The Cheltenham Festival is back as the horse racing season gathers pace with the four-day spectacle one of the highlights of the sport’s calendar.
The Festival began with Champion Day on Tuesday before Ladies Day makes its Festival return on Wednesday ahead of St Patrick’s Thursday and Gold Cup Day bringing the event to a close on Friday 13 March.
This year’s edition looks set to be an unpredictable affair with big names like Constitution Hill, Marine Nationale and Galopin Des Champs out of the running and fewer clear favourites on show.
Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle was a blockbuster event with Willie Mullins’ Lossiemouth proving her worth as a true Festival champion. Mullin’ also trained Il Etait Temps in Wednesday’s Champion Chase but the Ryanair Chase on Thursday went to Henry de Bromhead’s Heart Wood after Mullins withdrew Fact To File.
You can find all the latest Cheltenham odds and free bet offers with Independent Sport, and here is the full list of winners and scheduled race card:
Thursday 12 March - St Patrick’s Thursday
1.20: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
1. White Noise 40/1; 2. Oldschool Outlaw 15/2; 3. Place de la Nation 28/1; 4. Charme De Faust 28-1
2.00: Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2)
1. Meetmebythesea 9/1; 2. Gold Dancer 25/1; 3. Regent’s Stroll 5/1F; 4. King Alexander 20/1
2.40: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
1. Wodhooh 5/6F; 2. Jade De Grugy 2/1
3.20: Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)
1. Home By The Lee 33/1; 2. Ballyburn 11/2; 3. Bob Olinger 13/2
4.00: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
1. Heart Wood 9/2; 2. Jonbon 2/1F; 3. Banbridge 3/1
4.40: Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap)
1. Supremely West 10/3F; 2. Lavida Adiva 22/1; 3. Ikarak 40/1
5.20: Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145)
1. Ask Brewster 22/1; 2. Road To Home 9/1 3. Monbeg Genius 18/1 4. Kim Roque 9/2
Friday 13 March - Gold Cup Day
1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
Proactif, Selma De Vary, Minella Study, Maestro Conti, Macho Man, Mon Creuset, Charme De Faust, Highland Crystal, Kai Lung, Minella Academy, Apolon De Charnie, Forty Fifty, Manganese, Madness d'Elle, North Shore, One Horse Town, Noemie De La Vis, Barbizon, Tenter Le Tout, Fantasy World, Lord Byron, Indian River, Wolf Rayet, Berto Ramirez, Tillmouth
2.00: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Murcia, Khrisma, Karbau, Mondo Man, Sinnatra, Roc Dino, Tellherthename, Puturhandstogether, Sixandahalf, Bowensonfire, Hello Neighbour, Absurde, Workahead, Celtic Dino, Jubilee Alpha, Serious Challenge, Ndaawi, Zillow, Joyeuse, Wilful, Helvic Dream, Secret Squirrel, Wellington Arch, Helnwein, Williethebuilder, Tripoli Flyer, Its Bilbo, Jump Allen, Captain Ryan Matt, Ooh Betty, Bowmore, Charlus, The Kemble Brewery, Hot Fuss, Hamlet's Night, Wreckless Eric, Sticktotheplan, Sony Bill, Bubble Dubi, Jack Hyde, Welsh Charger, Afadil, Pinot Gris, Cracking Rhapsody, Gibbs Island, Messerschmitt, Ballykinlar, Balko d'Ange, Rubber Ball, Brendas Asking
2.40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2)
Dinoblue, Panic Attack, Spindleberry, Only By Night, The Big Westerner, Diva Luna, Jade De Grugy, July Flower, Telepathique, All The Glory, Piper Park, Shakeyatailfeather
3.20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Doctor Steinberg, Thedeviluno, No Drama This End, The Passing Wife, Spinningayarn, Espresso Milan, Kazansky, Jalon d'Oudairies, 412Klimt Madrik, Kripticjim, 1Mondoui'boy, Riskaway, Fruit De Mer, Moneygarrow, King's Bucks, Doctor Du Mesnil, Road Exile, Hipop De Loire, Shuttle Diplomacy, Ubatuba, Park Princess, Johnny's Jury, Laurets d'Estruval, Minella Emperor, Frankie John, The Price Of Peace, Treasure Memory, Kicour La, Whiskey Yankee, Tackletommywoowoo, Swindon Village, Kasino Des Mottes
4.00: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
Gaelic Warrior, The Jukebox Man, Jango Baie, Inothewayurthinkin, Haiti Couleurs, Grey Dawning, Spillane's Tower, Envoi Allen, Banbridge, Affordale Fury, Firefox, Stellar Story, Gold Tweet, L'Homme Presse
4.40: Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase
Wonderwall, Its On The Line, Panda Boy, Con's Roc, Wrappedupinmay, Stattler, Music Drive, Chemical Energy, Barton Snow, Willitgoahead, Golden Son, Gracchus De Balme, Shearer, Carnfunnock, Solitary Man, Kings Jet, Linelee King, Take All, King Alex, What A Glance, Pyleigh Court, Paul Marvel, Haven't Time, Willewonga, Lift Me Up, Yippee Ki Yay, D'Jango
5.20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Kel Histoire, Roc Dino, A Pai De Nom, Air Of Entitlement, East India Express, He Can't Dance, Jump Allen, Wendrock, Nurse Susan, Act Of Authority, Fiercely Proud, Open Secret, Andashan, Its Bilbo, Zanndabad, Siog Geal, Coyote Spirit, John Barbour, Stede Bonnet, Sa Fureur, Fasol, Zillow, Grimaud, Saint Le Fort, De Temps En Temps, Frankie John, Turndlightsdownlow, Newbrook Diamond, Jack Hyde, Idy Wood, Moon d'Orange, La Pinsonniere, Lavender Hill Mob, Farfromnowhere, Karl Des Tourelles, Sony Bill, No Ordinary Joe, Da Capo Glory, Sonigino, Hamsiyann, Charlus, The Nagger Reidy, Hot Fuss, Ballykinlar, Glynn Brae, Sainte Lucie, Intosomethinggood, Kalium, Olympic Man, Intellotto, Lisnagar Fortune, Minella Rescue, Spirits Bay, Rubber Ball
Tuesday 10 March - Champion Day results
1.20: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
1. Old Park Star 15/8F; 2. Sober Glory 9/2 3. Mydaddypaddy 6/1
2.00: Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
1. Kargese 7/1; 2. Kopek Des Bordes 11/8; 3. Lulamba 11/10F
2.40: McCoys Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Registered as the Fred Winter) (Premier Handicap)
1. Saratoga 10/1; 2. Winston Junior 5/1; 3. Klycot 40/1
3.20: Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
1. Johnnywho 18/1; 2. Jagwar 3/1; 3. Quebecois 10/1
4.00: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
1. Lossiemouth 7/5F; 2. Brighterdaysahead 7/2; 3. The New Lion 3/1
4.40: Sun Racing Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Premier Handicap)
1. Madara 3/1F; 2. Will The Wise 10/1; 3. Moon D''orange 25/1
5.20: National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase) (Class 2)
1. Holloway Queen 12/1; 2. King Of Answers 22/1; 3. One Big Bang 11/1
Wednesday 11 March - Ladies Day
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
1. King Rasko Grey 11/1; 2. Act Of Innocence 10/1; 3. Zeus Power 50/1
2.00: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
1. Kitzbuhel 11/1; 2. Final Demand 7/2; 3. Salver 25/1
2.40: BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap)
1. Jingko Blue 9/2F; 2. Franciscan Rock 50/1; 3. Storm Heart 5/1; 4. Ballyadam 40/1
3.20: Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase
1. Final Orders 7/1; 2. Favori De Champdou 2/1F; 3. Vanillier 13/2
4.00: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
1. Il Etait Temps 5/2 ; 2. Libberty Hunter 50/1; 3. L'eau Du Sud 13/2
4.40: Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap)
1. Martator 66/1; 2. Jazzy Matty 8/1; 3. Break My Soul 20/1; 4. Release The Beast 10/1
5.20: Weatherbys Champion Bumper (In Memory of Sir Johnny Weatherby) (Grade 1)
1. The Mourne Rambler 15/2; 2. Mets Ta Ceinture 14/1; 3. Bass Hunter 8/1
How can I watch the Cheltenham Festival on TV and is there a live stream?
You can watch the first six races of each day at the Cheltenham Festival with ITV1, while full coverage of the Festival, including the final race of each day is available through a Racing TV subscription.
Both ITV and Racing TV provide live streams for the coverage through their apps and websites, while fans can of course tune on via the traditional television broadcast. Some UK betting sites also have streaming rights, but you may need to place a bet or have a funded account to access the streams.
Can I still get a ticket and how much do they cost?
You can secure access to the first three days of the festival through a daily Club Enclosure ticket from £103.50, while Friday is sold out.
Tattersalls tickets will cost from £73.80 on each of the first three days but again Gold Cup day has sold out.
The cheapest way to experience the festival is through the Best Mate enclosure with a day ticket for the first three days priced from £54.
All details can be found with tickets available to purchase through the Jockey Club here.
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