The Cheltenham Festival 2024 promises to be a spectacular event in March and we’ve got you covered with our ultimate day-by-day guide to all the action.
It all kicks off on Tuesday, March 12 with the highlight being the Champion Hurdle, the first of several championship races across the four days, although equine freak Constitution Hill is unable to defend his crown due to illness.
The main event on day two is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which was set to provide a ding-dong battle between El Fabiolo and Jonbon, the first two home in last year’s Arkle, until the latter was declared a non-runner.
St Patrick’s Thursday will be headlined by the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle before all eyes turn to the highly-anticipated Cheltenham Gold Cup on the final day of the fiesta.
The famous Cheltenham Roar will greet the runners and riders in the first race of the Fez, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, as the likes of Mystical Power, Firefox and Tullyhill duke it out.
That is one of six Grade 1 novice events over sticks and fences as future superstars emerge on the track.
Maybe you like picking through the handicaps for each-way shots? Well, there are plenty of those to savour during the four days of action at Prestbury Park.
Paddy Power News is your home for Cheltenham Festival betting tips, and you’ll find the day-by-day schedule and race times below.
Read More: Cheltenham Festival On TV Today | Cheltenham Festival Free Live Stream | Cheltenham Festival Radio Coverage
Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Races
SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE
Date: Tuesday, March 12 Time: 13:30 Last Year’s Winner: Marine Nationale
Kicking off the Cheltenham Festival, the first race has produced several star winners and Willie Mullins will be hoping Mystical Power or Tullyhill can join the list and give the trainer yet another win in this contest.
ARKLE CHASE
Date: Tuesday, March 12 Time: 14:10 Last Year’s Winner: El Fabiolo
The leading minimum-distance novices tackle the larger obstacles in the second race of the meeting, which is yet another Grade 1. It looks wide open after last year’s Supreme scorer Marine Nationale was withdrawn due to injury.
ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE
Date: Tuesday, March 12 Time: 14:50 Last Year’s Winner: Corach Rambler
The first handicap proved to be a good platform for April’s Grand National as Corach Rambler achieved the double last year. While Chianti Classico does not hold an Aintree entry, he has been talked about as a key contender for this.
CHAMPION HURDLE
Date: Tuesday, March 12 Time: 15:30 Last Year’s Winner: Constitution Hill
The opening day’s Championship race will see State Man bid to take advantage of Constitution Hill’s absence and earn another Grade 1.
MARES’ HURDLE
Date: Tuesday, March 12 Time: 16:10 Last Year’s Winner: Honeysuckle
Here come the girls! The mares will be looking to take centre stage on day one of the Festival and Lossiemouth, who was talked about as a Champion Hurdle contender, heads the betting for this.
BOODLES JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE
Date: Tuesday, March 12 Time: 16:50 Last Year’s Winner: Jazzy Matty
The four-year-olds that fall short of the quality required to win the Triumph will take part in this. Keep an eye on Batman Girac.
NATIONAL HUNT CHASE
Date: Tuesday, March 12 Time: 17:30 Last Year’s Winner: Gaillard Du Mensil
The second-longest race in distance of the meeting rounds off the first day of action and a Mullins horse is again the early favourite with Embassy Gardens leading Paddy Power’s odds.
Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Races
BARING BINGHAM NOVICES’ HURDLE
Date: Wednesday, March 13 Time: 13:30 Last Year’s Winner: Impaire Et Passe
A spin over the intermediate distance kicks off the second day of action and Ballyburn could be aimed at this if Closutton opt against a crack at the Supreme.
BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ CHASE
Date: Wednesday, March 13 Time: 14:10 Last Year’s Winner: The Real Whacker
A future Gold Cup winner could be on the horizon and several top horses are running in this one. Fact To File is the early marker after impressing at Leopardstown.
CORAL CUP
Date: Wednesday, March 13 Time: 14:50 Last Year’s Winner: Langer Dan
The first handicap of the second afternoon usually attracts plenty of runners so make sure you don’t miss out!
CHAMPION CHASE
Date: Wednesday, March 13 Time: 15:30 Last Year’s Winner: Energumene
The feature race on Festival Wednesday has been won by Energumene for the last two years, but last year’s Arkle hero El Fabiolo is the frontrunner this time.
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
Date: Wednesday, March 13 Time: 16:10 Last Year’s Winner: Delta Work
This is one of the least-celebrated races at the Festival, but this year’s renewal looks a corker and Delta Work, who defended the crown last year, will be aiming for a three in a row this time around but 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo is in opposition.
GRAND ANNUAL HANDICAP CHASE
Date: Wednesday, March 13 Time: 16:50 Last Year’s Winner: Maskada
The second handicap of the afternoon takes place over the minimum distance and My Mate Mozzie has a real chance after winning at the Showcase meeting in October.
CHAMPION BUMPER
Date: Wednesday, March 13 Time: 17:30 Last Year’s Winner: A Dream To Share
A Dream To Share, ridden by John Gleeson, was the winner 12 months ago. This year, though, Jasmin De Vaux could be the one to beat and comes into the Festival in good form with a recent win at Naas.
Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Races
TURNERS NOVICES’ CHASE
Date: Thursday, March 14 Time: 13:30 Last Year’s Winner: Stage Star
A novice chase over the intermediate distance opens the action on the third day and Britain boasts the leading contenders courtesy of Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny.
PERTEMPS FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE
Date: Thursday, March 14 Time: 14:10 Last Year’s Winner: Good Time Jonny
A tough handicap ramps up the action in the second contest of the day and Icare Allen is one of a number of Irish prospects bidding to land the crown.
RYANAIR CHASE
Date: Thursday, March 14 Time: 14:50 Last Year’s Winner: Envoi Allen
The pick of the supporting races is the Ryanair Chase and last year’s winner Envoi Allen will be hoping to retain his crown but will face stiff competition from the likes of Banbridge and Stage Star. This one looks exciting!
PADDY POWER STAYERS’ HURDLE
Date: Thursday, March 14 Time: 15:30 Last Year’s Winner: Sire Du Berlais
We’re once again sponsoring the feature on St Patrick’s Thursday and keep an eye on former Grand National winner Noble Yeats, who is a live contender after landing a thrilling renewal of the Cleeve Hurdle on Trials Day.
PLATE HANDICAP CHASE
Date: Thursday, March 14 Time: 16:10 Last Year’s Winner: Seddon
A meeting at Cheltenham wouldn’t be the same without this big-field handicap event and it promises to be a tight contest with the likes of Crebilly and Theatre Man among the likely principal players.
MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE
Date: Thursday, March 14 Time: 16:50 Last Year’s Winner: You Wear It Well
The penultimate race on day three could be one of the most exciting of the whole week as Brighterdaysahead, Jade De Grugy and Dysart Enos face off.
KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP
Date: Thursday, March 14 Time: 17:30 Last Year’s Winner: Angels Dawn
A race for amateur jockeys over a marathon trip of 3m2f, Angels Dawn is in contention to repeat last year’s success.
Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Races
TRIUMPH HURDLE
Date: Friday, March 15 Time: 13:30 Last Year’s Winner: Lossiemouth
The big race for juveniles kicks off the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. Sir Gino leads the betting and has been named as the most exciting prospect by our expert Ruby Walsh.
COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE
Date: Friday, March 15 Time: 14:10 Last Year’s Winner: Faivoir
Novice hurdler King Of Kingsfield could be well handicapped after showing plenty of promise in Ireland this season.
ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE
Date: Friday, March 15 Time: 14:50 Last Year’s Winner: Stay Away Fay
The longest of the novice hurdle contests was won by Stay Away Fay last year. This year, High Class Hero is one of the favourites but the strength of his form could leave room for an upset.
CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
Date: Friday, March 15 Time: 15:30 Last Year’s Winner: Galopin Des Champs
The biggest race of the Festival. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the one they all want to win. Galopin Des Champs is hoping to make it back-to-back victories and join the list of eight horses to win the famous race more than once. He’s the early favourite after smashing Fastorslow in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup.
ST JAMES’S PLACE FESTIVAL HUNTERS’ CHASE
Date: Friday, March 15 Time: 16:10 Last Year’s Winner: Premier Magic
This is a chance for the amateur jockeys to ride over the Gold Cup course and Its On The Line currently leads the betting but dual Cheltenham Festival winner Samcro is in contention to run.
MRS PADDY POWER MARES’ CHASE
Date: Friday, March 15 Time: 16:50 Last Year’s Winner: Impervious
Once again we’re sponsoring this one and, after a hugely impressive Leopardstown, Dinoblue is the one to watch in this as Willie Mullins looks to regain the crown he won in 2021 and 2022.
MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP HURDLE
Date: Friday, March 15 Time: 17:30 Last Year’s Winner: Iroko
The end of the chaotic four days comes with a big-field handicap. Quai De Bourbon, trained by four-time winner of the race Willie Mullins, heads the early betting after positive signals on the preview circuit.
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