ITV is set to broadcast six live races daily during the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.

Organisers of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival, occurring from Tuesday, March 16th, to Friday, March 19th, has introduced several changes for an enhanced viewer experience at home, while also supporting a local children's charity facing severe financial difficulties. As the pinnacle of jump racing, the Festival, hosted by the Jockey Club, promises four days of thrilling competition, featuring premier races like The Unibet Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday, The Ryanair Chase on Thursday, and The WellChild Gold Cup on Friday.

In light of the lack of live audiences, the Racecourse Media Group (RMG) has teamed up with ITV to expand television coverage, allowing fans to catch more races from the comfort of home. Now, instead of the usual five, six races will be aired daily, with the first race slated to kick off at 1:20 p.m. Broadcasts will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Highlights will be showcased daily at 3:05 p.m. Moreover, the interval between races has been trimmed from 40 to 35 minutes to fit the new schedule. This arrangement for extended coverage pertains solely to the 2021 Festival, although enthusiasts hope it will continue in the coming years. It's important to note that the day's final race will still be accessible only through Racing TV, which requires a subscription.

In a notable shift at the Festival, sponsorship moves from corporate interests to charitable ones. The Magners cider brand concluded its three-year sponsorship deal a year prematurely, handing over the reins to a Cheltenham-based sponsor, securing naming rights for the prestigious Gold Cup race on Friday, March 19th. charity Wellchild Ian Renton, Regional Managing Director of the Jockey Club, expressed gratitude to Magners for their support and warmly welcomed the new sponsor. Renton emphasized the significant role WellChild plays in aiding seriously ill children and young people, along with their caregivers. He stated, 'Now, more than ever, their services are crucial, and we are immensely proud to assist such a vital charity within our community, including here in Cheltenham.'

Colin Dyer, Chief Executive of WellChild, and his team are excited about the partnership. They plan to organize events aimed at raising charity awareness and bolstering donations during the Festival, given that contributions have plummeted by up to 60% amidst rising demand for their services nationwide. Dyer highlighted, 'This year posed many challenges for our organization and the families we support, who felt more hidden and isolated than ever. But we've adapted continuously to provide families with the necessary support and equipment for home well-being.'

Following the 2020 Gold Cup's success, marked by jockey Paul Townend's consecutive win on Al Boum Photo, trained by Willie Mullins, and seeing a rise in winter viewership thanks to new fans, optimism is high that the 2021 Cheltenham Festival will be popular. Al Boum Photo emerges as the 3/1 favorite for yet another Gold Cup triumph, a win that would undoubtedly heighten the sport's appeal and popularity among the general public.

Bookmakers have already posted ante-post odds for almost every race at the Festival. Some of these bookies offer a special Cheltenham Non Runner No Bet deal where you receive a full stake refund if your chosen horse doesn’t run. Such promotions are fairly common during the Festival, and avid racing fans eagerly anticipate these extensive offers just as much as they do the high-quality races!

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