The Cheltenham Festival is fast approaching, so it’s time to take note of the events. Cheltenham 2025 begins on Tuesday, March 11th and concludes on Friday, March 14th. There are 28 races across the four-day festival, with the first taking place at 1:20 pm.
Across the four action-packed days of racing are five Championship Races. These events typically have the largest prize pots and the best bragging rights for jockeys and trainers. Each day has one Championship Race at 4:00 pm, except day three. St Patrick’s Thursday has the Ryanair Steeple Chase at 3:20 pm and the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at 4:00 pm. Both events promise an exciting contest, perhaps the most exciting in years given the recent Cheltenham Festival changes.
We have created a guide explaining the most important events of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. This will help you avoid missing out on any action, including the big races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Remember to check back here throughout the week for predictions and betting tips for all the major horse races.
Day 1: Champion Day – Tuesday 11th March
The first day of the Cheltenham Festival is always exciting, and this year is no different. Champion Day marks the beginning of the festivities and there are four Grade 1 races for fans to enjoy. The Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurles marks the opening race and this year’s renewal has been renamed to honour jockey Michael O’Sullivan.
The famous Arkle is the next event. It is the leading minimum-distance chase for novices in the National Hunt calendar. The race is a favourite among fans for its tremendous pace. Winners have often gone on to win the iconic Queen Mother Champion Chase, the premium event on Day 2 of the festival. Willie Mullins looks to make it three from three here after Closutton-trained duo El Fabiolo and Gaelic Warrior won the 2023 and ‘24 renewals. Anyone keen on betting on horse racing this week will have one eye on Majborough, the favourite according to the bookies.
- 13:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – 2m
- 14:00 – Arkle Challenge Trophy – 2m
- 14:40 – Handicap Chase – 3m1f
- 15:20 – Mares’ Hurdle – 2m4f
- 16:00 – Champion Hurdle – 2m
- 16:40 – Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – 2m
- 17:20 – National Hunt Novices’ Chase – 3m6f
Next up is the Handicap Chase, one of the most competitive races of the festival. The field is often massive with 21 runners in last year’s meeting. This is a real test of stamina with 20 fences to be jumped over three miles.
The Champion Hurdle takes place at 4:00 pm, the last leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling and the most prestigious race on the National Hunt calendar. Six-time British jump racing champion trainer, Nicky Henderson, will bid to win the race for a record-extending 10th time. His entrant, Constitution Hill, heads the betting at our online bookmaker after winning this race in 2023. He missed an attempt at defending his crown through injury last year. The Champion Hurdle is one of the true highlights of the festival and sets the pace for the rest of an electrifying week of racing.
The Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and the National Hunt Novices’ Chase round off a brilliant first day of racing. These races are prime candidates to claim the Novibet €10 free bet offer if you have not already used it on the earlier races. The final event is scheduled to take place at 5:20 pm.
Day 2: Style Wednesday – Wednesday 12th March
Day two of the festival celebrates the glamour of Cheltenham. Spectators showcase their finest attire, transforming the grandstands into a display of style and sophistication. The style awards add excitement, enhancing the sense of being part of something truly special.
However, the real action is on the course. There have been some key changes at Cheltenham this year and the Turners’ Novice, which will open on Day 2, is one of the biggest. Formerly a Grade 1, as of 2025 it will be an open novice handicap chase. Willie Mullins will be looking to dominate this race once again with Final Demand looking likely to enter and go off as the favourite. This race welcomes several big chasers in the making.
- 13:20 – Turners Novices’ Hurdle Race – 2m5f
- 14:00 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase – 3m
- 14:40 – Coral Cup Hurdle – 2m5f
- 15:20 – Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase – 3m5½f
- 16:00 – Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase – 2m
- 16:40 – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase – 2m
- 17:20 – Champion Bumper – 2m
The Coral Cup Hurdle is the big handicap race of the day with several sizeable winners in recent years, including a 50/1 and 33/1 in two of the previous four renewals. Langer Dan could bid for his hat-trick after winning in 2023 and ‘24 with trainer Dan Skelton throwing his name in the hat once again.
2024 Coral Cup – Langer Dan pic.twitter.com/4C0soYlKhS
— History of Horse Racing (@horsevault) March 1, 2025
The biggest race of the day is the Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase, the leading minimum-distance chase in the National Hunt calendar. Run over 2m on the Old Course, this Grade 1 welcomes the fastest chasers in training. Nicky Henderson’s legendary Jonbon heads the betting as the British trainer looks to become the all-time leading trainer of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, having won six times alongside Tom Dreaper and Paul Nicholls.
Day 3: St. Patrick’s Thursday – Thursday 13th March
Thursday at Cheltenham is where the festival melds with the richest racing nation in the world, paying tribute to Irish heritage. Experience the passion as horses with Irish connections compete for victory, surrounded by the enthusiasm of Irish racing fans who transform the racecourse into a vibrant sea of green and gold. Some of the most highly anticipated events of the festival take place on Day 3.
- 13:20 – Ryanair Mares’ Novices Hurdle – 2m1f
- 14:00 – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – 2m4f
- 14:40 – Pertemps Network Final – 3m
- 15:20 – Ryanair Steeple Chase – 2m4f
- 16:00 – Stayers’ Hurdle – 3m
- 16:40 – TrustATrader Plate – 2m4f
- 17:20 – Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase – 3m2f
The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle kicks off proceedings on St. Patrick’s Day. This is one of the youngest races of the Cheltenham Festival, introduced in 2015. Run on the New Course, this is yet another race that Mullins has dominated. The leading Irish Champion Trainer has won five of nine renewals and his Maughreen is among the favourites this year.
The Pertemps Network Final sees the culmination of five months of qualifying races. Each runner has placed in the top four of at least one of the 22 qualifying races. This race is traditionally run with a huge field. Using our extra places promotion, there are more opportunities to win in this race. We are offering an incredible seven places on the Pertemps and three other races at the festival.
What makes Day 3 so exciting is the two champion races, beginning with the Ryanair Steeple Chase. The Grade 1 race attracts high-quality fields and has seen several runners go on to win the Gold Cup in the past. The Stayers Hurdle is the 4:00 pm race, the leading long-distance hurdle event in the National Hunt calendar. Gordon Elliott will be bidding for a third straight victory in this race and the second in the row for his leasing charge Teahupoo.
Day 4: Gold Cup Day – Friday 14th March
The final day of the festival is the biggest, with the famous Gold Cup race seen as the premier event. The most prestigious of all National Hunt events, it is sometimes referred to as the Blue Riband of jump-racing. It is the most lucrative non-handicap chase in Britain. Trainers, jockeys, and connections alike will be desperate to lift the trophy in 2025. You can bet on the biggest race of the festival with our bet €10 and get €10 offer.
- 13:20 – Triumph Hurdle – 2m
- 14:00 – County Handicap Hurdle – 2m
- 14:40 – Mares’ Steeple Chase – 2m4f
- 15:20 – Novices’ Hurdle – 3m
- 16:00 – Gold Cup – 3m2f
- 16:40 – Hunters Chase – 3m2f
- 17:20 – Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – 2m4f
The Triumph Hurdle kicks off Day 4 and is the biggest event on the National Hunt calendar for juveniles. Willie Mullins has dominated this race recently, winning four of the previous five renewals. The Grade 1 renewal looks tightly contested at the top this year with Lulamba and East India Dock heading the betting.
The County Hurdle is one of the most exciting races of the festival, with some huge winners in previous years. We have seen 12/1 and two 33/1 champions in three of the last four renewals. This is another race dominated by Willie Mullins, whose charges have won seven County Hurdle races. He has several entries in this race and the odds may be in his favour for a record-extending eighth win.
There is no bigger race than the Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival. Day 4’s feature race is steeped in history and is the most coveted prize in British National Hunt racing. The iconic Galopin Des Champs can enter the esteemed company with a win here, joining the likes of Arkle and Best Mate by winning the race for the third time in a row. That would also see Willie Mullins equal the record wins for a trainer at five. This Grade 1 welcomes the best of the best and will most likely see the largest gathering of race fans desperate to watch history.
