One of the biggest and most exciting events in the racing calendar, Cheltenham Festival has it all – a great location, a challenging course, a thrilling atmosphere and plenty of amenities to please any luxury loving racegoer.
An especially important event this year, the festival will be paying tribute to the Queen’s 70th year on the throne and thousands are expected to come out to cheer on the very best horses in the jump racing discipline, while millions more are likely to be betting on the 28 premium horse races.
With seven races being scheduled on each day of the festival, the total of 28 high-value races will be spread evenly across four days of equestrian festivities. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle will kick things off at 1.30 pm on Tuesday, March 15th and the festival races will continue until the last horse at the Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle crosses the finish line on Friday, 18th March.
If you have plans to be at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, you will likely be looking to gather as much information as possible, about the festival racing tips, winning odds, ticket info, news, and just about everything else. With that in mind, here’s all that you need to know about the four race cards before you get caught up in the excitement of the event.
Tuesday, 15th March: Opening Day Race Card for Cheltenham Festival Champions Day
1.30pm: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 1, 8-hurdle race over 3,298 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
2.10pm: Arkle Challenge Trophy – Grade 1, 13-fence steeplechase over 3,499 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
2.50pm: Festival Trophy Chase – Grade 3, 20-fence handicap steeplechase over 5,029 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
3.30pm: Champion Hurdle (Featured Race of the Day) – Grade 1, 8-hurdle race across 3,298 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
4.10pm: David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle – Grade 1, 10-hurdle race across 4,005 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
4.50pm: Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle – Grade 3, 8-hurdle handicap race across 3,298 metres for juvenile thoroughbreds.
5.30pm: National Hunt Challenge Cup – Grade 2, 23-fence steeplechase across 6,018 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
Wednesday, 16th March: Day 2 Race Card for Cheltenham Festival Ladies Day
1.30pm: Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 1, 10-hurdle race across 4,225 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
2.10pm: Broadway Novices’ Chase – Grade 1, 20-fence steeplechase across 4,901 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
2.50pm: Coral Cup – Grade 3, 10-hurdle handicap race across 4,225 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
3.30pm: Queen Mother Champion Chase (Featured Race of the Day) – Grade 1, 13-fence steeplechase across 3,199 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
4.10pm: Cross Country Chase – Ungraded, 32-fence steeplechase across 6,069 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
4.50pm: Grand Annual Challenge Cup – 3,499-metre Grade 3, 14-fence handicap steeplechase across 3,499 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
5.30pm: Champion Bumper – Grade 1 flat race across 3,298 metres for 4yo – 6yo thoroughbreds.
Thursday, 17th March: Day 3 Race Card for Cheltenham Festival Saint Patrick’s Day
1.30pm: Golden Miller Novices’ Chase – Grade 1, 17-fence steeplechase across 3,976 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
2.10pm: Pertemps Final – Grade 3, 12-hurdle handicap race across 4,785 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
2.50pm: Ryanair Chase/Festival Trophy (Featured Race 1) – Grade 1, 17-fence steeplechase across 4,139 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
3.30pm: Stayers’ Hurdle (Featured Race 2) –Grade 1, 12-hurdle race across 4,785 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
4.10pm: Stable Plate – Grade 3, 17-fence handicap steeplechase across 4,139 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
4.50pm: Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 2, 8-hurdle race across 3,382 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
5.30pm: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup – Ungraded, 21-fence handicap steeplechase across 5,240 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
Friday, 18th March: Day 4 Race Card for Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup Day
If you have not used up all your free bets for Cheltenham races by the fourth day, Friday will present you with both the last and the greatest chance to use them. Also known as the Blue Riband, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious and expensive high stakes jump races in the world.
1.30pm: Triumph Hurdle – Grade 1, 8-hurdle race across 3,382 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
2.10pm: County Handicap Hurdle – Grade 3, 8-hurdle, handicap race across 3,382 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
2.50pm: Spa Novices’ Hurdle – Grade 1 12-hurdle race across 4,822 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
3.30pm: Cheltenham Gold Cup (Featured Race of the Cheltenham Festival) – Grade 1, 22-fence steeplechase across 5,294 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
4.10pm: St. James’s Place Festival Hunter’ Chase – Ungraded 22-fence steeplechase across 5,294-metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
4.50pm: Liberthine Mares’ Chase – Grade 2, 17-fence steeplechase across 4,139 metres for 5yo+ thoroughbreds.
5.30pm: Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle – Ungraded, 9-hurdle handicap race across 4,075 metres for 4yo+ thoroughbreds.
