
7) Use offers and bonuses to your advantage
There are always a lot of offers and promos aimed at the Cheltenham Festival among the best betting sites in the UK. Try to find an offer or bonus that suits you in the build up to the big week.
8) Check out the best Cheltenham Festival betting sites
At Betting.com we have comprehensive top lists of the best betting sites in the UK and the best bookmakers for horse racing and the Cheltenham Festival.
As the build up to Cheltenham continues we will bring you news of the main contenders and will bring you any other stand out offers. Always remember to gamble responsibly.
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Results
We will provide the results of the feature races throughout the four days.
Check out the best horse racing bookies with Betting.com.
