Races start at the same time each day, with the first race set for off at 13:20. The day’s main race takes place at 15:05, and the last race each day is at 16:50.
Tuesday, 16 March
The big race on the opening day at Cheltenham is Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy. Run over 2m 87y with 10 runners. Honeysuckle is the race favourite @11/8. Closely followed by Epatante (4/1) & Goshen (5/1). Epatante won the race last year while 2/1f.
- 13:20 – Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle 2m 87y
- 13:55 – Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase 1m 7f1 99y
- 14:30 – Festival Trophy Ultima Handicap Chase 3m 1f
- 15:05 – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2m 87y
- 15:40 – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 2m 3f 200y
- 16:15 – Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle 2m 87y
- 16:50 – National Hunt Novices’ Chase 3m 5f 201y
Wednesday, 17 March
The big early news is the late withdrawal of Nicky Henderson’s Altior from the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The 11-year-old has previously won this race twice and was among the favourites for this year’s race. As a result Chacun Pour Soi’s odds have dropped to 10/11. Nube Negra is priced @ 7/1, Put The Kettle On is 17/2 and Politologue 10/1.
- 13:20 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2m 5f
- 13:55 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 3m 80y
- 14:30 – Coral Cup Hurdle 2m 5f
- 15:05 – Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase 1m 7f 199y
- 15:40 – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 37y
- 16:15 – Johnny Henderson Close Brother Handicap Chase 1m 7f 199y
- 16:50 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper 2m 87y
Thursday, 18 March
Open to horses aged over four, the Stayers’ Hurdle is the highlight of Thursday’s meeting. A shock winner last year with Irish horse Lisnagar Oscar taking the Grade 1 race @ 50/1. Ronald Pump finished second, priced at 20/1. Paisley Park is well-fancied for this one, priced @ 15/8. Sire Du Berlais is also well-backed, dropping to 9/2 in early betting.
- 13:20 – Marsh Novices’ Chase 2m 3f 168y
- 13:55 – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle 2m 7f 213y
- 14:30 – Ryanair Chase 2m 4f 127y
- 15:05 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 2m 7f 213y
- 15:40 – Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase 2m 4 127y
- 16:15 – Daylesford Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 2m 179y
- 16:50 – Kim Muir Handicap Chase 3m 2f
Friday, 19 March
In Friday’s Gold Cup Chase, the WP Mullins trained Al Boum Photo is the favourite, priced at 5/2. The horse won the Gold Cup in 2019 and 2020 and could claim a hattrick of wins here. Nube Negra is the second favourite @7/1. Nube Negra beat Altior while priced @ 20/1 in the 2020 Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park. Other prices include Put The Kettle On @ 10/1, First Flow @ 14/1 and Sceau Royal @20/1.
- 13:20 – JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 179y
- 13:55 – Randox Health County Hurdle 2m 179y
- 14:30 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – 2m 7f 213y
- 15:05 – WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase 3m 2f 70y
- 15:40 – St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase 3m 2f 70y
- 16:15 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase 2m 4f 127y
- 16:50 – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 56y
While there will be no spectators at Cheltenham this year, all the action is on ITV Racing, with this year being the first that ITV will be showing the first six races each day. Coverage starts on ITV at 1pm until 4:30pm. The 16:50 races can be viewed via Racing TV or via streaming with selected bookmakers. You will also be able to replay the action using The ITV Hub.
