Whether you’re following every race closely or just tuning in for the big names, the Cheltenham Festival always delivers four packed days of top-class jump racing.
From the first roar on Tuesday to the Gold Cup on Friday, the meeting brings together the best horses, trainers, and jockeys in the sport.
This guide sets out every race from each day of the 2026 Festival. We’ll walk through the full schedule, highlight any changes from last year, and flag a few names that could shape the week.
If you’re planning a bet, watching from home, or heading to the course, this is the place to keep track of what’s running and when. For those interested in exploring independent casinos ranked at Fruityslots.com alongside the racing excitement, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve kept things simple with just the race names, times, and key details for each day. No fluff, no filler. Whether you’re a casual viewer or a seasoned punter, this breakdown will help you stay up to speed throughout the Festival.
The 2026 Festival will take place from Tuesday, March 10th to Friday 13th, which hopefully will not be unlucky for some!
Day One (Tuesday): The Festival Begins
The festival’s grand opening is a spectacle in itself, as excitement fills the air with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. This 2-mile hurdle race is renowned for unveiling future stars; many champions of today first proved their potential in this very contest.
Next up is the Arkle Novices’ Chase on the chase course, a fast-paced affair featuring two-mile novice chasers that often highlight the next generation of top-class horses likely to dominate the highest level sprint chases.
Attention then shifts to the stamina-sapping Ultima Handicap Chase, a 3-mile-plus handicap that offers seasoned stayers a chance to shine and provides clues for punters ahead of the Grand National.
The Mares’ Hurdle, run over two and a half miles, is restricted to the elite female hurdlers, with connections from both Britain and Ireland vying for glory.
The stand-out contest of day one is the Champion Hurdle, a Grade 1 event for the finest two-mile hurdlers. This prestigious race anoints the true kings and queens of the division and is often remembered for memorable duels and outstanding displays of athleticism.
The day concludes with the Fred Winter Hurdle, an ultra-competitive handicap for up-and-coming young hurdlers, and the marathon National Hunt Novices’ Chase, which, having recently been opened to professional jockeys, is the festival’s longest race at more than 3 miles and five furlongs, testing every ounce of stamina.
Day Two (Wednesday): High Stakes and High Speed
Wednesday opens with the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade 1 over a longer trip of 2 miles and 5 furlongs, attracting novice hurdlers destined for greatness.
It’s quickly followed by the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, where top-class staying novices compete over three miles, providing an early glimpse of future Gold Cup contenders.
The Coral Cup ups the ante with a big field charging over 2 miles and 5 furlongs in a fiercely competitive handicap.
Then, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase provides a unique change of scenery, challenging runners with a diverse array of obstacles and demanding agility as well as stamina, attributes made famous by multiple winner Tiger Roll.
A true highlight arrives with the Champion Chase, the championship event for two-mile chasers. In this lightning-fast race, even the smallest mistake can prove costly, making it a heart-stopping spectacle for fans.
The day rounds off with the Grand Annual Handicap Chase, the oldest race at the festival, testing quick-thinking and speed, and the Champion Bumper, a flat race for promising young horses making their first mark at the festival.
Day Three (Thursday): The Marathon Day
Thursday is run on Cheltenham’s New Course and begins with the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade 2 race for female novices looking to step up their careers in the hurdling scene.
This is followed by the newly reformatted Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase, offering an opportunity for emerging chasers over 2 miles and 4 furlongs. This race used to be known as the Turners Novices’ Chase, and with sponsorship still up in the air, it may have another name change by 2026.
Handicap enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the Pertemps Network Final, a fiercely fought three-mile contest for seasoned campaigners who have qualified throughout the year.
The Ryanair Chase stands out as one of the festival’s big-money races, offering £375,000 to the winner. This Grade 1, run over an intermediate two and a half miles, consistently produces thrilling finishes involving the best middle-distance chasers.
The third day’s centrepiece is the historic Stayers’ Hurdle, the definitive race for elite long-distance hurdlers. Established over a century ago, it has been dominated by some of the greatest stayers in horse racing history.
Day three closes with the Plate Handicap Chase, another ultra-competitive handicap, and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase, which gives amateur riders a stage on which to shine over a grueling three and a quarter miles.
Day Four (Friday): The Golden Finale
The opening Triumph Hurdle is a critical event for juvenile (four-year-old) hurdlers and has, in previous years, produced future Champion Hurdle winners and even Grand National champions.
The County Handicap Hurdle that follows is seen as a punter’s puzzle, notorious for its big fields and unpredictable finishes.
A recent addition, the Mares’ Chase, spotlights leading female chasers over two and a half miles and has quickly become one of the festival’s most prestigious events for mares.
The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle is the final challenge for developing stayers with its demanding three-mile distance often resulting in surprise victories and showcasing horses built for stamina rather than speed.
The undisputed highlight of the week is the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Watched by millions and offering the richest reward in British and Irish jump racing outside the Grand National, the Gold Cup brings together endurance, class, and heart over three miles and two and a half furlongs.
The race’s roll of honour boasts racing legends, such as Golden Miller, Kauto Star, and the Galopin Des Champs.
However, the festival doesn’t end with the Gold Cup, with two more races still on the cards until another, including the day’s penultimate race, the Hunter Chase, which mirrors the Gold Cup in distance, giving point-to-point horses and amateur riders a chance to excel.
Finally, the Martin Pipe Hurdle, a competitive handicap named for a training legend, brings the curtain down, providing one last opportunity for a hero to emerge at Cheltenham.
Changes In 2026
Most years, there are some changes to the Cheltenham Festival, whether that be sponsorship names, moving races to different days, or even changing the times of the races, and 2026 is no different.
Race Line-Up Changes
National Hunt Chase: Previously limited only to amateur riders, this contest is now open to professional jockeys (effective from 2025 and continuing in 2026).
This represents a significant shift in tradition and is meant to increase the competitiveness and safety of the field.
Novices’ Handicap Chase: The former Turners Novices’ Chase was restructured and downgraded, replaced by the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. This shake-up was introduced in 2025 and remains in the 2026 schedule.
Race Sponsorship Changes
Gold Cup: Boodles, the luxury jeweller, extended its sponsorship of the Cheltenham Gold Cup through at least 2027. Their involvement as the title sponsor for the festival’s biggest race began in 2022 and is set to last through this new multi-year deal.
Looking Ahead
Excitement is already building gor the the Cheltenham Festival 2026. With 28 races across four days, including the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and the Gold Cup, it’s the highlight of the jump racing calendar.
We will all be watching closely to see which stars return, which new names emerge, and whether Ireland will continue its strong recent form.
From opening day to Gold Cup Friday, each day brings a fresh set of contests and talking points. As the countdown begins, all eyes are now on Cheltenham.
