Cheltenham Festival 2023: When is it, race times and betting offers
Thousands of fans and punters are set to flock to the famous course in Gloucestershire course ahead of another jam-packed schedule.
As usual, there will be plenty at stake for jockeys as well as trainers, with the British versus Irish battle for victories set to be renewed once again.
Ahead of what is expected to be another pulsating Festival, Flashscore will provide an overview of what is to come over what is set to be a busy few days of racing action.
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When does the Cheltenham Festival start?
The 2023 Cheltenham Festival will start on Tuesday, March 14th and will run until Friday, March 17th at Prestbury Park in Gloucestershire.
Seven races will take place on each of the four days, making for a total of 28 races across the meeting.
The first race on each day will take place at 1.30pm with the last run due off at 5.30pm.
How can you follow the Cheltenham Festival?
The Cheltenham Festival can be viewed on free-to-air television with ITV set to broadcast live coverage, while major betting sites will provide live streams.
You can also track the action with Flashscore, with full race cards and odds provided ahead of every race as well as the results at the finish line.
Cheltenham Festival race times
Tuesday, March 14th - Champion Day
1.30pm: Supreme Novices' Hurdle
2.10pm: Arkle Chase
2.50pm: Ultima Handicap Chase
3.30pm: Champion Hurdle
4.10pm: Mares' Hurdle
4.50pm: Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
5.30pm: National Hunt Chase
Wednesday, March 15th - Ladies Day
1.30pm: Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
2.10pm: Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
2.50pm: Coral Cup
3.30pm: Champion Chase
4.10pm: Cross Country Chase
4.50pm: Grand Annual
5.30pm: Champion Bumper
Thursday, March 16th - St Patrick's Thursday
1.30pm: Turners Novices' Chase
2.10pm: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
2.50pm: Ryanair Chase
3.30pm: Stayers' Hurdle
4.10pm: Plate Handicap Chase
4.50pm: Mares' Novices' Hurdle
5.30pm: Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Friday, March 17th - Gold Cup Day
1.30pm: Triumph Hurdle
2.10pm: County Hurdle
2.50pm: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
3.30pm: Cheltenham Gold Cup
4.10pm: Hunters' Chase
4.50pm: Mares' Chase
5.30pm: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
When did the Cheltenham Festival begin?
The Cheltenham Festival was originally called the National Hunt Meeting, which was held at various venues between 1860 and 1911 before it eventually settled at Prestbury Park course, where it has remained to this day.
Its popularity sky-rocketed from a betting and entertainment perspective and is now regarded as one of the most eye-catching events on the UK sporting calendar alongside football's FA Cup final, tennis tournament Wimbledon and Formula 1's British Grand Prix.
What is the capacity at the course?
The racecourse at Cheltenham often draws in huge crowds every year and is able to hold up to 74,000 spectators.
Last year's Festival attracted a record combined attendance of 280,627 across all four days.
However, this year will see a cap on the spectator capacity down to 68,500 per day in a bid to ensure the Festival remains an "attractive and enjoyable experience" for racegoers.
What is the oldest race at Cheltenham?
The oldest race at the Cheltenham Festival is the Stayers' Hurdle which first took place in 1912 - one year after the event settled at Prestbury Park.
It is the feature race on the third day of the Festival and is a three-mile test of stamina for the runners ahead of the famous uphill finish.
Last year saw Flooring Porter emerge victorious for the second year in a row alongside jockey Danny Mullins and trainer Gavin Cromwell.
What is the Gold Cup and who won it last year?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the most highly anticipated jump races on the horse racing calendar and is arguably the highlight of the four-day event.
Held on Friday, March 17th at 3.30pm, the race takes place on Cheltenham's New Course over three miles and two-and-a-half furlongs, with horses and jockeys needing to complete 22 jumps.
The Gold Cup in 2022 was won by favourite A Plus Tard, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female jockey to ride a winner in the event.
Who are the top jockeys?
The Cheltenham Festival is a key meeting for Britain and Ireland's best riders as each year they all eye the Leading Jockey award.
Paul Townend is the current top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival after riding five winners last year, adding to his 2020 award.
His chances this year are strong, likely to ride Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs as well as Facile Vega, Energumene and Lossiemouth in his books.
Townend wrestled it off the aforementioned Rachael Blackmore in 2021 - the year she became the first female to win the Leading Jockey.
Nico de Boinville is another one to watch and will be looking to add to his 2019 success on headliner Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle, as well as Shishkin in the Ryanair Chase and Luccia - the Mares' Novices' Hurdle favourite.
The 2018 winner Davy Russell also has strong claims on favourites Delta Work in the Cross Country Chase and Mighty Potter in the Turners Novices' Chase.
Who are the top trainers?
While the jockeys are in the limelight for the key minutes during the race, a lot of the plaudits go towards the trainers who prepare their horses for the Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins has established himself as a racing legend over the years with a whopping 88 winners - 10 of which came last year en route to his ninth Leading Trainer award.
The veteran trainer will be well in line to win a fourth successive award this year with the likes of Galopin Des Champs, Gaillard Du Mesnil, Energumene and Lossiemouth part of his arsenal.
Mullins, who is the clear favourite, could be challenged by Gordon Elliott with a strong list of names also at his disposal, including Delta Work, Mighty Potter and Conflated.
Henry de Bromhead has also had plenty of recent success in the Gold Cup and could trust himself into the conversation.
De Bromhead won honours with Minella Indo in 2021 then followed up with victory with A Plus Tard last year, so he will be eyeing a third successive win on this occasion.
Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson will be the man likely tasked with flying the flag for Britain as he looks to add to his nine Leading Trainer awards and end a drought spanning back to 2012. He has Constitution Hill, Jonbon and Shishkin to bolster his chances.