YOUR DAY-BY-DAY GUIDE TO THE 2018 FESTIVAL
DAY1 CHAMPION DAY Tuesday, March 13
10.00 Tune into Cheltenham Radio on 87.7FM, online on cheltenham.co.uk or via Sound Dec earpieces available to buy on the racecourse.
10.30 Gates open. Make sure you visit the trade stands in the Tented Village for some Festival shopping.
12.15 Top trainers and jockeys run through the card with Martin Kelly in the paddock.
12.30 Rehabilitation of Racehorses parade in the paddock.
1.30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m½f
2.10 Racing Post Arkle Chase 2m
2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase 3m1f
3.30 Unibet Champion Hurdle 2m½f Last year’s winner Buveur D’Air (right) in the JP McManus silks and Rich Ricci’s 2015 winner Faugheen have dominated the talk in the lead-up to the Festival and the confrontation between the two really whets the appetite for the opening-day action to get under way.
4.10 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle 2m4f
4.50 National Hunt Chase 4m
5.30 Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase 2m4½f
5.40 Centaur: Top covers band The Wickermen lead the way for the post-race sing-song with old favourites and new tunes.
DAY3 St PATRICK’S THURSDAY Thursday, March 15
10.00 Tune into Cheltenham Radio on 87.7FM, online on cheltenham.co.uk or via Sound Dec earpieces available to buy on the racecourse.
10.30 Gates open. Make sure you visit the trade stands in the Tented Village for some Festival shopping.
12.15 Top trainers and jockeys run through the card with Martin Kelly in the paddock.
1.30 JLT Novices’ Chase 2m4f
2.10 Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) 3m
2.50 Ryanair Chase 2m5f Un De Sceaux (right) justified favouritism 12 months ago and has shown no signs of slowing since. Can anyone stop him in the defence of his crown?
3.30 Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle 3m Set to feature another fascinating battle between Britain and Ireland with Sam Spinner and Supasundae the flagbearers.
4.10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Handicap Chase) 2m5f
4.50 Trull House Stud Mares Novices’ Hurdle 2m1f
5.30 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase 3m2f
5.40 Centaur: From the Green Fields of France to Cheltenham, the Fureys are the headline act. See thefestival.co.uk/bands for other showtimes.
DAY2 LADIES DAY Wednesday, March 14
10.00 Tune into Cheltenham Radio on 87.7FM, online on cheltenham.co.uk or via Sound Dec earpieces available to buy on the racecourse.
10.30 Gates open. Make sure you visit the trade stands in the Tented Village for some Festival shopping.
12.15 Top trainers and jockeys run through the card with Martin Kelly in the paddock.
Ladies Day competition Enter the Ladies Day competition via social media, #ColourMeMarch, in advance or on the day. Winners will receive prizes including a MINI ONE and a Boodles necklace.
1.30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2m5f
2.10 RSA Chase 3m½f
2.50 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) 2m5f 3.30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase 2m
Special Tiara (right) was a gallant winner last year, and may well be back to defend his crown, but he faces an imposing rival in the Racing Post Arkle Chase winner Altior.
4.10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m6f
4.50 Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m½f
5.30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper 2m½f
5.40 Centaur: The Wickermen.
DAY4 GOLD CUP DAY Friday, March 16
10.00 Tune into Cheltenham Radio on 87.7FM, online on cheltenham.co.uk or via Sound Dec earpieces available to buy on the racecourse.
10.30 Gates open.
12.15 Top trainers and jockeys run through the card with Martin Kelly in the paddock.
1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m1f
2.10 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
2m1f
2.50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m
3.30 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase 3m2½f
Sizing John will be much missed this year and Jessica Harrington’s hopes will be riding on Our Duke. It will not be easy, with last year’s third Native River back again, along with the high-class winner of the RSA Chase last year, Might Bite (right).
4.10 St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase 3m2½f
4.50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m4½f
5.30 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase 2m½f
Award presentations: Leading Jockey, NetJets Leading Owner, Irish Independent Leading Trainer and Britain v Ireland in the Betbright Prestbury Cup – as soon as final results are known.
5.40 Centaur: The Fureys.