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When is the 2025 Cheltenham Festival?
The Festival occurs from Tuesday, March 11 to Friday, March 14, 2025. Seven races unfold every day, each spaced 40 minutes apart. The first race kicks off at 13:30pm daily, concluding with the last at 17:30pm.
This page offers insights about the event and includes a guide if you're considering a wager during the Cheltenham Festival.
The Cheltenham Festival 2025 will be hosted at the Cheltenham Racecourse, also famed as Prestbury Park. The racecourse is located at Evesham Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4SH.
The races unfold across two courses. During the first couple of days, actions take place on the old course, while the last two days see races on the new course, both within the Cheltenham Racecourse but with different layouts.
What are the marquee events at the Cheltenham Festival?
All four days of the festival offer major races, each boasting prize money of up to £625,000.
Day One – Champions Day
The opening day of the festival buzzes with energy and anticipation. Kicking off with the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the day's highlight race is the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy at 15:30pm.
Attendees, both women and men, grace Cheltenham Racecourse in their finest attire, ready to indulge in a day of elegance. The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the main event on Day 2. Past winners include Altior in 2018 and 2019, Politologue in 2020, Put The Kettle On in 2021, and Energumene in 2022 & 2023.
This is an unmissable atmosphere with live bands and intense battles among Irish owners for supremacy across seven races. Guinness consumption peaks during the festival, especially on Day 3 with an estimated 250,000 pints served over the event's duration.
Day three showcases The Ryanair Chase at 14:50 and The Stayers’ Hurdle at 15:30.
The fourth day hosts the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup. With a purse of £625,000 and millions wagered, it's the festival's centerpiece. The Gold Cup initiates at 15:30, followed by three more races, closing with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
The most convenient travel option to reach the 2025 Festival each day is via train, stopping at Cheltenham Spa Railway Station. While commuting by car is feasible, be prepared for congestion as vast crowds attend the festival annually, causing parking and traffic challenges.
Cheltenham Festival Tickets
Purchase tickets ahead or on the event day based on availability. Given its immense popularity, securing tickets in advance is recommended to avoid disappointment. Day 4, featuring the acclaimed Gold Cup, is the most attended.
Enclosure tickets for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival vary from £40 to several thousand pounds for premium locations such as an Orchard Pod or private boxes.
Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide
Top 5 Tips for Wagering at the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival Course :
The Old course is utilized for the initial two days, characterized by its slightly more technical and concise style, while the final duo of the festival days take place on the New course, which demands greater endurance and may benefit different equine participants.
It's critical to consider which track is operational when scrutinizing your options, as some horses may excel specifically on the Old or the New tracks, just as they might show preference for certain venues.
Dive deeper into how course characteristics influence races at the Festival by exploring Racing TV’s comprehensive course walk with well-known experts Lydia Hislop and Ruby Walsh.
Embark on a guided walk of Cheltenham's Old and New Courses with Lydia Hislop and Ruby Walsh.
Festival Specialists
Recognized as the pinnacle of the jump racing calendar, the Cheltenham Festival is the primary goal for owners, trainers, jockeys, and bettors alike. Consequently, many horses are earmarked for the Festival, performing remarkably during these events.
Patterns indicate that wealth is to be found by examining previous Festival results first, as horses often peak, delivering outstanding performances during these four pivotal days.
Often, horses offering steep odds become unexpected winners using this straightforward strategy.
Cheltenham Odds
The mid-March four-day event often defines the entire year for many a bookmaker and gambler. Thus, the period demands heightened awareness, as it stands as a crucial time for both camps.
Don't shy away from considering higher-priced contenders. Often, media coverage can lead to artificially inflated odds for favorites, making them appear less lucrative.
Taking a chance on multiple horses in a single race could be a winning strategy, given the unpredictable nature of some races at the festival.
Tap into bookmaker offers during the festival, especially for big field handicaps where up to 7 places can be available for each-way bets.
Top Trainers
Recently, Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have been powerhouses at the Cheltenham Festival, clinching the Top Trainer title nine times over the span of a decade, succeeding Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls, who had previously secured the title eight times in 10 years. Their strategy includes honing in on the Festival with their expansive and talented horse workforce.
Peek into the 2025 Cheltenham Festival: Betting With the Top Bookies
Top Jockeys
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle Insights for Young Jumpers
Guide to the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: Expert Tips
St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase: What You Need to Know
What To Wear
A Comprehensive Guide to Watching the Cheltenham Festival
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Cheltenham Festival Betting
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Other Activities at the Festival?
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Mark the calendar: March 11th to 14th, 2025, marks the thrilling Cheltenham Festival. Each day features seven races initiated at 1:30 PM, with the final race culminating at 5:30 PM, scheduled at 40-minute intervals.
Dive into this page for a wealth of information about the event, alongside a Cheltenham Festival betting guide for those eager to place their bets.
Stay Updated with the Latest Cheltenham Betting Offers & Tips
Cheltenham Festival FAQ
The prestigious 2025 Cheltenham Festival unfolds at the renowned Cheltenham Racecourse, also called Prestbury Park. The venue's address is Evesham Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4SH.
The festival's races unfold over two courses—those on the festival's first half find themselves on the old course, while the latter half is designated for the new course. Both are nestled within the Cheltenham Racecourse and feature unique configurations.
What are the Most Prestigious Races at the Cheltenham Festival?
Every day at the festival hosts prestigious races, each with potential prize pools soaring up to £625,000.
Anticipation runs high on the festival's opening day, with the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle kicking off the competitions. The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy takes center stage as the day's highlight at 3:30 PM.
Attendees—both men and women—arrive at Cheltenham Racecourse showcasing elegance and high fashion, ready for a day filled with glamour. Highlighting day two is The Queen Mother Champion Chase, a race previously clinched by horses like Altior in 2018 and 2019, Politologue in 2020, Put The Kettle On in 2021, and Energumene in 2022 and 2023.
The festival paints a vibrant picture with live bands and Irish owners sparring for victory across seven enthralling races. Guinness flows abundantly, especially on day 3, with forecasts pointing to 250,000 pints sold over the event.
Among day three’s standout events are The Ryanair Chase at 2:50 PM and The Stayers’ Hurdle at 3:30 PM.
The grand stage of day four is owned by the eminent Cheltenham Gold Cup, boasting a £625,000 prize, attracting bets worth millions. The race is set for 3:30 PM, with three additional races rounding off the day, capped by the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
Getting to the Cheltenham Festival
For daily attendance at the 2025 Festival, catching a train to Cheltenham Spa Railway Station is the most hassle-free option. While driving is viable, anticipate significant traffic and parking challenges given the event’s massive turnout.
Tickets can be purchased early or on arrival, though availability may vary. Given its immense popularity, securing tickets in advance is prudent, especially for the festival's final day, which hosts the prestigious Gold Cup.
Ticket prices for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival range from an affordable £40 to several thousand for premium seating like an Orchard Pod or private boxes.
Five Key Tips for Successful Betting at the Cheltenham Festival
Watch now: Five Key Tips for Successful Betting at the Cheltenham Festival
Races held on the initial days of the festival will occur on the older, slightly more technical Old course. The final days switch to the more strenuous New course, which caters to different equine strengths.
Being mindful of the course being used is pivotal in selecting potential winners as horses—potentially experts at specific courses—might perform better on either the Old or New course.
To delve deeper into course dynamics, reference Racing TV’s brilliant analysis by Lydia Hislop and Ruby Walsh.
Watch the detailed course walk with Racing TV’s own Lydia Hislop and the esteemed Ruby Walsh.
For many owners, trainers, jockeys, and bettors, the Cheltenham Festival stands as the highlight of the jumps season, with horses strategically prepared almost entirely for this pinnacle event to produce peak performances.
The performance trends at the Cheltenham Festival often trace back to the previous year’s outcomes, forming an essential basis for any form study leading up to the event.
Following this straightforward strategy, one might often identify high-priced victors.
For bookies and bettors alike, the unfolding drama across these four days in March can be game-changing, so staying vigilant and open to higher-priced contenders is pivotal amidst the media frenzy that often leads to artificially low-priced favorites.
Instead of pinning hopes on one horse, broaden your strategy by backing multiple runners, optimizing your chances in an unpredictable racing environment.
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Sweep up the rewarding opportunities offered through extensive media presence, as bookies could offer generous place positions, with some extending to 4, 5, 6, or even 7 places for each-way betting during larger field handicaps.
In recent years, the Cheltenham Festival has been under the reign of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, who together clinched the title of Top Trainer nine times over the past decade. These titans have succeeded Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls, each known for their substantial string of horse talent, reinforcing their strategic focus on the festival every year.