The 2023 Cheltenham Festival returns today as thousands are expected to be in attendance ahead of the first race this afternoon… but what time is the first race? How can you watch it? And when is the Champion Hurdle?
- The 2023 Cheltenham festival returns today with thousands set to attend
- Seven races are expected to take place including the Champion Hurdle
- Click here for the latest Cheltenham Festival news, schedule and race results
One of the most highly-anticipated events in the horse racing calendar is set to get underway today with the Cheltenham Festival.
Thousands of horse racing fans are set to make their way to the festival ahead of the first race this afternoon.
Over the four days, there will be 28 races that will take place in total.
Last year’s 2022 festival saw a total of 280,627 people attend the action over the four days of racing.
Sportsmail breaks down everything you need to know ahead the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The four-day meeting will see 28 races take place, with the Gold Cup commencing on Friday
The first race is expected to get underway this afternoon and will finish at around 5.30pm
What is the Cheltenham Festival schedule on Day One?
The first race is set to get underway at 1.30pm with the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
With seven races in total today, it is expected to draw to close at around 5.30pm.
The Opening Show will take place this morning and every day from 8.30am until 10am.
- 1.30pm – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
- 2.10pm – Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase
- 2.50pm – Ultima Handicap Chase
- 3.30pm – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
- 4.10pm – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
- 4.50pm – The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race
- 5.30pm – The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
How to watch today’s action
This year’s Cheltenham Festival will be shown live on ITV, with coverage getting underway at 1pm each day.
Fans will also be able to stream the action on the ITVX app.
ITV will show the first five races, with the final two races being shown live on Racing TV and on a bookies’ live stream service.
Sportsmail will also be providing live coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, so you can keep up-to-date with all the latest developments here.
Thousands of fans are once again set to make the trip to the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
When is the Champion Hurdle?
The biggest race of the day will see the Champion Hurdle take place.
The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy will be the fourth race of the day.
It is expected to get underway at 3.30pm.
Who are the favourites for the Champion Hurdle?
Constitution Hill – 1/3
State Man – 10/3
Vauban – 16/1
I Like To Move It – 25/1
Zanahiyr – 40/1
Odds via Paddy Power and correct at the time of publication
What is the weather forecast?
Morning showers are forecasted today, but it is expected to be clear ahead of the first race at 1.30pm.
The weather is expected to be cloudy heading into the afternoon races, but no rain is forecasted.
Today’s weather will see highs of about eight or nine degrees celsius.
It is expected to be cloudy heading into the afternoon races following morning showers
Full schedule
Tuesday March 14
- 1.30pm – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
- 2.10pm – Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase
- 2.50pm – Ultima Handicap Chase
- 3.30pm -Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
- 4.10pm – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
- 4.50pm – The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race
- 5.30pm – The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
Wednesday March 15
- 1.30pm – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
- 2.10pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
- 2.50pm – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
- 3.30pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase
- 4.10pm – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
- 4.50pm – The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
- 5.30pm – The Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Thursday March 16
- 1.30pm – Turners Novices’ Chase
- 2.10pm – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
- 2.50pm – Ryanair Chase
- 3.30pm – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
- 4.10pm – Plate Handicap Chase
- 4.50pm – The Mares Novices’ Hurdle
- 5.30pm – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Friday March 17
- 1.30pm – JCB Triumph Hurdle
- 2.10pm – McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle
- 2.50pm – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
- 3.30pm – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
- 4.10pm – St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
- 4.50pm – The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase
- 5.30pm – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
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