Cheltenham Festival- Key Dates

The annual racing-fest that is the Cheltenham Festival will soon be upon us. Here is your complete guide to this year's event, with all the 2018 dates you need to be aware of.

Festival Start — Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Tuesday 13 March 2018 - “Champion Day”

1.30pm - The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (G1 — 2m 110y)

2.10pm - The Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (G1 - 2m)

2.50pm - The Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase (G3 - 3m 110y)

3.30pm - The Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (G1 - 2m 110y)

4,10pm - The OLBG (David Nicholson) Mares’ Hurdle Race (G2 2m 4f)

4.50pm - The JT McNamara National Hunt Chase (4m)

5.30pm - The Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase (2m 4f 110y)

It all kicks off at Cheltenham on the Tuesday with seven races scheduled within a four hour period. The first race of the day is the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, won last year by the Gordon Elliott-trained Labaik. This race has been run since 1946 and is the traditional opener of the festival, greeted by the 'Cheltenham Roar' — the loudest cheer of the whole event as the festival gets under starters orders. This race is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race for horses aged four years and older, and hot favourite this year to be the first Cheltenham winner is the Willie Mullins trained Getabird.

Wednesday 14 March 2018 - “Ladies Day”

1.30pm - The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (G1 - 2m 5f)

2.10pm - The RSA Steeple Chase (novices) (G1 - 3m 110y)

2.50pm - The Coral Cup Hurdle (G3 - 2m 5f)

3.30pm - The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (G1 - 2m)

4.10pm - The Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (3m 7f)

4.50pm - The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (G3 - 2m 110y)

5.30pm - The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (G1 - 2m 110y)

The festival is usually really rocking by the second day, traditionally known as 'Ladies Day' — the day on which female racing fans turn up dressed either as posh as posh can be, or in fancy dress. Gates open at 10.30am, and you may spot members of the royal family such as Princess Anne and the Duchess of Cornwall in attendance.

Big race of the day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which was re-named after the then Queen Mother in 1980 upon the occasion of her eightieth birthday. The race (previously known as the Two-Mile Champion Chase) began in 1959 and odds-on favourite to win this year is the Nicky Henderson-trained Altior.

Thursday 15 March 2018 - “St Patrick's Thursday”

1.30pm - The JLT Novices’ Chase (G1 - 2m 4f)

2.10pm - The Pertemps Network Final (3m)

2.50pm - The Ryanair Chase (G1 - 2m 5f)

3.30pm - Sun Bets Stayers Hurdle (G1 - 3m)

4.10pm - The Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (G3 - 2m 4f)

4.50pm - The Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (G2 - 2m 1f)

5.30pm The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (amateurs) (3m 1f 110y)

Halfway through, and Thursday is known as 'St Patrick's Thursday', even though St Patrick's Day is March 17th. Day three usually has a distinct Irish flavour, and punters will be able to pop into the Guinness Village for a pint of the famous dry stout.

Races on Thursday tend to be run over long distances, with the title of 'race of the day' perhaps being awarded to the Stayers Hurdle. Most of the smart money for this race is going on Supasundae, with both Yanworth and Sam Spinner also worth taking a look at.

Friday 16 March 2018 - “Gold Cup Day'

1.30pm - The JCB Triumph Hurdle (juveniles) (G1 - 2m 1f)

2.10pm - The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (G3 - 2m 1f)

2:50pm - The Albert Bartlett (Spa) Novices’ Hurdle (G1 - 3m)

3.30pm - The Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup (G1 - 3m 2f 110y)

4.10pm - The St James’ Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup (3m 2f 110y)

4.50pm - The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m 4f 110y)

5.30pm - The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (G3 - 2m 110y)

The final day of the festival brings the biggest event of all, and one of the biggest events of the National Hunt calendar — the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This race has been running since 1924, and runs over a lengthy three miles and two-and-a-half furlongs including twenty-two fences.

Plenty of mounts will be vying for the prize purse which should be worth well over half a million pounds. An open field is led by Might Bite, with Native River, Sizing John, Our Duke and Road To Respect all gathering punters interests.

Festival End — Friday, 16 March 2018