Horse Racing Preview

Cheltenham Festival Preview

Cheltenham Festival

The iconic Cheltenham Festival is upon us with the biggest jump racing meet set to get underway on Tuesday. The four-day horse racing schedule features some of the most prestigious races, decorated horses and acclaimed jockeys in the sport.

At NetBet Sport, not only are you guaranteed the best Cheltenham racing odds, you can also receive your money back as a Free Bet (up to £10) if your horse finishes second to the starting price favourite in any Live ITV race.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the festival.

Cheltenham Festival: Biggest Races

The opening day of racing features a cracker in The Champion Hurdle, which remains one of the biggest National Hunt races nearly a century after its commencement. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, Honeysuckle (15.00) will be looking for a third consecutive victory, but is currently trailing in the odds to heavy favourite Constitution Hill (1.33).

Wednesday’s standout race sees the over-5s compete in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. A little under two miles with 13 fences, some of the best jockeys in racing have claimed this illustrious crown. Reigning champion Energumene (2.50) is currently favourite to come out on top but is closely tailed by Edwardstone (2.75).

The near three-mile Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday is another highly coveted event. At back-to-back festivals Flooring Porter (7.00) has been victorious, ridden by Danny Mullins, but the pair will have a lot to do to complete the hat-trick. Blazing Khal (3.50) is currently leading the odds after returning from a length injury with an impressive winning run in February.

Undoubtedly the biggest event at Cheltenham, and one of the most famous of the year period, is the Gold Cup. Not only does this 22-fence race promise its winners a spot among the greats, it is also incredibly lucrative with a first-place prize pot worth over half a million. Rachel Blackmore was victorious atop A Plus Tard (7.00) in 2022 and will race among fierce contenders such as Shishkin and Noble Years.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Odds

There have been a variety of successful jockeys and trainers in the past decade, with four of the previous 10 winners starting price favourites. Here are the current top 10 leading the Gold Cup odds:

Galopin Des Champs – 2.50

Bravemansgame – 7.00

A Plus Tard – 7.00

Noble Yeats – 8.00

Stattler – 9.00

Shishkin – 11.00

Conflated – 13.00

Protektorat – 13.00

Ahoy Senor – 15.00

Minella Indo – 17.00

Cheltenham Festival TV Schedule

The racing gets underway on Tuesday 14th March with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and finishes Friday 17th March with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Five races each will be broadcast live on ITV at the following times: 13:30, 14:10, 14:50, 15:30, 16:10. Listed below is the main race on each day, all of which take place at 15:30.

Tuesday 14th March – The Champion Hurdle

Wednesday 15th March – The Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase

Thursday 16th March – The Stayers’ Hurdle

Friday 17th March – Cheltenham Gold Cup

Head to NetBet Sport for the best odds guaranteed at Cheltenham!

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