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Cheltenham Festival 2025 Guide: All You Need To Know

They call it the greatest show on turf for a reason.

The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the jumps season in the UK and Ireland. A magical maze winds its way through Prestbury Park – it’s the job of the nags, NAPs and NBs to navigate it as safely and as quickly as possible.

It runs from 11th March until 14th March 2025 with each day brimming with season-defining races for trainers, jockeys, yards and followers alike.

Here, we break down all you need to know ahead of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival including key dates, TV and streaming details, feature race profiles, full race schedules and more.

Don’t forget to visit the BetMGM Cheltenham Festival Hub for all the latest odds, offers and tips as well as trainer and jockey profiles, race day history and more.

WHERE TO WATCH THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

You can watch every Cheltenham Festival race right here on BetMGM thanks to our live horse racing streaming service.

Be sure to keep up to date with all the action, reaction, talking points and odds with us each day via X and by visiting our dedicated Cheltenham Festival Hub.

On television, the biggest racing festival of the year gets most of its airtime on terrestrial TV in the UK with the first five races of each day broadcast on ITV.

The remaining races can be found on the subscription-based Racing TV, which will also showcase the entire card.

BETMGM’S 2025 CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL GUIDE

Let’s take a look at how the racing at Cheltenham breaks down throughout the four days – including the biggest races, notable horses and the storylines that could dominate the festival.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 1

Day 1 of Cheltenham is unmatched. It’s a grand show, as excited punters exchange tips and buzz around the concourse to create the inimitable hum associated with the event.

The entire complement of racing fans becomes keen gardening experts and weather enthusiasts; they analyse the state of the ground and debate whether soft, good or heavy ground will suit certain runners and riders more than others.

The Day 1 hype is built around the quality quartet that is the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (13:20), Arkle Challenge Trophy (14:00), Mares’ Hurdle (15:20) and Champion Hurdle (16:00).

RACE OF THE DAY: CHAMPION HURDLE

All eyes are on the Champion Hurdle and a mouthwatering clash between two of racing’s most prized assets: Brighterdaysahead and Constitution Hill.

It’s been labelled the most noteworthy head-to-head clash of the entire festival – and it’s little wonder why.

Brighterdaysahead has looked scintillating in her three starts this season. The manner of her 30-length triumph in the Savills Hurdle last time was jaw-dropping and has enthusiasts sitting bolt upright.

The odds-on favourite remains Constitution Hill, however. He is unbeaten and had a “perfect” pre-Cheltenham gallop, according to trainer Nicky Henderson.

After the pain of missing out last year due to a respiratory illness, he is primed and ready to retain his undefeated record.

Last year’s Champion Hurdle winner, State Man, is also set to feature but was defeated by Brighterdaysahead twice at the end of 2024 and it seems like this could be a two-horse race as a result.

One thing’s for sure: it is going to be a spectacle for the ages.

Cheltenham Day 1 Stat Attack: Henderson – considered Willie Mullins’ closest challenger in the Top Trainer stakes – is looking for his 10th Champion Hurdle triumph having won four of the last eight runnings of the race and nine in total

Full Cheltenham Day 1 Racecard

  • 13:20 – Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 14:00 – Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
  • 14:40 – Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
  • 15:20 – Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 16:00 – Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
  • 16:40 – Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
  • 17:20 – National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase (Grade 2)

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 2

The racing palooza continues unabated on Style Wednesday when Ladies’ Day takes centre stage. Expect to see hats… and lots of them.

Highlights from the second batch of seven races include the Turners Novices’ Hurdle (13:20), Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (14:00), Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (14:40) and the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (16:10).

Notably, it was on Style Wednesday last year that Willie Mullins registered his historic 100th festival winner when son Patrick and Jasmin De Vaux triumphed in the Champion Bumper.

Mullins garnered nine wins in total in 2024 and we have a market dedicated to the most successful trainer in Cheltenham history’s fortunes this year here.

RACE OF THE DAY: BETMGM QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

Day 2 features a truly stellar lineup of races but it’s not tough to call which is the most important: all eyes will be drawn to the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Jonbon has never finished outside of the top two in a race, winning 16 of his 19 starts including the last two runnings of the Cheltenham Chase.

Yet for all his success he has never won during this special week in March. Can Jonbon finally get the deed done at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival?

He is a horse that deserves his moment in the limelight but there is a formidable field standing in his way with Gaelic Warrior, Il Est Francais and Marine Nationale topping the list of likely rivals heading into the home straight.

But there is a reason Jonbon is the odds-on favourite. He was exceptional in winning the BetMGM Clarence House Chase back in January, making the running throughout before putting the pedal to the metal at the penultimate fence and pulling away from Energumene.

With a ‘BetMGM double’ in his crosshairs, he’s undeniably the one to beat.

Cheltenham Day 2 Stat Attack: The winner of the BetMGM Clarence House Chase tends to fare well in this race, with four of the last 12 winners coming out on top in the Champion Chase

Full Cheltenham Day 2 Racecard

  • 13:20 – Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 14:00 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
  • 14:40 – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
  • 15:20 – Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase
  • 16:00 – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
  • 16:40 – Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
  • 17:20 – Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 3

The festival celebrates St Patrick's Day on Thursday 14th March – anticipate an especially raucous atmosphere and a sea of green outfits across the racecourse and in the stands.

The pick of the races on this day includes the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (14:40), Ryanair Chase (15:20) and Stayers' Hurdle (16:00).

RACE OF THE DAY: STAYERS’ HURDLE

The Stayers’ Hurdles is the fourth of five Championship races throughout the week and the feature event of Day 3.

The Cleeve Hurdle – also run in Cheltenham every January – is seen as a trial for this race and eight of the previous 18 winners of the Cleeve have also gone on to win the Stayers’.

Gordon Elliott has a good record in this race, with two of the previous four winners trained by the Irishman.

It’s his horse, Teahupoo, who is the defending champion and the favourite for the Stayers’ coming into the festival once more.

Cheltenham Day 3 Stat Attack: Six horses have defended their Stayers’ Hurdle crowns – Silver Bay (1912/13), Galmoy (1987/88), Baracouda (2002/03), Inglis Drever (2007/08), Big Buck’s (2009-12) and Flooring Porter (2021/22)

Full Cheltenham Day 3 Racecard

  • 13:20 – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
  • 14:00 – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 1)
  • 14:40 – Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
  • 15:20 – Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
  • 16:00 – Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 16:40 – The Festival Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
  • 17:20 – Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 4

The final day rounds the week off with a bang: it’s time for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In 2024 a whopping 1.6 million people tuned in to watch the race unfold. It is the most valuable non-handicap chase in Britain with runners sharing a prizepool of £625,000.

Other races at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday 15th March include the Triumph Hurdle (13:20) and Mares' Chase (14:40) while the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (17:20) finishes proceedings as the final race of the festival.

RACE OF THE DAY: CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

It needs no introduction.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is imprinted on racing’s DNA and represents some of the most magical memories for followers of the sport of kings.

From Best Mate matching Arkle's record of three successive Gold Cup victories in 2004 to Kauto Star putting in one of the outstanding performances in racing history with his 2009 win over great rival Denman, this race is dripping in historical significance.

Banbridge was impressive when winning King George VI Chase on Boxing Day at Kempton in dramatic fashion and will be looking to replicate that form coming into this year’s Gold Cup.

But, undoubtedly, all eyes are on odds-on favourite Galopin Des Champs as he bids to secure a Gold Cup hat-trick.

Only four horses previously had achieved this feat: Golden Miller (four in a row between 1932-35), Cottage Rake (1948-50), Arkle (1964-66) and Best Mate (2002-04).

Cheltenham Day 4 Stat Attack: Big race experience absolutely matters in the Gold Cup – 24 of the last 25 winners were already Grade 1 victors

Full Cheltenham Day 4 Racecard

  • 13:20 – Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 14:00 – County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
  • 14:40 – Mares' Chase (Grade 2)
  • 15:20 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
  • 16:00 – Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
  • 16:40 – Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
  • 17:20 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

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The first prize draw is after the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on Day 2 with the second following the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Day 4.

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£500,000 Giveaway Terms & Conditions:* Opt in & place a min £2 sports bet which settles before 16:00 on 12/03/25 and/or before 16:00 14/03/25 for a chance to win up to £500k (£250k each draw). Winners selected randomly after final race on 12/03/25 & 14/03/25. Cash prize paid within 7 days subject to verification. Stake not returned. Cannot combine with other offers. Cashed out, voided & multiple bets don’t qualify. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.

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