Cheltenham Festival 2026: Race card, results, winners and latest odds on day one

The ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ is upon us as thousands descend on Gloucestershire for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

There are 28 races to enjoy across four days, from the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday to the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, in what is considered the highlight of the global horse racing calendar.

This year looks set to be one of the most wide-open festivals for years, with injuries to the likes of Sir Gino and Marine Nationale leaving very few odds-on favourites.

There will be no competitive return to Prestbury Park for Constitution Hill, who will focus on flat racing, but will be on show on Tuesday for a send-off ahead of the latest renewal of the Champion Hurdle.

Friday’s Gold Cup has been left wide open after Galopin Des Champs was ruled out and then Fact To File was not declared, leaving Jango Baie, Gaelic Warrior and The Jukebox Man all vying for favouritism. Here’s everything you need to know…

The meeting runs for four days, beginning Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and running until Friday, March 13, 2026.

There are seven races each day at Prestbury Park, with the first at 1.20pm and the last at 5.20pm.

13.20: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

14.00: Arkle Novices’ Chase

14.40: Handicap Steeple Chase

16.40: Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

17.20: National Hunt Novices’ Chase

13.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle

14.00: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

15.20: Cross Country Steeple Chase

16.00: Queen Mother Steeple Chase

16.40: Grand Annual Steeple Chase Challenge Cup

13.20: Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

14.00: Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase

14.40: Pertemps Network Final

15.20: Ryanair Steeple Chase

16.40: TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase

17.20: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup

14.00: County Handicap Hurdle

14.40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase

15.20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

16.00: Cheltenham Gold Cup

16.40: Festival Hunters Chase

17.20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle

The Festival is expected to kick off with sunny skies and little rain on Tuesday, according to Accuweather, though the Met Office are forecasting more cloudy conditions.

Conditions are likely to worsen, with rain expected on Wednesday and Friday, between a slight respite on Thursday. Temperatures are predicted to peak at 15C on Friday for the Gold Cup.

Reporting on the morning of the first day of the Festival, the going is currently Good to Good to Soft on the Old Course, New Course and Cross Country.

TV channel: ITV1 will broadcast the first six races for FREE, with coverage beginning at 12.45pm every day and running until 5pm.

Preview show ‘The Opening Show’ will be broadcast on ITV4 from 9am to 10am every morning of the meet.

The only place to watch the Festival in its entirety is on Racing TV, which will broadcast all seven races on each day of the meeting. Build-up coverage starts at 12.45pm GMT every day and coverage concludes after the final race. Racing TV is a subscription-based channel available through Sky.

Live stream: TV viewers can watch the action for free via ITVX website and app. Racing TV is available across Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and their own website and app.

Keith Donoghue, JJ Slevin 66/1