Cheltenham Festival: Everything You Need to Know from Tickets, Races, Hospitality

One of the biggest National Hunt racing events will start on Tuesday, March 15^th, 2022, and yes, we are indeed talking about the Cheltenham Festival. If you have not yet bought your tickets or booked your hospitality package at Cheltenham Racecourse, here’s all the information you may need to know about the different tickets, private boxes, hospitality packages, and the race card for each day.

Race Card for Cheltenham Festival Day 1 (Champions Day): Tuesday, March 15^th

Day 1 or Champions Day is named after the £470,250 Champion Hurdle, which will start at 3:30 pm. Other prominent races of the day are the £175,000 Arkle challenge, the £120,000 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, and the £125,000 National Hunt Challenge Cup.

1. 1:30 pm: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (3,298-metre, Grade 1 hurdle race).
2. 2:10 pm: Arkle Challenge Trophy (3,499-metre, Grade 1 steeplechase).
3. 2:50 pm: Festival Trophy Chase (5,029-metre Grade 3 handicap steeplechase).
4. 3:30 pm: Champion Hurdle (3,298-metre Grade 1 hurdle race and the day’s Feature Race).
5. 4:10 pm: David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (4,005-metre, Grade 1 hurdle race).
6. 4:50 pm: Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (3,298-metre, Grade 3 handicap hurdle race).
7. 5:30 pm: National Hunt Challenge Cup (6,018-metre, Grade 2 steeplechase).

Race Card for Cheltenham Festival Day 2 (Ladies Day): Wednesday, March 16^th

Ladies Day at the Cheltenham festival features several big budget races such as the £120,000 Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, the £175,000 Broadway Novices’ Chase, and the £110,000 Grand Annual Handicap Challenge. However, it’s the £400,000 Queen Mother Champion Chase that takes the crown.

1. 1:30 pm: Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (4,225-metre, Grade 1 hurdle race).
2. 2:10 pm: Broadway Novices’ Chase (4,901-metre Grade 1 steeplechase).
3. 2:50 pm: Coral Cup (4,225-metre Grade 3 hurdle race).
4. 3:30 pm: Queen Mother Champion Chase (3,199-metre, Grade 1 hurdle race and the Day’s Feature Race).
5. 4:10 pm: Cross Country Chase (6,069-metre, Ungraded steeplechase).
6. 4:50 pm: Grand Annual Challenge Cup (3,499-metre, Grade 3 handicap steeplechase).
7. 5:30 pm: Champion Bumper (3,298-metre Grade 1 flat race).

Race Card for Cheltenham Festival Day 3 (St Patrick’s Thursday): Thursday, March 17^th

St Patrick’s Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival is always celebrated big by the huge Irish crowds since it coincides with the actual Saint Patrick’s Day every year. For the Irish punters though, Day 3 at the Cheltenham Festival holds special interest because 6 out of 7 races on 17^th March will have a prize purse equal to, or above at least £100,000. The £350,000 Ryanair Chase and the £325,000 Stayers Hurdle are both featured races of Day 3.

1. 1:30 pm: Golden Miller Novices’ Chase (3,976-metre, Grade 1 steeplechase).
2. 2:10 pm: Pertemps Final (4,785-metre, Grade 3 handicap hurdle race).
3. 2:50 pm: Ryanair Chase/Festival Trophy: (4,139-metre, Grade 1 steeplechase and the 1^st Feature Race of Day 3).
4. 3:30 pm: Stayers Hurdle (4,785-metre, Grade 1 hurdle race and the day’s 2^nd Feature Race).
5. 4:10 pm: Stable Plate (4,139-metre, Grade 3 handicap steeplechase).
6. 4:50 pm: Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (3,382-metre, Grade 2 hurdle race).
7. 5:30 pm: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (5,240-metre, Ungraded handicap steeplechase).

Race Card for Cheltenham Festival Day 4 (Cheltenham Gold Cup Day): Friday, March 18^th

Given that the Cheltenham Gold Cup Day is the festival’s most important date for bets, it is highly recommended that you read the Day 4 Cheltenham betting tips before putting money on the line. The £625,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most prestigious, most anticipated, and the most expensive race at the Cheltenham. Also keep an eye on the £130,000 Spa Novices’ Hurdle, the £130,000 Triumph Hurdle, and the £100,000 County Handicap Hurdle.

1. 1:30 pm: Triumph Hurdle (3,382-metre, Grade 1 hurdle race).
2. 2:10 pm: County Handicap Hurdle (3,382-metre, Grade 3 handicap hurdle race).
3. 2:50 pm: Spa Novices’ Hurdle (4,822-metre, Grade 1 hurdle race).
4. 3:30 pm: Cheltenham Gold Cup (5,294-metre, Grade 1 steeplechase and the Blue Ribband of the Cheltenham Festival.
5. 4:10 pm: St. James’s Place Festival Hunter’ Chase (5,294-metre, ungraded steeplechase).
6. 4:50 pm: Liberthine Mares’ Chase (4,139-metre, Grade 2 steeplechase).
7. 5:30 pm: Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle (4,075-metre, ungraded handicap hurdle race).

Tickets and Hospitality Packages on Offer

There is a lot to choose from here, as there is something for everyone at the Cheltenham festival. Nonetheless, the following should provide a brief overview of what’s on offer this year.

• Special lunch, afternoon tea, and selective bar packages from 13 different restaurants including the Panoramic Restaurant (best view of the entire racecourse), the brand new Four Eighty, and classics like the Moscow Flyer and the Horseshoe Pavilion.
• Special Hospitality packages with complimentary tea, coffee, 4-course lunch, beer, wine, and more from the Parade Ring View Boxes, The Final Fence Boxes (1^st floor), and the Cleeve view boxes (2^nd floor).
• VIP packages form the Chez Roux Private Boxes (3^rd floor) with champagne on reception, complimentary tea, coffee, biscuits, a multicuisine lunch buffet, and full bar access (no champagne).
• Mostly exclusive to Club Members, the Racecourse View Tickets come bundled with access to Sovereign and Crest bars on the 3^rd floor.
• Regular tickets for seating inside the Best Mate Enclosure, the Club Enclosure, the Tattersalls Enclosure, or the Guinness Grandstand.

Whether you have plans to make bets, or book a private experience, or simply enjoy a view of each race from the Tattersalls Enclosure, book as soon as possible. The best seats and hospitality packages will be sold out if you wait for much longer. More information can be Found at The Jockey Club website.