With fourteen Grade 1 races spread out over the course of four days (March 12–15), the Festival promises to provide many of the season-long confrontations that racing fans have been anticipating.
Join us today for our day-to-day ante-post betting guide, including horse and course details and our best Cheltenham Festival 2024 bets for each day.
Cheltenham Festival Day One
- When: Tuesday, March 12
Starting the Festival with four Grade 1 races—the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at 1.30, the Arkle at 2.10, the Champion Hurdle at 3.30, finishing with the Mares' Hurdle at 4.10— we’re sure to be in for a fantastic opening day of racing.
Cheltenham Festival Day One Main Event
The opening day's racing is highlighted by the two-mile Champion Hurdle, in which the undefeated superstar of jumps racing, Constitution Hill, will aim to retain his crown after last year's effortless victory.
Given the decisiveness of that triumph, there won't be much in the way of opposition this time around; nonetheless, the Irish contender and multi-time Grade 1 winner, State Man, will once again pose the greatest danger.
Cheltenham Festival Day One Best Bet
- Constitution Hill @ 1/3
At this juncture, Constitution Hill emerges victorious with such ease on each occasion that the only way to obtain a higher return is to place a wager on him to prevail by specific distances.
On his seasonal debut, he defeated Rubaud in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton last time out without breaking a sweat.
This formidable horse, trained by Nicky Henderson, has the potential to become a legendary figure in the sport and be considered one of the greatest hurdlers of all time if he maintains his unblemished, unstoppable form.
Cheltenham Festival Day Two
- When: Wednesday, March 13
Ladies’ Day commences with two Grade 1 races, namely the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (1.30) followed by the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2.10).
Subsequently, the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (2.50), which is invariably competitive, is run. While the main attraction - Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) - is the next event, followed by the Glenfarclas Chase (4.10), which takes place on the cross-country course and has been the site of victories by horses such as Tiger Roll in recently hosted editions.
The day concludes with the Grand Annual Handicap Chase at 4:50 and the Grade 1 Weatherby Champion Bumper at 5:30.
Cheltenham Festival Day Two Main Event
Market favourites Jonbon and El Fabiola will resume their battle in the two-mile Champion Chase after finishing first and second in the Arkle at the 2023 Festival.
Cheltenham Festival Day Two Best Bet
- El Fabiolo @ 2/5
El Fabiolo is a strong favourite in the ante-post betting, and with Energumene not participating, many anticipate El Fabiolo dominating the two-mile chase category.
Don’t be surprised if he demonstrates perseverance and stamina by capturing the lead in the last stretch of the race, as he often tends to do.
Cheltenham Festival Day Three
- When: Thursday, March 14
Irish horses are expected to perform well on the third day at Cheltenham, especially in the Ryanair Chase (2.50) and the tough Stayers' Hurdle (3.30). The day kicks off with the Turners Novices’ Chase (1.30).
The Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at 4.50, as well as competitive handicaps - the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at 5.30, the Pertemps Network Final at 2.10, and the Festival Plate at 4.10 - are the remaining scheduled races.
Cheltenham Festival Day Three Main Event
Allaho's absence due to injury has created an unexpected opportunity in one of the main events of the day, the Ryanair Chase, a race of two miles and five furlongs. However, it is quite likely that last year's champion, Envoi Allen, will be a strong contender at popular horse racing betting sites in the UK.
Cheltenham Festival Day Three Best Bet
- Stage Star @ 9/2
Stage Star's impressive showings in the Turners' Novices' Chase and Paddy Power Gold Cup last year make him a strong bet for day three of the Festival.
We expect Stage Star's recent New Year's Day performance to deter some bettors since he had to stop during the race. However, jockey Harry Cobden believes that the horse may have strained a muscle when he extended too far when leaping a fence, causing him to slow down and affecting his jumping ability.
Cheltenham Festival Day Four
- When: Friday, March 15
As the Festival peaks, attention will be focused on the Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30), a major race in the jumping schedule and of course, the highlight of the four-day event.
The Triumph Hurdle at 1:30 alongside the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at 2:50 showcase promising horses, while the Grade 2 Mares’ Chase at 4:50 includes well-known contenders.
The County Hurdle at 2:10 and the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle at 5:30 are the day's two handicaps, with the St James's Place Festival Hunters’ Chase at 4:10 being a very competitive event.
The Big One: Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024
The Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most anticipated race of the week, reunites several notable competitors, with Galopin Des Champs leading the market in an attempt to win for the second time in a row.
King George victor Hewick and fellow Irish challengers Fastorslow, who has twice taken Galopin Des Champs by storm, will presumably be present as well.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Best Bet
- L’Homme Presse @ 14/1
If Galopin Des Champs continues to show the same level of performance that led to his triumphs in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup, he will easily win this event. But if he has another setback, L'Homme Presse is a generously-priced outsider that is well worth a look.
With a price at some bookmakers around 14/1, backing a horse that has run superbly at Cheltenham with an undefeated record is simply a price that is impossible to ignore.