Cheltenham Festival 2017

2017 Cheltenham Festival Dates

The Cheltenham Festival takes place between March 14 and March 17 2017, kicking off with the Supreme Novice Hurdle on the Tuesday. Highlights include Champion Chase on the Wednesday, Stayers’ Hurdle on the Thursday and the Gold Cup on the Friday. The Festival was expanded to cover four days in 2006. Always staged in early March, this year’s Festival begins on Tuesday March 14 and ends on Friday March 17, which is also St Patrick’s Day.

Cheltenham Day 1: Champion Day

Start Date: Tuesday 14th March, 10:30 | Location: Cheltenham Racecourse | End Date: Tuesday 14th March, 18:00

The opening day of Cheltenham always provides a strong start to the Festival with the Champion Hurdle being the highlight of the day. The race was won by Annie Power in 2016, the first mare to win the Champion Hurdle for more than 20 years. However, injury has ruled out Willie Mullins’ horse from a defence of her crown.

Cheltenham Festival Champion Day Race Schedule

Date & Time Race Name Race Type Distance Location
14th March, 13:30Supreme Novices' Hurdle RaceHurdle2m abt ½fCheltenham Racecourse
14th March, 14:10Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple ChaseChaseabt 2mCheltenham Racecourse
14th March, 14:50The Ultima Handicap Steeple ChaseChase3m abt 1fCheltenham Racecourse
14th March, 15:30The Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge TrophyHurdle2m abt ½fCheltenham Racecourse
14th March, 16:10The OLBG Mares' Hurdle RaceHurdle2m abt 4fCheltenham Racecourse
14th March, 16:50The J T McNamara National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge CupChaseAbt 4mCheltenham Racecourse
14th March, 17:30The Close Brothers Novices' Handicap ChaseChase2m abt 4½fCheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Day 2:Ladies Day

Start Date: Wednesday 15th March, 10:30 | Location: Cheltenham Racecourse | End Date: TWednesday 15th March, 18:00

The second day of the festival revolves around chasers with the RSA Chase and Champion Chase the feature races of Ladies Day. The now retired Sprinter Sacre brought the Cheltenham crowd to tears with an astonishing comeback win in the 2016 Champion Chase, following years out with injury.

Cheltenham Ladies Day Race Schedule

Date & TimeRaceRace TypeDistanceLocation
15th March, 13:30The Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle RaceHurdle2m abt 5fCheltenham Racecourse
15th March, 14:10The RSA Steeple ChaseChase3m abt ½ fCheltenham Racecourse
15th March, 14:50The Coral Cup HurdleHurdle2m abt 5fCheltenham Racecourse
15th March, 15:30The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple ChaseChaseAbt 2mCheltenham Racecourse
15th March, 16:10The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple ChaseChase3m 6fCheltenham Racecourse
15th March, 16:50The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle RaceHurdle2m abt ½fCheltenham Racecourse
15th March, 17:30The Weatherbys Champion BumperBumper2m abt ½fCheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Day 3: St Patrick's Day

Start Date: Thursday 16th March, 10:30 | Location: Cheltenham Racecourse | End Date: Thursday 16th March, 18:00

The Stayers’ Hurdle is the big race of St. Patrick’s Thursday at Cheltenham. Thursday’s feature has been won by a series of legendary horses including Inglis Drever, Big Buck’s and Thistlecrack. The last named was the long-term ante-post favourite for the Gold Cup until being ruled out with a tendon injury.

Cheltenham St Patrick's Day Race Schedule

Date & TimeRace NameRace TypeDistanceLocation
16th March, 13:30The JLT Novices' ChaseChase2m abt 4fCheltenham Racecourse
16th March, 14:10The Pertemps Network FinalHurdleAbt 3mCheltenham Racecourse
16th March, 14:50The Ryanair Steeple ChaseChase2m abt 5fCheltenham Racecourse
16th March, 15:30The Sun Bets Stayers' HurdleHurdleabt 3mCheltenham Racecourse
16th March, 16:10The Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable PlateChase2m abt 5fCheltenham Racecourse
16th March, 16:50The Trull House Stud Mares Novices' HurdleHurdle2m abt 1fCheltenham Racecourse
16th March, 17:30The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple ChaseChase3m abt 2fCheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Day 4: Gold Cup Day

Start Date: Friday 17th March, 10:30 | Location: Cheltenham Racecourse | End Date: Friday 17th March, 18:00

The Gold Cup is arguably the biggest race of the Cheltenham Festival, with the sport’s finest chasers battling it out over 3m 2f, in a race first run in 1924. With Cue Card and Native River, trainer Colin Tizzard has the first two in the betting, but last year’s runner-up Djakadam is close in the betting.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Race Schedule

Date & TimeRace NameRace TypeDistanceLocation
17th March, 13:30The JCB Triumph HurdleHurdle2m abt 1fCheltenham Racecourse
17th March, 14:10The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle RaceHurdle2m abt 1fCheltenham Racecourse
17th March, 14:50The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle RaceHurdleabt 3mCheltenham Racecourse
17th March, 15:30The Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple ChaseChase3m abt 2½ fCheltenham Racecourse
17th March, 16:10The St. James's Place Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge CupChase3m abt 2½ fCheltenham Racecourse
17th March, 16:50The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle RaceHurdle2m abt 4½ fCheltenham Racecourse
17h March, 17:30The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge CupChase2m abt ½ fCheltenham Racecourse