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  • 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  RACEDISTANCE  TYPE  
13:30The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)2m abt ½fHurdle
14:10The Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1)abt 2mChase
14:50The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Premier Handicap)3m abt 1fChase
15:30The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)2m abt ½fHurdle
16:10The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)2m abt 4fHurdle
16:50The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)2m abt ½fHurdle
17:30The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase) (Grade 2)3m abt 6fChase

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  RACEDISTANCE  TYPE  
13:30The GallagherNovices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)2m abt 5fHurdle
14:10The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1)3m abt ½ fChase
14:50The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap)2m abt 5fHurdle
15:30The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1)Abt 2mChase
16:10The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase3m 6fChase
16:50The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap)abt 2mChase
17.30The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)                                               2m abt ½fBumper

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  RACEDISTANCETYPE
13:30The Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)2m abt 4fChase
14:10The Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Listed) (Premier Handicap)Abt 3mHurdle
14:50The Ryanair Steeple Chase (Grade 1)2m abt 5fChase
15:30The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)abt 3mHurdle
16:10The TrustATrader Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Premier Handicap)2m abt 4½fChase
16:50The Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)2m 1fHurdle
17:30The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (Sponsored by The JRL Group) Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145)3m abt 2fChase

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.

TIMESRACEDISTANCETYPE
13:30The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)2m abt 1fHurdle
14:10The County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)2m abt 1fHurdle
14:50The Albert Bartlett  Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)abt 3mHurdle
15:30The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1)3m abt 2½fChase
16:10The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase3m abt 2½fChase
16:50The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2)2m abt ½fChase
17:30Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-145)2m abt 4½fHurdle

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:

HorseOdds
State Man4/9
Irish Point11/2
Ibirico Lord11/1
Nemean Lion20/1
Zarak The Brave22/1
Not So Sleepy40/1
Luccia 40/1
Colonel Mustard50/1
Odds correct as of 12.03.2024 9:00 Odds subject to change

Results:

  1. State Man
  2. Irish Point
  3. Luccia

Day Two

3.30pm Queen Mother Champion Chase. Won in 2022 and 2023 by Willie Mullins’ Energumene.

Latest Odds:

HorseOdds
El Fabiolo8/15
Jonbon4/1
Edwardstone6/1
Captain Guinness 12/1
Elixer De Nutz28/1
Gentleman De Mee33/1
Boothill50/1
Funambule Sivola150/1
Odds correct as 12.03.2024, 09:00. Odds subject to change.

Result:

  1. Captain Guinness
  2. Gentleman de Mee
  3. 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:

HorseOdds
Envoi Allen4/1
Banbridge10/3
Stage Star9/2
Conflated 7/1
Capodanno15/2
Fil Dor 10/1
Ahoy Senor12/1
Protekorat14/1
Fugitif 25/1
Hitman 25/1
Odds correct as of 12.03.24 at 09:00. Odds subject to change.

Result:

  1. Protektorat
  2. Envoi Allen
  3. Conflated

3.30pm Stayers’ Hurdle. Won in 2023 by Sire Du Berlais.

HorseOdds
Teahupoo2/1
Crambo7/2
Noble Yeats11/2
Flooring Porter8/1
Sir Gerhard9/1
Home By The Lee14/1
Paisley Park14/1
Sire Du Berlais16/1
Champ20/1
Dashel Drasher 25/1
Asterion Forlonge40/1
Buddy One50/1
Janidil 50/1
Odds correct as of 12.03.2024 at 9:00. Odds subject to change.

Result:

  1. Teahupoo
  2. Flooring Porter
  3. 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:

HorseOdds
Galopin Des Champs5/4
Fastorslow9/2
Shishkin13/2
Gerri Colombe10/1
L’Homme Presse12/1
Hewick16/1
Bravemansgame16/1
Gentlemansgame 16/1
Corach Rambler20/1
Monkfish25/1
The Real Whacker33/1
Nassalam33/1
Jungle Boogie 40/1
Odds correct as of 12.03.2024 at 9:00. Odds subject to change.

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Cheltenham Festival 2024 takes place from Tuesday March 12 and Friday March 15.

There are seven races per day at the Cheltenham Festival, making it 28 races over the course of the week.

The only place to watch the entire Cheltenham Festival is on Racing TV, which will broadcast all seven races on each day. Racing TV is a subscription-based channel available through Sky and Virgin Media and online via its website and app. Build-up coverage starts at 12.30pm GMT every day and coverage concludes after the final race.

ITV1 will usually broadcast the first five races for free, with coverage beginning at 1pm every day. The preview show 'The Opening Show' will be broadcast from 8.30am to 10am across all four days of the meeting.

Chris

Chris is a former athlete and a qualified PE teacher. He is a keen football fan, watching many matches at different levels throughout the season, and enjoys following many different sports. With betting and sports sites, he has a keen eye for detail and can to highlight positives and negatives for users. His experience in sport as a performer, teacher, writer and fan allows him to see things from many different perspectives.

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