The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the National Hunt season in the UK. The festival is held over four days, Tuesday to Friday, in March and attracts top quality national hunt horses for top quality races. There are 26 races held over the four days with each and every one full of the best possible national hunt horses. There is also a feature race every day with the Champion Hurdle on the Tuesday, the Queen Mother Champion Chase on the Wednesday, the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on the Thursday and the Gold Cup on the Friday.
Each and every race is huge in betting terms with millions being wagered on every single race. Bookmakers also offer special offers on the festival. Check out the special offers section below.
You can buy tickets for the festival from the Cheltenham Racecourse website.
| The Races |  |
Watch Live | |
Offers | |
Race Profiles | |
| Hurdles Course | Chase Course |
 |
 |
Left handed - Stiff - Undulating - Uphill - Big fences
Old Course - oval, 1m4f with a run in of 350y. A testing undulating track with stiff fences. The ability to stay is essential as the going can get heavy in wet weather.
New Course - oval, 1m5f with a run in of 220y. It is undulating with stiff fences and is a testing course which is uphill for the final half mile.
4f testing uphill finish means that horses must stay every yard at the trip to win. Horses are laid out to win here so previous form is not much use. Top weights struggle as their unexposed rivals come out on top.
| Tuesday | |||
| 13:30 | Supreme Novices Hurdle | Grade 1 Class 1 2m110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| 14:05 | Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase | Grade 1 Class 1 2m | Odds and Free Bets |
| 14:40 | Trophy Handicap Chase | Grade 3 Class 1 3m110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| 15:20 | Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy | Grade 1 Class 1 2m110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| 16:00 | Cross Country Handicap Chase | Class 2 3m7f | Odds and Free Bets |
| 16:40 | David Nicholson Mares Hurdle | Grade 2 Class 1 2m4f | Odds and Free Bets |
| 17:15 | Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase | Listed 2m 4f 110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| Wednesday | |||
| 13:30 | NH Chase Challenge Cup Novices Chase | Class 2 4m | Odds and Free Bets |
| 14:05 | Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle | Class 1 2m5f | Odds and Free Bets |
| 14:40 | RSA Chase | Grade 1 Class 3m110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| 15:20 | Queen Mother Champion Chase | Grade 1 Class 1 2m | Odds and Free Bets |
| 16:00 | Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle | Grade 3 Class 1 2m5f | Odds and Free Bets |
| 16:40 | Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle | Grade 3 Class 1 2m110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| 17:15 | Champion Bumper | Grade 1 Class 1 2m110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| Thursday | |||
| 13:30 | Jewson Novices Handicap Chase | Listed Class 1 2m5f | Odds and Free Bets |
| 14:05 | Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle | Listed Class 1 3m | Odds and Free Bets |
| 14:40 | Ryanair Chase | Grade 1 Class 1 2m5f | Odds and Free Bets |
| 15:20 | Ladbrokes World Hurdle | Grade 1 Class 1 3m | Odds and Free Bets |
| 16:00 | Festival Plate Handicap Chase | Grade 3 Class 1 2m5f | Odds and Free Bets |
| 16:40 | Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase | Class 2 2m5f | Odds and Free Bets |
| Friday | |||
| 13:30 | JCB Triumph Hurdle | Grade 1 Class 1 2m1f | Odds and Free Bets |
| 14:05 | County Handicap Hurdle | Grade 3 Class 1 2m1f | Odds and Free Bets |
| 14:40 | Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle | Grade 1 Class 1 3m | Odds and Free Bets |
| 15:20 | Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase | Grade 1 Class 1 3m2f110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| 16:00 | Foxhunter Steeple Chase | Class 1 3m2f110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| 16:40 | Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle | Class 2 2m4f110y | Odds and Free Bets |
| 17:15 | Grand Annual Challenge Chase | Grade 3 Class 1 2m110y | Odds and Free Bets |
Back To Top
Back To Top
Back To Top
To select horses to back at the Cheltenham Festival we are using the technique that has proved profitable over the last few years at the festival. This method is using race profiling where we look at the profile of previous winners of each race and then look for horses amongst the runners which fits the profile. You can read more about race profiling.
We will be using level stakes (100 points) per race but as this method often throws up more than one selection per race this stake will be split between all selections in each race.
Race 1 - 13:30 Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
Positives are horses trained in Ireland, particularly horses trained by Mullins, Mead or O'Grady, also horses trained by Nicky Henderson. French bred horses and horses with no more than two runs over hurdles. Negatives are horses beaten last timeout and that have not run for more than 45 days. Key trends are 31 of the last 35 winners were aged 5 or 6, 11 of the last 18 winners were trained in Ireland, 13 of the last 14 winners won last time out and 6 of the last 9 runners to start at odds of 2/1 or less were beaten.
Race 2 - 14:05 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade 1)
Positives are 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the betting, the top rated hurdler, French breds. Negatives are favourites, officially rated less than 142, not run this calender year and did not finish 1st or 2nd last time out. Key trends are 7 year olds have won 4 of the last 5 runnings, only 1 favourite has won since 1992 and 10 of the last 12 winners started 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the betting.
Race 3 - 14:40 Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Positives are horses in the first 4 in the betting, trained in Ireland, placed at the festival before, novices and last time out winners. Negatives are horses aged over 10, officially rated over 150 and ran in the Hennessey Gold Cup. Key trends are no winner has carried 11 stone or more for 12 years and only 2 favourites have won since 1977.
Race 4 - 15:20 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
Positives are trained in Ireland and ran in this race last year. Negatives are beaten last time out, outside the first 6 in the betting, not run in this calendar year and the winner of the Supreme Novices Hurdle or the Christmas Hurdle. Key trends are 22 of the last 26 winners won last time out, 16 of the last 21 winners had winning Cheltenham form and 14 of the last 18 winners had finished 1st or 2nd at the festival before.
Race 5 - 16:00 Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (Cross Country)
Positives are first 3 in the betting, trained by Enda Bolger and horses that ran well in the handicap here in December and the P.P. Hogan Chase. Negatives are British trained horses, younger than 8 and never run in any kind of cross country race before. Key trends are Irish trained horses have won all five renewals, Irish trained horses occupied the first 9 places in last years race.
Race 6 - 16:40 David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (Grade 2)
Positives are Irish trained, 5 year olds and novices. There are no significant negatives. There are no key trends as this is only the 3rd running of the race.
Back To Top
Race 1 - 13:30 140th Year Of The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase)
Positives are horses trained by Johnjo O'Neil and owned by JP McManus, 1st or 2nd last time out and has run 3 or 4 times over fences. Negatives are 5 and 6 year olds, outside the first 4 last time out, 2 runs or less over fences, trained by Paul Nicholls. Key trends are last years winner was the first 6 year old to win for 20 years, 24 of the last 26 winners finished in the first 4 in their prep race.
Race 2 - 14:05 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 1)
Positives are trained in Ireland, 6 year olds, form in pattern races and ex bumper horses. Negatives are outside of the first 6 in the betting, the Challow Hurdle winner, run in less than 3 hurdle races and trained by Nicky Henderson. Key trends are
Race 3 - 14:40 RSA Chase (Grade 1)
Positives are the favourite and trained by Willie Mullins. Negatives are horses who finished out of the first 3 last time out, less than 3 chase starts, not run during the same calendar year, younger than 7 or older than 8, the Feltham Chase winner. Key trends are only two 6 year olds have won since 1978, eight of the last ten winners have been 7 year olds.
Race 4 - 15:20 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
Positives are ran in the Tingle Creek or Game Spirit Chase, trained by Paul Nicholls or in Ireland, no bigger than 5/1, French-breds. Negatives are officially rated below 160, failed to place at worse at the Festival before, have not won over at least 2m2f unless a previous course and distance winner. Key trends are 29 of the last 31 winners placed at worst in their prep race, last years winner was the first to retain his crown since 1995.
Race 5 - 16:00 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3)
Positives are Irish trained, last-time-out winners, fresh horses (either a few runs this season or running off a longish break), ran well in the MCR Hurdle or Totesport Trophy. Negatives are officially rated 148+, trained by Nicky Henderson. Key trends are Only one winning favourite since 1993, 11 of the last 13 winners have carried no more than 11 stone.
Race 6 - 16:40 Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
Positives are last time out winners, in the top third of the handicap, trained by David Pipe, fillies, Sandown winners, beaten older horses in victory, the top-rated horse on the flat. Negatives are starting at a single-figure price, a winner of either of their first two hurdling starts. Key trends are Four of the five winners of this race won their prep race, Four of the five winners have carried 10st11lbs or more.
Race 7 - 17:15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)
Positives are trained by Willie Mullins, Irish breds, not run this calendar year, at least three runs in bumpers. Negatives are beaten last time out, trained in Britain, four-year-olds, French breds, outside the first six in the betting. Key trends are the Irish have won 14 of the 17 runnings, 15 of the 17 winners won on their previous start.
Back To Top
Race 1 - 13:30 Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed)
Positives are 7 yr olds, officially rated close to 133-135, trained by Jonjo O’Neill. Negatives are aged 8 or older, won on either of first two chase start, more than one chase victory, failed to finish in the first two last time out . Key trends are 4 of the 5 winners of this race were 7 year olds, all 5 winners carried 10st11lbs or less, all 5 winners finished either 1st or 2nd in their prep race.
Race 2 - 14:05 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle)
Positives are last time out winners, the Irish Novices representing Jonjo O’Neill and/or J P McManus. Negatives are 5 yr olds, officially rated 150+. Key trends are only 1 winning 5 year old, 13 of the last 17 winners had won over at least 3 miles previously, 17 of the last 26 winners were aged 6 or 7.
Race 3 - 14:40 Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy Chase) (Grade 1)
Positives are ran well in any running of the Paddy Power Gold Cup, ran well in this season’s Boylesports.com Gold Cup, last season’s Ryanair Chase runner-up, French breds, trained by Paul Nicholls, officially rated between 152-157. Negatives are lack of Cheltenham winning form, outside the front four in the betting. Key trends are only 1 winner has won its prep race, all winners have been in the first 3 in the betting, only 1 horse younger than 8 has won in the race;s 5 year history.
Race 4 - 15:20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1)
Positives are finished first or second in the Cleeve Hurdle, ran in the Long Walk Hurdle French breds. Negatives are 5 yr olds, Irish trained, previously ran in a Champion Hurdle, outside of the first five in the betting. Key trends are no Ir.ish trained winner for 15 years, no 5 year old has ever won, only one double figured priced winner in the last 10 years.
Race 5 - 16:00 Byrne Group Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3)
Positives are French breds, trained by Nicky Henderson or Venetia Williams, runners at big prices. Negatives are carrying over 11st, unplaced last time out, trained in Ireland. Key trends are only one favourite has won since 1981, French bred horses have won 6 of the last 10 runnings, 13 of the last 15 winners carried no more than 11stone.
Race 6 - 16:40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders)
Positives are officially rated between 124-128, trained by Nicky Henderson, Ferdy Murphy and the Alners, a terrible last run has not proven to be a barrier to success. Negatives are the Irish, aged 7 or younger, trained by Paul Nicholls. Key trends are no Irish trained winner for 27 years, only 3 horses younger than 8 have won since 1978, 8 and 9 year olds have won 12 of the last 16 renewals.
Back To Top
Race 1 - 13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
Positives are first four in the betting, the Adonis Hurdle winner, had final prep-run in February, had at least three hurdling starts. Negatives are beaten last time out, officially rated below 80 on the Flat, not raced at over at least 12f on the Flat, not won at least twice over hurdles , just one hurdling start. Key trends are 13 of the last 15 winners won their prep race, only one Northern trained winner since 1976.
Race 2 - 14:05 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
Positives are 5yr olds. ran in the Totesport Trophy and/or MCR Hurdle, the Imperial Cup winner, the Irish Novices, officially rated 128-135. Negatives are, run less than 4 times earlier in the season. Key trends are only 4 winners since 1959 were aged older than 7, no winner has carried more than 11st8lbs since 1960, 32 of the last 35 runnings were won by a horse starting at no bigger than 6/1.
Race 3 - 14:40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
Positives are previous quality form at the course (notably in the Hyde Novices’ Hurdle), previously run over three miles, trained by O’Neill, Mullins, Byrnes or King. Negatives are outside the front five in the betting, ess than three runs over hurdles. Key trends are Jonjo O'Neill has won 2 of the 5 runnings, 4 of the 5 winners had won at Cheltenham in the same season.
Race 4 - 15:20 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
Race 5 - 16:00 Christie's Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
Positives are front runners, horses at bigger prices. Negatives are aged 11 or over, not originally hailing from a pointing background, failed to win last time out, not won under Rules. Key trends are 4 of the last 5 winners were aged 9, only 2 single priced winners in the last 6 years.
Race 6 - 16:40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Positives are won last time out, previous course winners, David Pipe trained. Negatives are horses without form at the track.
Race 7 - 17:15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 3)
Positives are novices, the Irish, rated between 129-134, trained by Nicky Henderson or Paul Nicholls, had their prep run over hurdles last time out, previous course winner. Negatives are bigger than 10/1, not won over at least 2m2f, carrying over 11st. Key trends are only 4 winners were aged 10 or older since 1945, novices have won 10 of the last 28 renewals, Irish trained horses have won 4 of the last 10 runnings.
Back To Top
