In flat racing, the Epsom Derby meeting is one of the biggest race meetings of the year,
others like Glorious Goodwood, The Guineas meeting at Newmarket or similar. However, when it comes to jump racing, there is one meeting that tops the lot and it takes place this week from Tuesday to Friday. The Cheltenham Festival.
The four days of action sees almost all the top jockeys and horses in attendance for what is the pinnacle of the jump racing season. Each day sees at least one, if not more, top quality races culminating in Gold Cup Friday when the biggest of all races, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is contested.
And this year, we have one horse bidding to win the race for the third time in succession to follow the legendary Best Mate into the history books!
Of course, the Cheltenham Festival is also one of the biggest weeks for UK-based bookmakers with millions of excited punters following the action live on each of the four days of the festival. If you want to sign up with a top-quality betting site that has superb Cheltenham betting, then the place to start is with the latest bet365 New Player Bonus, which could also see you earn up to £100 in bet credits.
Bet365 Sport Open Account Offer
Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
Let’s now take a look at the breakdown for the races across each of the four days of action at the festival before we bring you our tips for the biggest races of the four-day event.
The Cheltenham Festival Race Schedule
Day One – Tuesday 16th March – Champion Day
- 20pm – Supreme Novices Hurdle
- 55pm – Arkle Chase
- 30pm – Ultima Handicap Chase
- 05pm – Champion Hurdle
- 40pm – Mares Hurdle
- 15pm – Boodles Juvenile Handicap
- 50pm – National Hunt Chase
Day Two – Wednesday 17th March – Ladies Day
- 20pm – Ballymore Novices Hurdle
- 55pm – Brown Advisory Novices Chase
- 30pm – Coral Cup
- 05pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase
- 40pm – Glenfarclas Chase
- 15pm – Grand Annual Chase
- 50pm – Champion Bumper
Day Three – Thursday 18th March – St Patrick’s Thursday
- 20pm – Marsh Novices Chase
- 55pm – Pertemps Network Final
- 30pm – Ryanair Chase
- 05pm – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
- 40pm – Paddy Power Plate
- 15pm – Mares Novices Hurdle
- 50pm – Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Day Four – Friday 19th March – Gold Cup Day
- 20pm – Triumph Hurdle
- 55pm – County Handicap Hurdle
- 30pm – Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
- 05pm – Gold Cup
- 40pm – Foxhunters Chase
- 15pm – The Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase
- 50pm – Martin Pipe Hurdle
Which Horses Are The Ones To Back In The Big Race Each Day?
Day One – Champion Hurdle
There are ten runners set to participate in the biggest race on day one and while the likes of No So Sleepy, Saldier, Aspire Tower and James Du Berlais are ranked as the outsiders, the other six runners and riders look to have more of a chance. Silver Streek, Sharjah and Abracadabra look the best in terms of a potential each way punt (with Sharjah perhaps being the pick for each way punters there) but when it comes to winning the race it does appear to be a three-way battle between the two 7/2 shots Goshen and Epatante and the 9/4 favourite Honeysuckle. However, when you learn that Honeysuckle has won all its last ten races, is bottom weight and should like the going, this is an easy pick.
Our Tip – Honeysuckle (9/4 with bet365)
Day Two – Queen Mother Champion Chase
Over the years there have been a number of great two-horse rivalries at Cheltenham,
Kauto Star and Denman being a good example. However, this year in Tuesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, we could witness another as the two outstanding competitors in this 11-runner race will go head to head. The Willie Mullins trained Chacun Pour Soi has won six of its last seven races and all of the last three this season and it will start as the favourite and could even be odds on by the time the race starts. Altior, a two-time winner of this race, will be the main challenger as Nicky Henderson’s charge looks to make it three wins in the last four years. This could be a cracker but for me there is only one likely winner.
Our Tip – Chacun Pour Soi – (Evens with bet365)
Day Three – Ryanair Chase
The declarations are not in yet for the Ryanair Chase, but from the prospective field, I think we can rule out Chacun Pour Soi as this horse will likely go in the Queen Mother the day before. As such, there are three horses in this race that are the standout options here. The favourite will likely be Willie Mullins’ Allaho but he could face a tough race from another Mullins’ entry in Melon as well as Min. With three outstanding chances in this race, it is hard to see any other trainer having much of a shot here, although Kim Bailey’s Imperial Aura is worth a look. However, for me, I am going to go for Melon assuming it is declared for the race.
Our Tip – Melon – (6/1 with bet365)
Day Four – Cheltenham Gold Cup
There’s no doubt where all the attention will be on Gold Cup Day and that is on the feature race and the chance to see Al Boum Photo go for legendary status at Cheltenham by becoming a three-time winner of the race. Having won it in 2019 and 2020, the Willie Mullins mount could follow the legendary Best Mate into the history books by becoming the next three-time winner in succession. Last year’s runner up Santini is also in the field but Al Boum Photo’s main challenge looks to come from Champ trained by Nicky Henderson and Henry de Bromhead’s A Plus Tard both of whom have received backing in the ante post markets. However, for me, Al Boum Photo will take this opportunity for Cheltenham Gold Cup immortality.
Our Tip – Al Boum Photo (5/2) with bet365
