Cheltenham Festival Races - Schedule 2026


There are of course changes to the Cheltenham Festival race schedule over the years, but as of 2026 this is the running order of the races spanning the unmissable four day Cheltenham Festival. 


Day 1: Tuesday -  Champions Day

1.20pm The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

2.00pm The Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

2.40pm The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 87y

3.20pm The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 1f 

4.00pm The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

4.40pm The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m 4f 44y

5.20pm The Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase 3m 5f 201y




Day 2 - Wednesday - Ladies Day

1.20pm The Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f 

2.00pm The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y

2.40pm The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 5f 

3.20pm The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase 3m 7f

4.00pm The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

4.40pm The Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 1m 7f 199y

5.20pm The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 1/2f





Day 3 - Thursday - St Patrick's Thursday 

1.20pm The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 1f

2.00pm The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f 

2.40pm The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f 56y

3.20pm The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m

4.00pm The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 5f

4.40pm The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap.) 3m

5.20pm The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase 3m 2f





Day 4 - Friday - Gold Cup Day

1.20pm The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 1f

2.00pm The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 1f

2.40pm The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f 127y

3.20pm The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y

4.00pm The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2f 1/2f

4.40pm The St James's Place Festival Hunters’ Chase 3m 2f 1/2f

5.20pm The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 1/2f