The “greatest show on turf” kicks off today with Champion Day, with non-stop action over the next four days as the best jockeys, trainers and horses descend on the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Today’s opener will be followed by Style Wednesday, St Patrick’s Thursday and finally the showpiece event, Gold Cup Day, which brings the Festival to its close on Friday. Fans can look forward to 28 races across the four days and a compelling battle between British and Irish trainers as they vie for supremacy.
Last year, Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs took the Gold Cup honours and, with jockey Paul Townend, won the prestigious race for a second straight year. He’s the favourite on betting sites to claim a hat-trick this time around but, before then, Mullins has the chance to open his 2025 Festival account with Lossiemouth, who has made a last-minute switch from Tuesday's Unibet Champion Hurdle to race the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle on the same day.
The full race card and Festival schedule is here, and we’ll be bringing you all the action as the Festival unfolds.
Follow all the news, including previews, expert tips, free bet offers and the latest Cheltenham odds from Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival with our live blog below:
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Cheltenham Festival 2025
- The 2025 Cheltenham Festival gets underway - full schedule for Day 1
- Latest tips for Day 1 at Cheltenham Festival
- Cheltenham Festival weather forecast and ground prediction
- Cheltenham Festival race card, dates, start times and full four-day schedule
Willie Mullins explains move to run Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle
11:18
,
Mike Jones
"She worked nicely last week but I was happy enough that State Man worked better than her,” Mullins told Racing TV, with his long-term plan to run her in the Champion Hurdle failing to materalise.
“Paul was not going to ride her in the Champion Hurdle so the obvious thing to do was go for the Mares'.
"It's disappointing as it had been the plan to run her in the Champion Hurdle for two years but after her work the other day we felt she would just be a runner.
“She'll get her chance to meet those horses – maybe at Aintree – but my duty this week is to get winners for owners and her best chance of a win is in the Mares' Hurdle. Rich makes a big investment in the game and everyone wants a winner at the festival."
Constitution Hill bidding to regain title
11:06
,
Mike Jones
The big story of the day will come from the Champion Hurdle at 4.00pm.
Constitution Hill, unbeaten over hurdles, is bidding to regain his title after sitting out the 2024 festival with a respiratory issue, suspected colic and lameness.
He has since recovered and is back to winning ways ahead of this outing,
His main threats include Gordon Elliott's exciting mare Brightersdaysahead and State Man, who triumphed last year for Willie Mullins.
How the Cheltenham Festival reveals the underlying reasons behind the dominance of Irish trainers
11:00
,
Mike Jones
In March every year jockeys, trainers, owners and fans flock to Prestbury Park for the ultimate horseracing show as the Cheltenham Festival brings the National Hunt jump racing season to a thrilling conclusion.
It’s a four-day showcase of the best horses and jockeys jostling alongside one another for pride, prestige and the adulation of the watching crowd.
Each day there’s a champion race, with Tuesday hosting the Champion Hurdle, Wednesday the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Thursday the Stayers’ Hurdle and Friday culminating with the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Champion Day expert tips
10:54
,
Mike Jones
5.20pm: National Hunt Chase
Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course
The handicap fought out between Haiti Couleurs and Transmission here before Christmas could be a pivotal piece of form and it is difficult to pick between the pair given they both stay well and have course experience.
The latter looks as though he should improve again for a further step up in trip as all he does is gallop, while Haiti Couleurs looks to have the class to become a National prospect in time for connections that won this with Teaforthree. Gericault Roque has also had this race on his agenda for some time.
Sam Turner’s tips: Haiti Couleurs – 4/1; Transmission – 9/1
Sign up to The Independent's Betting Newsletter
10:49
,
Mike Jones
Throughout the Cheltenham Festival we’ll be sending out a daily special newsletter with the latest odds, tips and updates from the meeting.
To sign up, all you need to do is follow the link below:
Champion Day expert tips
10:48
,
Mike Jones
4.40pm: Boodles Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
Race conditions: £80,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course
“I’ll have to go for a price so I’ll go for Beyond Your Dreams [in the Fred Winter],” Walsh told Paddy Power. “I think the obvious ones early in the card – Kopek Des Bordes [Supreme], Majborough [Arkle] but look if you’re going for something at some bit of a price.”
Ruby Walsh’s tip: Beyond Your Dreams – 6/1
Sam Turner’s tip: Stencil – 5/1
Champion Day expert tips
10:42
,
Mike Jones
4.00pm: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
Race conditions: £450,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course
“She [Brighterdaysahead] blew me away in Leopardstown,” Walsh told Paddy Power.
“I was watching it thinking, you’re going too fast, you’re going too fast, you’re going too fast the whole way, and all of a sudden, they were going too fast for the pacemaker, he falls in a hole going to the third last, King Of Kingsfield, the next minute the mare picks up, heads on to the second last and away with her off the bend again. It’s the one hurdle performance this year that you went ‘Jesus.’”
Ruby Walsh’s tip: Brighterdaysahead – 15/8
Sam Turner’s tip: Constitution Hill – 8/13
What is a handicap? A brief guide to horseracing jargon for Cheltenham Festival
10:35
,
Mike Jones
The Cheltenham Festival is a rare occasion when the world of horseracing breaks into the collective consciousness of the general public.
It starts with Champion Day on March 11 before Style Wednesday, St Patrick’s Thursday, and Gold Cup Day bringing the event to a close on Friday 14.
Along with the Grand National in April, Cheltenham attracts the eyes of many people who would otherwise be disengaged by the regular horseracing meetings up and down the country. It is a festival that all can enjoy but the terminology can be a bit confusing for those who only tune in once or twice a year.
Champion Day expert tips
10:24
,
Mike Jones
3.20pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Race conditions: £120,000 | 2m4f | 10 hurdles | Old Course
The presence of Lossiemouth here rather than in the Champion Hurdle is somewhat disappointing and a debate for another day, but last year’s three-length winner clearly sets a standard her rivals must surpass.
She arrives to defend her crown following a nasty fall at Leopardstown, but that’s arguably the first mistake she’s made in her career and her second to Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle represents the best form in the race.
For those looking for a big-priced alternative, July Flower (stable have excellent record in this), Take No Chances (will like the ground) and Queen’s Gamble (may improve for step up in trip) are shortlisted.
Sam Turner’s tip: Lossiemouth – 4/6
Champion Day expert tips
10:22
,
Mike Jones
2.40pm: Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Race conditions: £150,000 | 3m1f | 20 fences | Old Course
A typically competitive handicap which has seen 12 of the last 15 renewals go the way of first or second-season chasers, while five of the last 11 winners ran in the Coral Trophy at Newbury at the end of November.
Broadway Boy, runner-up at Newbury, arguably has worse knees than your correspondent, but his condition is well managed by connections, and he ticks a lot of boxes given his course experience.
Others to bear in mind include Henry’s Friend (strongly fancied by the stable), Sequestered (excellent effort last time out) and Myretown who could give it a bold go from the front.
Sam Turner’s tip: Broadway Boy – 13/2
200,000 people expected at Cheltenham
10:16
,
Alex Ross
More than 20 shuttle buses are at Cheltenham Spa to take racergoers from the railway station to the racecourse.
Transport options to the venue have been ramped up again this year with bosses and the local council keen to avoid gridlocked roads with more than 200,000 people expected to arrive in town over the next four days.
Champion Day expert tips
10:10
,
Mike Jones
2.00pm: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course
No five-year-old has won the My Pension Expert Arkle since Voy Por Ustedes triumphed 19 years ago (16 have tried and failed), but Majborough is an extremely short price to end that sequence here.
Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner has been exceptional in his two starts over fences and will have learned plenty from his Leopardstown triumph where he was low at a couple of his obstacles. L’Eau du Sud and Jango Baie look the chief dangers with the latter fancied for the forecast spot as he stays so strongly.
Sam Turner’s tip: Majborough – 4/7
Champion Day expert tips
09:57
,
Mike Jones
1.20pm: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1 )
Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f| 8 hurdles | Old Course
Kopek Des Bordes posted an imperious display at the Dublin Racing Festival, trouncing a decent field to render a sluggish round of hurdling on his Leopardstown novice hurdle debut a distant memory.
Trainer Willie Mullins, who provides half of the 12-strong field, equips his star novice with a hood for the first time to try and keep him calm ahead of his big assignment and, if he takes the preliminaries well, he will be extremely tough to beat. Fellow Grade 1 winner Romeo Coolio is a strong galloper with previous Festival experience so could prove the chief danger, while William Munny is also a class act and should be in the mix.
Sam Turner’s tip: Romeo Coolio – 11/2
Racegoer experience will be better this year
09:52
,
Alex Ross
Cheltenham races chief executive Guy Lavender says the racergoer experience will be better this year.
Last year was slightly marred by heavy rain which turned the car park into a mud bath - this year, hardstanding has been put down for 7,000 cars on site.
Restrictions on where punters can drink has also been relaxed with more course-facing areas serving refreshments.
And on ticket prices, they were frozen from last year. People buying a ticket can also get a 20 per cent discount on another day, except Friday.
However, one area out of Mr Lavender’s control is the cost of accommodation in the town, and with many coming from Ireland, it’s a big issue, and one bosses want to address.
Cheltenham Festival weather: Latest forecast ahead of 2025 races
09:47
,
Mike Jones
The Cheltenham Festival is back as hundreds of thousands of fans descend on the iconic Gloucestershire racecourse for one of the sport’s biggest weeks of the year.
The Gold Cup takes the headlines but four action-packed days will see the very best of British and Irish racing as runners and riders battle it out for glory, though Willie Mullins will hope to repeat a dominant 2024, which saw him claim the big one with Galopin Des Champs for a second successive year.
How can I watch the Cheltenham Festival on TV and is there a live stream?
09:46
,
Mike Jones
You can watch the first six races of each day at the Cheltenham Festival with the ITV1 broadcast, while full coverage of the meet, including the final race of each day is only 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. Several online betting sites will also be streaming the event, but in most cases a funded betting account is required.
When is 2025 Cheltenham Festival and what races are included?
09:42
,
Mike Jones
The Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday, 11 March and concludes on Friday, 14 March. Fans will be glued to 28 races over four days, with seven races per day, including 13 races run over fences across the week, 13 over hurdles plus a bumper (flat race) and a cross-country chase.
The shortest run is a little under two miles, while the longest races almost reach four miles. Fans will look out for 13 of the races run at Grade 1 standard, while five are run as Grade 2s, six Grade 3s and the other four being Listed.
The first race is scheduled for 1:20pm GMT each day, with the final race starting at 5:20pm.
Touching reason why Cheltenham Festival’s opening race has been renamed after jockey’s shock death
09:36
,
Mike Jones
The opening race of the Cheltenham Festival has been renamed in memory of Irish jockey Michael O’Sullivan who passed away in February due to injuries caused by a fall.
The 24-year-old O’Sullivan died on February 16, after coming off his horse, Wee Charlie, at Thurles racecourse when he was one of three fallers at the final fence of a two-mile handicap chase.
He was taken to hospital via air ambulance and spent 10-days in an intensive care unit but did not recover from his injuries.
'A sea of tweed jackets and flat caps'
09:32
,
Alex Ross
“A sea of tweed jackets and flat caps - it can only mean one thing, Cheltenham Festival starts today.
“I’m on a packed four-carriage train from Bristol Temple Meads in which racergoers are squeezed like sardines along the aisles, but no one seems to mind.
“The talk on board is dominated by the early tips for the first day of the festival, the highlight of the National Hunt racing calendar.
“Waiting at Cheltenham Spa will be shuttle buses taking people to the course, although many are planning an early Guinness and breakfast in the town first.
“This year, bosses at the races expect a dip in attendance, but it’s hoped more than 200,000 people will arrive over the four days, which climax with the Gold Cup on Friday.”
Horses on the gallops ahead of day one
09:27
,
Mike Jones
We’re just a few hours away from the first race of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
The horses have been out on the gallops ahead of what should be a thrilling opening day.
Cheltenham prepares for day one of the festival
09:21
,
Luke Baker
A crisp morning at Cheltenham and preparations are underway for day one of the festival
'Majborough is going to be a real standout'
09:17
,
Mike Jones
Willie Mullins’ assistant trainer, David Casey, spoke ahead of the opening day about one of the stable’s best prospects.
Speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Cheltenham odds, he said:
"I’d say, looking at the race as it stands - Majborough in the Arkle is really going to stand out. I think the race is made for him, he has been very impressive with his two runs, he was only ever going to improve.
"The fact Sir Gino isn’t in there obviously helps him, of course that is very disappointing for racing that he isn’t, but it does open up the race a little bit. I think he jumps really well, has a lot of class and stamina.
"Kopek Des Bordes is another. Look, we were expecting him to win, but not the way that he did, not like that at Leopardstown so that is very exciting.
"Also, horses like Kiss Will, who won their maiden, are in a very strong races this year but is a very good horse in his own right. Maybe not good enough to win in three weeks time, but give a good account of themselves."
Willie Mullins explains move to run Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle
09:05
,
Luke Baker
Lossiemouth will avoid a mouthwatering showdown with Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead today's Unibet Champion Hurdle by racing the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle instead.
"She worked nicely last week but I was happy enough that State Man worked better than her,” trainer Willie Mullins told Racing TV, with his long-term plan to run her in the Champion Hurdle failing to materialise.
“Paul was not going to ride her in the Champion Hurdle so the obvious thing to do was go for the Mares'.
"It's disappointing as it had been the plan to run her in the Champion Hurdle for two years but after her work the other day we felt she would just be a runner.
“She'll get her chance to meet those horses – maybe at Aintree – but my duty this week is to get winners for owners and her best chance of a win is in the Mares' Hurdle. Rich makes a big investment in the game and everyone wants a winner at the festival."
Touching reason why Cheltenham Festival’s opening race has been renamed after jockey’s shock death
08:48
,
Luke Baker
The opening race of the Cheltenham Festival has been renamed in memory of Irish jockey Michael O’Sullivan who passed away in February due to injuries caused by a fall.
The 24-year-old O’Sullivan died on February 16, after coming off his horse, Wee Charlie, at Thurles racecourse when he was one of three fallers at the final fence of a two-mile handicap chase.
He was taken to hospital via air ambulance and spent 10-days in an intensive care unit but did not recover from his injuries.
The first race of the festival is usually the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle but has now been named the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle as a tribute to the jockey.
How the Cheltenham Festival reveals the underlying reasons behind the dominance of Irish trainers
08:31
,
Luke Baker
In March every year jockeys, trainers, owners and fans flock to Prestbury Park for the ultimate horse racing show as the Cheltenham Festival brings the National Hunt jump racing season to a thrilling conclusion.
Every jockey, owner and trainer tailors their season to peak at the festival and throughout the week there’s a good-natured rivalry between those from Ireland and Great Britain to see who performs strongest.
But in recent times, it’s been no contest at all.
Michael Jones dissects the Cheltenham dominance of Irish trainers in recent times:
Cheltenham Festival 2025 tips: Experts on best bets and 12 horses to watch on day one
08:13
,
Luke Baker
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival has arrived and the opening day could see Constitution Hill deliver for punters in the Champion Hurdle, though Brighterdaysahead is also fancied by many.
As ever, Willie Mullins has a number of live contenders in each race and has made the intriguing decision to run Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle instead of the Champion Hurdle.
Here are tips and horses to watch from the experts ahead of day one:
What is a handicap? A brief guide to horseracing jargon for Cheltenham Festival
08:00
,
Flo Clifford
The Cheltenham Festival is a rare occasion when the world of horseracing breaks into the collective consciousness of the general public.
It starts with Champion Day on March 11 before Style Wednesday, St Patrick’s Thursday, and Gold Cup Day bringing the event to a close on Friday 14.
Along with the Grand National in April, Cheltenham attracts the eyes of many people who would otherwise be disengaged by the regular horseracing meetings up and down the country. It is a festival that all can enjoy but the terminology can be a bit confusing for those who only tune in once or twice a year.
Below we break down everything we think you’ll need to know to get the most out of the Cheltenham Festival this year:
How can I watch the Cheltenham Festival on TV and is there a live stream?
07:45
,
Flo Clifford
You can watch the first six races of each day at the Cheltenham Festival with the ITV1 broadcast, while full coverage of the meet, including the final race of each day is only 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. Several online betting sites will also be streaming the event, but in most cases a funded betting account is required.
Cheltenham Festival weather forecast and ground prediction
07:30
,
Flo Clifford
The weather can be crucial to results, with punters studying the going days and hours out from each race. If the course is heavy, then expect a real test of the horse’s stamina, though the forecast currently suggests a quicker track due to a dry spell just before and throughout the festival.
The forecast looks good during the week: the BBC shows light cloud and a gentle breeze on day one, sleet and a gentle breeze on day two, sunny intervals and a gentle breeze on day three and day four for the Gold Cup.
Ruby Walsh's tips for Day 1 at Cheltenham Festival
07:15
,
Flo Clifford
The legendary Ruby Walsh has shared his Cheltenham Festival Day 1 tips with Paddy Power:
4.00: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £450,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course
Ruby Walsh - Brighterdaysahead (Champion Hurdle) – 15/8
She [Brighterdaysahead] blew me away in Leopardstown – I was watching it thinking, you’re going too fast, you’re going too fast, you’re going too fast the whole way, and all of a sudden, they were going too fast for the pacemaker, he falls in a hole going to the third last, King Of Kingsfield, the next minute the mare picks up, heads on to the second last and away with her off the bend again. It’s the one hurdle performance this year that you went ‘Jesus.’
4.40: Boodles Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) Race conditions: £80,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course
Ruby Walsh - Beyond Your Dreams (Fred Winter) – 6/1
“I’ll have to go for a price so I’ll go for Beyond Your Dreams [in the Fred Winter]. I think the obvious ones early in the card – Kopek Des Bordes [Supreme], Majborough [Arkle] but look if you’re going for something at some bit of a price.”
You can follow all the latest Cheltenham odds here:
Cheltenham Festival race card, dates, start times and full four-day schedule
07:00
,
Flo Clifford
With seven races per day the action is non-stop at Cheltenham. Fans will look out for 13 of the races run at Grade 1 standard, while five are run as Grade 2s, six Grade 3s and the other four are Listed.
Here’s the full race card, start times, and schedule for the Festival:
Full schedule: Tuesday, 11 March - Champion Day
06:30
,
Flo Clifford
Here’s the full schedule for Day 1, with the first race of the Festival kicking off at 1.20pm.
1.20pm : Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f| 8 hurdles | Old Course
2.00pm: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course
2.40pm: Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Race conditions: £150,000 | 3m1f | 20 fences | Old Course
3.20pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £120,000 | 2m4f | 10 hurdles | Old Course
4.00pm: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £450,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course
4.40pm: Boodles Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) Race conditions: £80,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course
5.20pm: National Hunt Chase Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course
