Cheltenham Festival Tips – Complete Horse Racing Guide
If you are interested in horse racing betting, then you’ll certainly have heard of the Cheltenham Festival, one of the biggest events in British jump racing. Held at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire every March, it brings together some of the best horses, jockeys and trainers from Britain and Ireland. This Cheltenham Festival guide will take you through the major races, Cheltenham Festival tips, how to plan your bets, the racecourse itself and what you need to know if you plan to attend.
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What Is the Cheltenham Festival?
To bring you up to speed with the basics, the Cheltenham Festival is a four-day annual jump racing meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse. It is one of the most important National Hunt racing fixtures each year, and it attracts top horses, jockeys and trainers from both Britain and Ireland.
Over the four days, there are hurdle races, steeplechases, handicaps and novice events, and championship races form the heart of the meeting. The races test horses over different distances and obstacles, from fast two-mile contests to far longer races.
The high quality of the racing is a major reason the Festival attracts so much attention. Many of the best jump horses of the season are present there, while the strength of the fields also means that there are considerable Cheltenham Festival betting opportunities. As such, for many fans, Festival week is the point around which the entire jump racing season is built.
Major Races at the Cheltenham Festival
There are 28 races across the four days of the Festival, but it is just a few of them that stand out as the main championship contests. These Grade 1 races bring together the best horses in different jump racing categories, with some focusing on speed and others on stamina.
The major races are spread across the week, which means each day has at least one main highlight, and they are the races that tend to attract the most attention from both racing fans and bettors.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the Festival’s flagship race and is run on the final day. It is a Grade 1 steeplechase over around three miles and two-and-a-half furlongs on the New Course, with 22 fences to be jumped.
The race is designed for elite staying chasers, so horses need both stamina and reliable jumping. Winning the Gold Cup is one of the biggest achievements in National Hunt racing, and horses such as Golden Miller, Arkle, Best Mate and Kauto Star have all helped build its reputation. Gold Cup Day is also the traditional climax of the Festival.
The Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is the main race on the opening day of the Festival. This Grade 1 contest is run over around two miles and brings together the leading hurdlers in training.
Compared with longer Festival races, the Champion Hurdle is more about speed, accurate jumping and the ability to hold a good pace. There is little room for error, particularly in a competitive field where one poor jump can cost a horse its position. As the first major championship race of the week, it also helps set the tone for the rest of the Festival.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the leading two-mile chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Run on the second day, it is a Grade 1 race for specialist chasers with the speed to travel well over the minimum distance.
The horses still need to jump 12 fences, so speed alone is not enough, and mistakes can be particularly costly as there is less time to recover than in a longer race. This combination of pace and jumping makes the Champion Chase one of the most exciting contests of the week.
The Stayers’ Hurdle
The Stayers’ Hurdle is the Festival’s main championship race for long-distance hurdlers. It is run over around three miles on the third day, and it is a very different type of race from the much shorter Champion Hurdle.
Because of its length, stamina is very important. Horses need to travel efficiently, jump well and still have enough left for Cheltenham’s uphill finish. The distance also makes tactics important. Going too quickly can leave a horse with very little left at the end, while waiting too long can make it difficult to catch a rival that has already made its move.
The Ryanair Chase
The Ryanair Chase is another Grade 1 contest on the third day of the Festival. It is run over around two miles and four-and-a-half furlongs, and it sits between the shorter Queen Mother Champion Chase and the much longer Gold Cup.
It is an important championship option for chasers that may not be best suited to either extreme. Horses need enough speed to stay in touch, but also the stamina to handle the longer distance and Cheltenham finish. The race was first run when the Festival expanded to four days in 2005, and it has since become one of its biggest highlights.
Cheltenham Festival Betting
It is no surprise that the horse racing Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest weeks of the year for the UK betting industry. Markets for the major races can open months before the meeting, which means you will often see Cheltenham Festival betting odds well before the final fields are known.
If you bet ante-post, you may get a better price than is available closer to the race. However, standard ante-post rules normally mean you lose your bet if the horse does not run unless Non-Runner No Bet or another concession applies.
You will know which horses are due to run after final declarations have been made, and you should then still consider field size, race conditions and any late changes to the going.
Cheltenham is highly competitive, so there is no benefit to betting simply because a horse has a familiar name or short price. Look at the race itself and whether the conditions suit the horse.
Cheltenham Festival Tips – What to Consider
Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed formula for finding winners at Cheltenham, but there are several things you should consider before you place a bet. The aim is to look at how different factors work together and whether a given race is likely to suit the horse you are considering. When doing this, try to take the following Cheltenham Festival tips into account:
- Previous Cheltenham form – Horses that have already performed well at the course have shown they can handle its unusual demands.
- Recent form – Check whether the horse has been running well and how demanding its most recent opposition was.
- Course experience – Cheltenham’s undulations and uphill finish can expose horses that are more comfortable on flatter tracks.
- Going conditions – Some horses perform much better on soft ground, while others need a faster surface.
- Race distance – Make sure the horse has shown enough speed or stamina for the distance it will face.
- Trainer form – A stable arriving at the Festival in good form can be a useful positive sign.
- Jockey form – Experienced jockeys can make a difference in large, competitive fields where positioning matters.
- Festival experience – Previous experience of the meeting can be useful for both horses and the people handling them.
Cheltenham Racecourse Guide
One of the reasons why Cheltenham Racecourse is widely associated with top-level jump racing is that the course provides a much harder test than a simple flat circuit. The course is left-handed and undulating, with changes in elevation, downhill sections and a tough climb to the finish.
Each of these has a real effect on how a horse performs. Some travel easily around Cheltenham and repeatedly perform well there, while others struggle with the turns, gradients or pace of the races.
This is one reason why previous course form is often discussed when assessing runners. A horse does not necessarily need to have raced at Cheltenham before, but proven form at the track gives you evidence that it can cope with the course rather than simply assuming that it will.
The Old Course and New Course
The Festival uses two main course configurations. The Old Course is used on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the New Course is used for the final two days on Thursday and Friday.
The Old Course is slightly sharper, while the New Course is more galloping and demanding on stamina. It is important to keep this in mind when comparing previous Cheltenham form, as a horse may suit one configuration better than the other.
While the courses share parts of the track and the same finish, the different configuration can have a huge impact on the way a race develops.
Cheltenham Hill and the Finish
The uphill finish is one of the best-known features of Cheltenham Racecourse. After travelling downhill towards the home straight, horses must then climb again on the run to the finishing line. This can cause problems for horses that used too much energy earlier in the race. A runner may appear comfortable before the final turn only to weaken when the ground starts rising.
The effect is noticeable in longer races, although even two-mile horses need enough strength to finish properly, which is why the hill is a major reason Cheltenham is considered demanding and why stamina can matter even when speed is essential.
A History of the Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival has an impressive history. Racing in Cheltenham dates back to the early 19th century, with organised Flat racing taking place in the area by 1815. The racecourse later moved to Prestbury Park, and steeplechasing became established at the present site by the end of the century.
The modern Cheltenham Festival developed during the early 20th century. The National Hunt meeting became permanently associated with Cheltenham in 1911, while two of the races that now define the Festival followed soon after. The Cheltenham Gold Cup was first run in its modern form in 1924, and the Champion Hurdle was introduced in 1927.
Over the decades, famous horses, jockeys and trainers helped turn the meeting into one of the most important events in jump racing. Golden Miller won five consecutive Gold Cups in the 1930s, while later champions such as Arkle and Best Mate became closely associated with Cheltenham.
It has not all been smooth sailing, and the Festival is still developing. For instance, the Festival was cancelled in 2001 because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, and a major change came in 2005, when it expanded from three days to four.
Why Is the Cheltenham Festival So Popular?
There are many reasons why the Cheltenham Festival is so popular, but the main reason is the quality of the racing. Many of the best jump horses, jockeys and trainers in Britain and Ireland compete at the same meeting, and there is a great deal of action packed into just four days.
There is also an intense rivalry between British and Irish racing. Horses from both nations have enjoyed considerable success at the Festival, and the competition between the two countries provides good-natured rivalry throughout the week.
The size of the crowds and the amount of media coverage also make Cheltenham feel different from an ordinary race meeting. The Festival attracts regular racing fans, occasional bettors and people who attend primarily for the atmosphere.
Betting is a major part of the week too thanks to the large fields, high-profile favourites and competitive handicaps, which provide experienced bettors with multiple opportunities.
Visiting Cheltenham Festival
Visiting the Cheltenham Festival is an unforgettable experience, but it is important to organise the practical side of your day in advance. The Festival attracts huge crowds, and transport, parking and the racecourse itself are much busier than on a normal race day.
Our Cheltenham Festival tips include planning how you’ll get to the course, which enclosure you want to use, and what access your ticket includes. You should also allow enough time to enter before racing begins. The arrangements do change from one Festival to the next, so always check the latest information from Cheltenham Racecourse before travelling.
Where Is Cheltenham Racecourse?
Cheltenham Racecourse is on Evesham Road in Gloucestershire, at Prestbury Park on the northern side of Cheltenham. It is around two miles from Cheltenham town centre.
If you want to check the location in advance, the racecourse postcode is GL50 4SH. However, the course advises people to follow the temporary event signage put up during the Festival rather than relying on normal road signs or GPS directions.
Cheltenham Spa is the nearest main railway station, and visitors arriving by train will generally need to continue to the racecourse by bus, taxi or on foot.
Cheltenham Festival Enclosures
There are three main public enclosures at the Festival: Club, Tattersalls and Best Mate.
Club is the premium option and provides the widest access, including main grandstand areas, the Parade Ring and the winning post. Tattersalls is the next tier down, and it offers good race viewing and Parade Ring access. Best Mate is the most affordable enclosure and sits opposite the main grandstand, giving you a head-on view of the racing.
Because of these differences, you should carefully check exactly what your ticket includes before booking.
Travel & Parking
There are a number of ways to reach the racecourse. As noted, Cheltenham Spa is the nearest railway station, and dedicated shuttle buses operate between the station, town centre and racecourse.
National Express also runs coach services, while taxis have designated drop-off and collection points. If you are driving, plan. For the 2027 Festival, on-site parking passes must be purchased before the day. A Park & Ride service also operates from Arle Court.
Whichever option you choose, allow extra time because roads and public transport are much busier during Festival week.
What to Know Before Visiting
Tens of thousands of people attend each day during the Festival week, so arriving early makes the experience much easier. One of our Cheltenham Festival tips is to allow plenty of time to find the correct entrance, get through security and reach your enclosure before the first race.
Check your ticket carefully so that you understand exactly what level of access you have. It is also worth checking opening times, race times and venue policies just before you travel.
You should not rely on information from a previous Festival. Parking, transport, ticket conditions and other racecourse policies regularly change, so use the official Cheltenham Racecourse information for the year you are attending. Only place bets with bookmakers that hold a licence from the UK Gambling Commission.
Cheltenham Festival Traditions
Part of the fun of attending an event like the Cheltenham Festival is taking part in its various traditions such as the Cheltenham Roar, which is the noise made by the crowd as the opening race begins. It marks the start of four days of racing and is one of the best-known moments of Festival week.
The rivalry between Britain and Ireland is another part of the meeting. Trainers, jockeys and horses from both countries compete across the week, and a great deal of attention is paid to which country has more winners.
The Festival’s history also means successful horses and racing personalities quickly become part of Cheltenham folklore. Multiple winners are remembered for years, and names such as Golden Miller, Arkle and Best Mate are well known long after their racing careers have ended.
Cheltenham Festival Dates
If you’re wondering when is Cheltenham Festival 2027, the table below contains all you need to know.
| Days | Dates | What’s on the day |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham Champion Day | Tuesday 16th March 2027 | Seven races are scheduled for Day One, with the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle as the feature race. |
| Cheltenham Ladies Day | Wednesday 17th March 2027 | Day Two features seven races, headed by the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase. |
| Cheltenham St Patrick’s Thursday | Thursday 18th March 2027 | Seven races are scheduled, including the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle. |
| Cheltenham Gold Cup Day | Friday 19th March 2027 | The Festival finishes with seven races, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup providing the main event. |
An Unmissable Occasion
The Cheltenham Festival is a leading example of all the things that make jump racing so popular: high-quality horses, championship races, a demanding racecourse and a unique atmosphere.
The Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and Ryanair Chase are all famous events that horse racing fans look forward to from one year to the next. If you are planning to attend, be sure to check the latest official information, and if you are also planning some Cheltenham Festival betting action, take the above into account to give yourself the best chance of success.
