Cheltenham Races | Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Racecourse hosts the Cheltenham Festival each season, starting on the Tuesday and going right through until Friday for the hotly-anticipated Cheltenham Gold Cup day, with a batch of high quality races in the middle. Read More
As well as playing host to racing's most iconic festival, Cheltenham racecourse hosts a number of high profile race meetings throughout the National Hunt season and here at HorseRacing.net, you can find all the vital Cheltenham Festival information, including racecards and the latest Cheltenham Odds as well as odds, tips and more for every race day at Prestbury Park.
Below you'll find a link to all of the mouth-watering 28 Cheltenham Festival Races, while you will also be able to get Cheltenham Tips from our resident tipsters, RaceOlly, and a host of racing tipsters from the media on our Cheltenham Festival Tips page, as well as our in-house tipping team and the Twitter extraordinaire @RoadCheltenham.
We provide information on how to place all your Cheltenham bets and also provide links to some eye-catching Cheltenham Free Bets from some of the leading premier horse racing betting sites around.
Cheltenham Major Races
#AD 18+ New customers only. Free Bets credited following registration. Must be wagered 1x at min odds of 1/2 (1.5). 7-day expiry. Stake not returned. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.
#AD 18+ New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply.
Cheltenham Free Bets
Here at HorseRacing.net, we’ve looked far and wide for some of the best Cheltenham free bet offers. Here’s a sneak preview of some of our favourites, but head over to the main page to see the full menu.
BetMGM
New customers at BetMGM can land £40 of free bets when they sign up and bet £10. The £40 is split into 2x £10 free bets and 2x free acca bets (trebles and above).
#AD 18+ New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply.
bet365
Sign up and wager £10 at bet365 and you’ll unlock £30 of free bet credit, which can be used on a huge range of markets, including the Cheltenham racing.
#AD. New customers only. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration Required.
BoyleSports
You’ll get the best of both worlds at BoyleSports — sign up and bet £10 and you’ll bag a £30 bonus which you can use to bet on Cheltenham, along with £10 bonus credit to use at the site’s online casino.
#AD 18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £40 in FREE Bets (FB) as £30 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. T&Cs Apply
Sky Bet
Sky Bet has one of the most accessible welcome offers around. All you have to do is place a bet of at least 5p at odds of evens or greater and you’ll bag 4 x £10 bet credits.
#AD 18+ New customers only. First single & E/W bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 X £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply.New customers only. First single & E/W bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 X £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply.
SBK
Slick, modern sportsbook SBK is a great spot for betting on Cheltenham races on your mobile. New customers can land £40 in free bets in return for staking £10 at odds of at least 1.5. This is split into four £10 free bets — one given straight away, one after 7 days, and one after 14.
Cheltenham Results
If it’s simply the winners you’re looking for, check out our Cheltenham results page, featuring results dating all the way back to 2010. For each year we have a detailed breakdown of who finished where, as well as information on each runner.
Cheltenham Odds
Before you bet on Cheltenham festival, it’s wise to check the odds. Whether you’re doing a bit of research on which horse to back, or simply looking for the best price for your chosen runner, you can use our Cheltenham odds to compare every race during the festival. Once you’ve found your best odds, you can click through to sign up to one of our top bookies.
Cheltenham Tips
Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or are looking to make your first wager on the festival, be sure to consult our Cheltenham tips, featuring a range of picks from around the web alongside our resident tipster, Raceolly.
Cheltenham Racecourse Guide
Cheltenham Racecourse features two different courses — the ‘old’ course and the ‘new’ course — which allow the four-day festival to host a greater variety of races.
Unsurprisingly, the Old Course is the original track. It’s shorter and less demanding than the New Course, and is often favoured by faster horses. Races that take place on Tuesday and Wednesday use the Old Course, and the tight turns and upward slope of the last half mile can make for some exciting finishes.
The New Course offers a wider track for races taking place on Thursday and Friday. A substantial climb means races on this course are better suited to the strongest and most durable stayers.
Cheltenham Festival Race Schedule
With four days of phenomenal National Hunt racing to look forward to, there’s plenty of opportunity to bet on Cheltenham. But when do specific events take place? Here’s a breakdown of each day of the festival.
Day 1: Champion Day
Opening the festival is Champion Day, bringing together both reigning and future champions. The highlight of the first day is the Unibet Champion Hurdle, a Grade 1 race that’s two miles long. All seven races you can enjoy are:
- Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race;
- Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase;
- Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase;
- Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy;
- Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race;
- Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race;
- National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup.
Day 2: Festival Wednesday
Watch out for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on the second day of Cheltenham. This Grade 1 race sees runners jump 12 fences over roughly two miles. Festival Wednesday is traditionally known as Ladies’ Day and includes the following races:
- Ballymore Novices' Hurdle;
- Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase;
- Coral Cup Hurdle;
- Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase;
- Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase;
- Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase;
- Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
Day 3: St Patrick’s Thursday
Cheltenham features a strong Irish presence throughout the festival, which is only heightened on St Patrick’s Thursday. The Grade 1 Ryanair Chase is the highlight of day three, including 17 fences over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 127 yards. The full list includes:
- Turners Novices’ Chase;
- Pertemps Network Final;
- Ryanair Chase;
- Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle;
- Magners Plate;
- Jack de Bromhead Mares Novices’ Hurdle;
- Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
Day 4: Gold Cup Day
Closing out the festival is Gold Cup Day, named after the most prestigious contest in jump racing — the Cheltenham Gold Cup. There’s plenty more action to tune into, including:
- JCB Triumph Hurdle;
- McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle;
- Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle;
- Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup;
- St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup;
- Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase;
- Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
Cheltenham Racecourse Visitor Guide
Thinking about making the trip to Cheltenham yourself? Check out our visitor guide below for all you need to know in order to plan your visit.
Different Enclosures Available
Cheltenham has three different enclosures:
- The Club Enclosure is the most premium option. Ticket holders can access all public areas and are guaranteed fantastic views from the lawn, winning post, and main grandstand. Other areas included with the ticket are the Princess Royal Stand, the Village, and the Orchard. Tickets for the Club Enclosure also provide the best choice in terms of food and drink, and you can get a close look at the runners thanks to paddock viewing access.
- The Tattersalls Enclosure offers a middle ground between Club and Best Mate tickets, with up-close access to the Parade Ring, the Winner’s Enclosure, and the winning post — not to mention great views from the Tattersall Grandstand. There’s also a variety of food and drink options.
- The Best Mate Enclosure is the cheapest option, but is by no means lacking in atmosphere. Positioned opposite the main grandstand, punters in this area will get an excellent view of the action plus access to a range of bars, food stalls, and betting facilities.
Parking and Accommodation
Cheltenham Racecourse has an abundance of on-site parking. It’s advised to pre-book during the festival if you want a good spot, but this isn’t necessary — just be prepared for a bit of a walk! You’ll have to pay for parking during the festival or the Saturday of the November Meeting, but it’s free the rest of the year.
If you’re going for multiple days, there’s plenty of accommodation. The racecourse is just five minutes from Cheltenham town centre, where you’ll find everything from budget-friendly chains like Travelodge and Premier Inn, to cosy B&Bs and five-star luxury at the Cotswold Grange.
Where is Cheltenham Racecourse?
Cheltenham Racecourse is located at Prestbury Park, a short distance outside of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. It’s right next to Cheltenham Spa station, so it’s easy to visit by train.
Those travelling by car should use the postcode GL40 4SH for directions. As well as on-site parking, there’s a dedicated bus service that runs between the station, the town centre, and the racecourse.
If you’re coming from further afield, Birmingham and Bristol airports are both roughly 50 miles away.
Vital Information on Visiting Cheltenham
Before you visit, keep in mind Cheltenham Racecourse is a cashless racecourse. You can use cash at the bookmakers, but be sure to bring what you need with you as there are no cash machines on site.
There’s no official dress code at Cheltenham, with the only guidance being ‘dressed to feel your best’. The organisers believe everyone and anyone should be able to enjoy racing — for a more casual look, we recommend a smart sweatshirt, jeans, and clean trainers. If you’re dressing to impress, why not go with a suit or dress? Just remember, the weather can be a little unpredictable in early March so be sure to dress accordingly!
Frequently Asked Questions About The Cheltenham Festival
What is the Cheltenham Festival?
The Cheltenham Festival is a four-day National Hunt racing extravaganza held in March every year to celebrate the best in the sport. Known as the Olympics of jumps racing, there are 28 races run over four days, featuring the very best horses across all of the different disciplines. Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival features the Champion Hurdle which is for the best two-mile hurdlers plus some top novice races including the Arkle Challenge Trophy which is a two-mile chase contest and the meeting gets underway with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle also run over two miles. Add in the Mares' Hurdle and three competitive handicaps you could argue that Tuesday's the highlight of the week.
On Wednesday, Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival features the Queen Mother Champions Chase run over two miles. The Grade 1 contest is often one of the most exciting and some real legends of the sport have walked away as the Champion chaser including Sprinter Sacre and Altior in recent seasons. Other races on Day 2 include the Ballymore Novices Hurdle run over two and a half miles and the three-mile Festival Novices' Chase. The Coral Cup is the most competitive of handicap hurdles of the week and there's also the Cross Country chase and the Champion Bumper for a really varied day of horse racing.
Thursday sees the Stayers' Hurdle as the highlight of Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival, although this day is unique in that there are two feature races with the two and a half mile Grade 1 Ryanair Chase also taking centre stage. If you like big handicaps, the Pertemps Final and the Festival Plate are always hugely competitive and the day is rounded off with the Mares' Novices' Hurdle and another handicap in the shape of the Kim Muir.
Friday is Day 4 at the Cheltenham Festival which features the big race of the week, the Gold Cup. Run over three and a quarter miles, the race is packed full of history and has returned such winners as Arkle, Best Mate and Kauto Star. It's the number one prize in jumps racing and the supporting cast includes the Triumph Hurdle for juveniles, two competitive handicaps with the County Hurdle, Martin Pipe, plus the Hunter Chase for amateur riders and the Mares Chase which is a new addition to the Festival.
When is the 2026 Cheltenham Festival?
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival will take up its traditional spot in the middle of March, run on Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th.
- Day 1 - Tuesday 10th March 2026
- Day 2 - Wednesday 11th March 2026
- Day 3 - Thursday 12th March 2026
- Day 4 - Friday 13th March 2026
Where can I bet on Races at Cheltenham 2026?
At Horseracing.net we have odds for all 28 races for the Cheltenham Festival. We'll have odds comparison grids set up for the races as soon as our trusted bookmaker partners have priced up a race ante-post and on the day of the race you can also find Cheltenham Odds via our detailed racecards for all 28 races.
We work with tried and tested bookmakers to give our users the best possible experience when betting on the Cheltenham Festival. Many of the bookmakers will have sign up offers and Cheltenham Festival Free Bets so keep your eyes peeled on the site before and during the Festival.
How many people attend the Festival?
The Cheltenham Festival is a hugely popular event and the racecourse has gone through many changes in recent years to increase capacity.
The capacity of the racecourse has now been reduced in 2023 to 68,500 per day and would usually sell out for the four-day Cheltenham Festival.
Home of the Centaur which is an indoor auditorium which is very popular with racegoers when the weather is bad and can watch and have a bet in the warm, whilst in 2015 the racecourse increased its 6,500-capacity Princess Royal Stand which completed the course redevelopment and sits within stunning surroundings.
In 2022, over the four days, 280,627 attended the festival, with the busiest day being Friday with 73,875.
Is there a Dress Code for attending the Festival?
There is no dress code as such at the Cheltenham Festival, although you are advised to dress for conditions if the weather is cold or wet and they also advise that if you are in the Club Enclosure you wear a suit if you are a man.
Where can you watch the Cheltenham Festival races?
ITV Racing are the host broadcaster but all of the bookmakers featured on Horseracing.net offer users the facility to watch a race if they have had a bet on it if you can't get in front of a television.
Cheltenham Course Guide
The racecourse based in the outskirts of Cheltenham in the village of Prestbury is the home of national hunt racing and has three left-hand tracks, the Old Course, the New Course and the Cross Country Steeplechase course.
There are 16 days of racing spread over eight fixtures at Cheltenham the highlight of which is the four-day Cheltenham Festival which is held annually in March and features 28 races including top-notch Grade One races such as the Champion Hurdle, Arkle Challenge Trophy and Queen Mother Champion Chase and the feature race is the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Can I park at Cheltenham Racecourse?
Yes, there is on-site parking at Cheltenham Racecourse. There is a fee to park during Cheltenham Festival and the November Meeting Saturday, but it’s free the rest of the year.
What are the different enclosures at Cheltenham?
There are three enclosures at Cheltenham — Club, Tattersall, and Best Mate. The Club Enclosure is the most premium. Best Mate is the most affordable way to see Cheltenham Festival, while still providing a head-on view of the home straight.
Do you offer Cheltenham Free Bets?
Yes. You can find plenty of Cheltenham free bets here on HorseRacing.net courtesy of our partner bookmakers. Simply browse the offers on the right-hand side of the page, make your selection, and click through to sign up and claim.
Can I see all the Cheltenham Festival results here?
Yes. Here at HorseRacing.net, we have all the latest results for Cheltenham Festival, plus all the other daily racing events across the UK and Ireland. You can find the full list on our dedicated horse racing results page.
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