Jump racing fans all over the world are counting days till the start of the Cheltenham Festival 2025. From 11 March to 14 March the town in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire will welcome horses, jockeys, and spectators to one of the biggest highlights of the National Hunt race season.
As per tradition, the four day race will take place at the Cheltenham Racecourse at Prestbury Park and consist of a number of races, including the famous Gold Cup race. The prize money at stake in Cheltenham is the second biggest in British racing after the Grand National. The festival is also well known for the large amounts spent in bets that often reach six figures.
As one of the flagmans of British racing culture, Cheltenham Festival is an important cultural and economic event in the life of the country.
History of the Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival has been around since 1860. After the inaugural race was conducted at Market Harborough, it relocated to Cheltenham in 1861 but moved elsewhere again the next year. The racing event changed its location several times, occasionally returning to Cheltenham, until it permanently returned in 1911.
Out of all the famous races conducted during the Festival, the Stayers’ Hurdle is the oldest race that has now become a championship. On the other hand, the prestigious Gold Cup was once a supporting race for the County Hurdle.
Initially, the Festival was conducted over the course of three days, with six races per day. The fourth day was added as late as 2005. Currently, a total of 28 races, or seven per day, take place during the Festival, including 11 Grade 1 events.
Cheltenham Festival 2025
As usually, this year the programme is divided into four days:
- 11 March – Champion Day
- 12 March – Style Wednesday
- 13 March – St. Patrick’s Thursday
- 14 March – Gold Cup Day
It is a frequent occurrence for St. Patrick’s Day to coincide with the Cheltenham Festival, adding to the vibrant atmosphere at the racecourse. While this is not the case this season, the organizers of the race made sure four days at Cheltenham were packed with exciting events on and off the course.
With 28 races, 11 Grade 1 races, and 4 championships, every National Hunt racing enthusiast will undoubtedly find something to cater to their interests.
The schedule for the championship events this season is as follows:
| Date | Race | Distance | Grade | Prize Money |
| 11 March | The Champion Hurdle | 2m 87y | Grade 1 | £458,158 |
| 12 March | Queen Mother Champion Chase | 1m 7f 199y | Grade 1 | £389,480 |
| 13 March | The Stayers’ Hurdle | 2m 7f 213y | Grade 1 | £319,703 |
| 14 March | The Cheltenham Gold Cup | 3m 2f 70y | Grade 1 | £614,813 |
Off the course, Prestbury Park will be full of bustle too. Several venues will offer live music, from Irish ballads and timeless hits to classic jazz and upbeat electronic music.
Catering gets as much attention from the organizers as every other detail of the event. Equipped with several exquisite restaurants, Cheltenham Festival provides its visitors with an exclusive dining experience.
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Racecards
All 28 of the Cheltenham races are divided into 13 hurdles, 13 chases, one bumper, and one cross-country race. Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race will open the Festival this year, but before the first tape is removed on Tuesday, loud cheer from the audience will fill the air at Prestbury Park. What came to be known as “the Cheltenham roar” signifying the beginning of the annual event is now an indispensable part of the entire experience.
Racecard for 11 March
Going: currently unavailable
Steward: Guy Upton, Shaun Parker, Thomas Evetts
Stewards’ Panel Chair: Joanne Hawkins
The following races are scheduled for Tuesday, 11 March:
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:20 pm | THE SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT HALF A FURLONG
(2m 87yds) |
4YO+ £150,000.00 |
| 2:00 pm | THE MY PENSION EXPERT ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY NOVICES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | about TWO MILES
(1m 7f 199yds) |
5YO+ £200,000.00 |
| 2:40 pm | THE ULTIMA HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | THREE MILES ABOUT ONE FURLONG (3m 1f) | 5YO+ £150,000.00 |
| 3:20 pm | THE CLOSE BROTHERS MARES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Registered as The DAVID NICHOLSON MARES’ HURDLE) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR FURLONGS
(2m 3f 200yds) |
4YO+ £120,000.00 |
| 4:00 pm | THE UNIBET CHAMPION HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT HALF A FURLONG
(2m 87yds) |
4YO+ £450,000.00 |
| 4:40 pm | THE FRED WINTER JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT HALF A FURLONG
(2m 87yds) |
4YO £80,000.00 |
| 5:20 pm | THE NATIONAL HUNT CHALLENGE CUP NOVICES’ HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | THREE MILES ABOUT SIX FURLONGS
(3m 5f 201yds) |
5YO+ £100,000.00 Rating 0-145 |
Racecard for 12 March
Going: currently unavailable
Steward: Guy Upton, Shaun Parker, Thomas Evetts
Stewards’ Panel Chair: Charlie Lane, George Welch
The following races are scheduled for Wednesday, 12 March:
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:20 pm | THE TURNERS NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (Registered as The BARING BINGHAM NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT FIVE FURLONGS
(2m 5f) |
4YO+ £150,000.00 |
| 2:00 pm | THE BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (Registered as The BROADWAY NOVICES’ CHASE) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | THREE MILES ABOUT HALF FURLONG
(3m 110yds) |
5YO+ £200,000.00 |
| 2:40 pm | THE CORAL CUP HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT FIVE FURLONGS
(2m 5f) |
4YO+ £110,000.00 |
| 3:20 pm | THE GLENFARCLAS CROSS COUNTRY STEEPLE CHASE (A LIMITED HANDICAP) (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | THREE MILE FIVE FURLONGS AND 56 YARDS (3m 5f 56yds) | 5YO+ £75,000.00 |
| 4:00 pm | THE BETMGM QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | about TWO MILES
(1m 7f 199yds) |
5YO+ £400,000.00 |
| 4:40 pm | THE JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | about TWO MILES
(1m 7f 199yds) |
5YO+ £150,000.00 |
| 5:20 pm | THE WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER (A STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE) (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT HALF A FURLONG
(2m 87yds) |
4-6YO £80,000.00 |
Racecard for 13 March
Going: currently unavailable
Steward: Guy Upton, Shaun Parker, Thomas Evetts
Stewards’ Panel Chair: Caroline Robinson
The following races are scheduled for Thursday, 13 March:
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:20 pm | THE RYANAIR MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 2) (Registered as THE DAWN RUN MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT ONE FURLONG
(2m 179yds) |
4YO+ £105,000.00 |
| 2:00 pm | THE JACK RICHARDS NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 2) (Registered as The GOLDEN MILLER) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF FURLONGS
(2m 4f 127yds) |
5YO+ £125,000.00 |
| 2:40 pm | THE PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | about THREE MILES (2m 7f 213yds) | 5YO+ £110,000.00 |
| 3:20 pm | THE RYANAIR STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Registered as The FESTIVAL TROPHY) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF FURLONGS
(2m 4f 127yds) |
5YO+ £375,000.00 |
| 4:00 pm | THE PADDY POWER STAYERS’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | about THREE MILES (2m 7f 213yds) | 4YO+ £325,000.00 |
| 4:40 pm | THE TRUSTATRADER PLATE HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF FURLONGS (2m 4f 127yds) | 5YO+ £150,000.00 |
| 5:20 pm | THE FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP AMATEUR JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | THREE MILES ABOUT TWO FURLONGS (3m 2f) | 5YO+ £75,000.00 Rating 0-145 |
Racecard for 14 March
Going: currently unavailable
Steward: Guy Upton, Shaun Parker, Thomas Evetts
Stewards’ Panel Chair: Roger Bellamy
The following races are scheduled for Friday, 14 March:
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:20 pm | THE JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1)(Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT ONE FURLONG
(2m 179yds) |
4YO £150,000.00 |
| 2:00 pm | THE WILLIAM HILL COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT ONE FURLONG
(2m 179yds) |
5YO+ £110,000.00 |
| 2:40 pm | THE MRS PADDY POWER MARES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Registered as THE LIBERTHINE MARES’ STEEPLE CHASE) (Grade 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF FURLONGS (2m 4f 127yds) | 5YO+ £130,000.00 |
| 3:20 pm | THE ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1)(Grade 1) (Registered as The SPA NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | about THREE MILES (2m 7f 213yds) | 5YO+ £150,000.00 |
| 4:00 pm | THE BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | THREE MILES ABOUT TWO AND A HALF FURLONGS (3m 2f 70yds) | 5YO+ £625,000.00 |
| 4:40 pm | THE ST. JAMES’S PLACE FESTIVAL CHALLENGE CUP OPEN HUNTERS’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2) (CL 2) | THREE MILES ABOUT TWO AND A HALF FURLONGS (3m 2f 70yds) | 5YO+ £50,000.00 |
| 5:20 pm | THE MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF FURLONGS (2m 4f 56yds) | 4YO+ £75,000.00 Rating 0-145 |
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Odds
With most of the participating horses’ identities already revealed, bookmakers and race punters are now trying to predict the outcomes of each race.
Last year’s winner, 9 year old Galopin Des Champs, will be returning to the race for a chance to become a three-time champion — something that hasn’t been done since 2004 when Best Mate won the Gold Cup for the third year in a row.
Another top contender to look out for is Fact To File. Trained under Willie Mullins, the same trainer who works with Galopin Des Champs, this 8 year old gelding has been in a permanent competition with his French rival. Fact to File defeated Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan Memorial Chase in December and is now considered a serious candidate for the champion title.
Other horses that are given high odds of winning this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup are:
- Banbridge (trainer Jospeh O’Brien)
- Corbett’s Cross (trainer Emmet Mullins)
- Grangeclare West (trainer Willie Mullins)
- Monty’s Star (trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- L’Homme Presse (trainer Venetia Williams)
- Grey Dawning (trainer Dan Skelton)
- Jungle Boogie (trainer Henry de Bromhead)
- Gentlemansgame (trainer Mouse Morris)
- The Real Whacker (trainer Patrick Neville)
- Hewick (trainer Miss Tara Lee Cogan)
- Royal Pagaille (trainer Venetia Williams)
- Ahoy Senor (trainer Lucinda Russell)
- Conflated (trainer Gordon Elliott)
Currently, four horses have withdrawn from the Festival: Embassy Gardens, Gerri Colombe, Il Est Francais, Minella Cocooner.
If you are interested in the odds or would like to place a bet on a Cheltenham Festival race, 7bet offers a variety of picks on major horse races. Note that the odds are always being updated, so make sure to check the latest odds before placing a bet.
Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org