Here is your guide to each day of the Cheltenham Festival 2020 which takes place on 10-13 March!
Less than 9 weeks are left until the Cheltenham Roar heralds the first race of an exhilarating week of top drawer national hunt racing from the Prestbury Park headquarters. 
If you’re not sure which day to attend or just need a quick breakdown of race timings and details, look no further!
DAY ONE: CHAMPIONS DAY
The highlight of the first day of The Cheltenham Festival is of course The Champion Hurdle. This often frantic and highly competitive 2 mile hurdle championship has produced some memorable winners down the years including dual winners Buveur D’Air, Hurricane Fly and the Irish hat trick hero, Istabraq. 
The current market leader is Epatante (7/2 William Hill, Betfair, Unibet, Paddy Power) trained by Nicky Henderson.
And of course this is the day which kicks off proceedings with the now legendary “Cheltenham Roar” which always accompanies the start of the first race of the week, The Supreme Novices Hurdle. It’s an incredible feeling if you’re in the packed stands during The Roar and it gets The Festival off to a passionate and frenzied start!
Other top races include The Arkle which decides the championship for the top 2 mile novice chasers. Winners of this usually go on to become major players for The Queen Mother Champion Chase. Past examples include Altior and Sprinter Sacre.
Race schedule:
1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y £125,000
2.10pm Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y £175,000
2.50pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f £110,000
3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y £450,000
4.10pm David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y £120,000
4.50pm Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m 4f 44y £70,000
5.30pm National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) 3m 7f 147y £125,000
DAY TWO: LADIES DAY
Ladies Day is dominated by The Queen Mother Champion Chase, the 2 miles championship for speedy chasers. 
Legendary winners include Moscow Flyer, Master Minded and the miraculous Sprinter Sacre who won in 2013 and came back from a career threatening heart problem to emotionally win the 2016 renewal. The tough, all conquering Altior has won the last two events although it is unclear whether he will be back to contest for a third title.
Fans of dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll will be thrilled to know that the Gordon Elliot trained hero will be back to contest the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, another breath-taking feature race of Day Two. 
The RSA Chase, the championship race for those in the novice staying division also features and those looking for a frenetic betting heat will find their solace in the highly competitive mass field cavalry charge of The Coral Cup!
Race Schedule:
1.30pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f £125,000
2.10pm RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y £175,000
2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 5f £100,000
3.30pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 99y £400,000
4.10pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 37y £65,000
4.50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y £80,000
5.30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y £75,000
DAY THREE: ST PATRICK’S THURSDAY
The third day is a treat for Grade One race fans. The Ryanair Chase is a relatively new event introduced back in 2005 as part of the new 4 day schedule and is a championship race for the mid distance staying chasers.
The race really hit the headlines last year as Bryony Frost made history to become the first female jockey to win a Grade One race at The Cheltenham Festival on board the Paul Nicholls’ trained Frodon.
The Stayers Hurdle accommodates the 3 mile hurdle division and last year’s winner Paisley Park looks likely to be market leader this time as he hopes to regain his title. It’s a good betting heat as well as three competitive handicaps make up a cracking race card.
Race Schedule:
1.30pm MARSH Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m 3f 166y £150,000
2.10pm Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) 2m 7f 213y £100,000
2.50pm Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 127y £350,000
3.30pm Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y £325,000
4.10pm Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) 2m 4f 166y £110,000
4.50pm Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 179y £90,000
5.30pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase 3m 2f £70,000
DAY FOUR: GOLD CUP DAY
Day Four usually sells out by the end of February and for a good reason. It’s Gold Cup day! The Blue Riband of steeple chasing, The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, is the ultimate prize in national hunt racing and the highlight of the week.
The punishing combination of speed, staying power and jumping prowess decides the greatest national hunt horse on the planet. It’s big time box office. If you haven’t bought your ticket yet, you can do so here.
It’s usually a very open race and this year is no exception as last year’s winner Al Boum Photo, Clan Des Obeaux and 2018 winner Native River look set for a fascinating battle over the gruelling 3m 2 furlong distance over The Old Course.
The Triumph Hurdle and The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle complete a fabulous day for Grade One races whilst The County Hurdle and Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase provide some first class betting action.
Race Schedule:
1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y £125,000
2.10pm Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 179y £100,000
2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y £125,000
3.30pm Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y £625,000
4.10pm St James's Place Foxhunter Chase 3m 2f 70y £45,000
4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 62y £110,000
5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) 2m 4f 56y £70,000
MORE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL INFO!
- How To Bet on the Cheltenham Festival!
- How To Bet on Horse Racing!
- Cheltenham Festival 2020 Events Page!
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (20:00 9th January 2020) and are subject to change.
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