The Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Racecourse is the home of jump racing and the setting for the most famous National Hunt meeting in the world. Set below the Cotswold Hills at Prestbury Park, it is a left-handed track known for sweeping turns, changing gradients and one of the stiffest uphill finishes in British racing.

It is a proper test of balance, stamina and courage, which is one of the reasons Cheltenham produces so many dramatic finishes and unforgettable Festival moments. Horses not only need class here, they need to see their race out strongly up the famous hill.

Racing in Cheltenham dates back to the early nineteenth century, with organised meetings taking place in 1815 before the course eventually settled at Prestbury Park. Since then, Cheltenham has grown into the spiritual home of National Hunt racing and the centrepiece of the jumps season.

Today the Cheltenham Festival stretches across four days and 28 races, combining championship contests, novice races, major handicaps and some of the best atmospheres in the sport. For racing fans, owners, punters and casual visitors alike, it remains one of the great weeks in the British sporting calendar.

Champion Day – Tuesday
The Festival begins with one of the best opening days in world racing, headlined by the Champion Hurdle and supported by top novice events, major handicaps and a huge atmosphere from the first race onwards.

Ladies Day – Wednesday
Day two mixes style and sport in equal measure. It traditionally features the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Cross Country action, novice races and the Champion Bumper, making it one of the most varied cards of the week.

St Patrick’s Thursday
Thursday brings a brilliant blend of championship quality and Festival atmosphere, with the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle sharing the spotlight alongside competitive handicaps and strong Irish support throughout the day.

Gold Cup Day – Friday
The meeting ends with the biggest day of all. Gold Cup Day also features the Triumph Hurdle and other major races, but everything builds towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the ultimate prize in jump racing and one of the sport’s most famous contests.

Cheltenham is the most prestigious meeting in the National Hunt season and the place where reputations are made. It brings together established champions, exciting novices, hardened handicappers and some of the biggest betting races of the year.

The demands of the track mean that course form matters more here than at many venues. Horses need to jump accurately, travel strongly and then find plenty up the hill, which is why Cheltenham often rewards bravery, stamina and balance in equal measure.

For punters, it is one of the most fascinating weeks of the year. For racing fans, it is the meeting everything else points towards. Very few sporting events combine history, atmosphere and elite competition as consistently as the Cheltenham Festival.