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Essential Guide To The Cheltenham Festival
Four days a year, the chance of a lifetime and unique in the world of horse racing. Hats and fashion are still on vivid display, but Cheltenham is much more about the horses, the jockeys, the trainers and the public.
Tens of thousands make their pilgrimage to Gloucestershire, announcing their arrival with the magnificent Cheltenham roar. The time has come to travel. Presumably, you've bought your ticket and the big day has arrived.
Hopefully, you have studied all the horse racing form and selected your winners and don't forget to head over to our Cheltenham betting offers page to see the latest bookmaker offers at the Cheltenham Festival.
Those travelling to Cheltenham should make note of up-to-the-minute travel news outlets for their method of choice. Whatever method that is, the main advice from OLBG members and others is to GET THERE EARLY!!
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
Cheltenham Festival Tipster Competition
We are running our annual Cheltenham Festival tipster competition with a total cash prize fund of £1,500 and over 100 prizes.
The winner will receive a massive £500 cash prize, there's £200 for 2nd, £100 for 3rd to 5th, plus 100 prizes of £5.
meoldmate won the 2026 tipster competition, scooping the £500 top prize. Could they possibly win back-to-back competitions?
The competition is FREE TO ENTER, just enter your tips in the normal fashion on the make-a-tip menu for the races.
To be in with a chance of landing one of the prizes, you must fulfil the following criteria:
- Place 20 or more tips
- 5 or more of those must be profitable
- Each tip must contain 20 or more words
- You must finish with a profit
Then, during the four-day festival, you can head over to the tipster competition table to keep track of where you stand throughout the week.
The Schedule - Tuesday
Cheltenham Festival races for Tuesday 16th March 2027
Prepare for the ROAR of the Cheltenham Festival on the opening day, when the tape goes up for the Supreme Novices Hurdle. The feature on Tuesday is the Champion Hurdle.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 13:20 Cheltenham Supreme Novices Hurdle | Old Park Star (IRE) 6yo - 15/8 | Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville |
| 14:00 Cheltenham Arkle Challenge Trophy | Kargese (FR) 6yo - 7/1 | W P Mullins Danny Mullins |
| 14:40 Cheltenham Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle | Saratoga (IRE) 4yo - 10/1 | Padraig Roche Mark Walsh |
| 15:20 Cheltenham Ultima Handicap Chase | Johnnywho (IRE) 9yo - 18/1 | Jonjo & A J O'Neill Richie McLernon |
| 16:00 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle | Lossiemouth (FR) 7yo - 7/5 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 16:40 Cheltenham Festival Plate | Madara (FR) 7yo - 3/1 | Dan Skelton Harry Skelton |
| 17:20 Cheltenham National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup | Holloway Queen (IRE) 6yo - 12/1 | Nicky Henderson James Bowen |
The Schedule - Wednesday
Cheltenham Festival races for Wednesday 17th March 2027
The dust has settled on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, and now on to day two. The feature on the second day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. We also have the cross country scheduled on Wednesday, a race like Marmite, some love it, and some don't!
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 13:20 Cheltenham Turners Novices Hurdle | King Rasko Grey (FR) 6yo - 11/1 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 14:00 Cheltenham Brown Advisory Novices Chase | Kitzbuhel (FR) 6yo - 11/1 | W P Mullins Harry Cobden |
| 14:40 Cheltenham BetMGM Cup | Jingko Blue (FR) 7yo - 9/2 | Nicky Henderson James Bowen |
| 15:20 Cheltenham Cross Country Chase | Final Orders (GB) 10yo - 7/1 | Gavin Cromwell Conor Stone-Walsh |
| 16:00 Cheltenham Queen Mother Champion Chase | Il Etait Temps (FR) 8yo - 5/2 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 16:40 Cheltenham Johnny Henderson Grand Annual | Martator (FR) 9yo - 66/1 | Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch |
| 17:20 Cheltenham Champion Bumper | The Mourne Rambler (IRE) 5yo - 15/2 | Noel Meade Colin Keane |
The Schedule - Thursday
Cheltenham Festival races for Thursday 18th March 2027
Halfway through the festival and onto day three, where the Stayers Hurdle is the feature race. A hurdle race to test the stamina and see how can last up the Cheltenham hill.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 13:20 Cheltenham Mares Novices Hurdle | White Noise (IRE) 6yo - 40/1 | Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls Tom Bellamy |
| 14:00 Cheltenham Novices Limited Handicap Chase | Meetmebythesea (IRE) 6yo - 9/1 | Ben Pauling Ben Jones |
| 14:40 Cheltenham Close Brothers Mares Hurdle | Wodhooh (FR) 6yo - 5/6 | Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy |
| 15:20 Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle | Home By The Lee (IRE) 11yo - 33/1 | Joseph Patrick O'Brien J J Slevin |
| 16:00 Cheltenham Ryanair Chase | Heart Wood (FR) 8yo - 9/2 | Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe |
| 16:40 Cheltenham Pertemps Network Final | Supremely West (IRE) 8yo - 100/30 | Dan Skelton Harry Skelton |
| 17:20 Cheltenham Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup | Ask Brewster (IRE) 7yo - 22/1 | Mrs C Williams Mr S Cotter |
The Schedule - Friday
Cheltenham Festival races for Friday 19th March 2027
The final day of the festival and the feature race that we have all been waiting for, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which the Irish have been fairly dominant in recent years.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 13:20 Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle | Apolon De Charnie (FR) 4yo - 50/1 | W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins |
| 14:00 Cheltenham County Handicap Hurdle | Wilful (IRE) 7yo - 14/1 | Jonjo & A J O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr |
| 14:40 Cheltenham Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase | Dinoblue (FR) 9yo - 11/8 | W P Mullins Mark Walsh |
| 15:20 Cheltenham Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle | Johnnys Jury (IRE) 6yo - 20/1 | Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan |
| 16:00 Cheltenham Cheltenham Gold Cup | Gaelic Warrior (GER) 8yo - 11/4 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 16:40 Cheltenham Festival Hunters Chase | Barton Snow (IRE) 9yo - 9/2 | J J O'Shea Mr Henry Crow |
| 17:20 Cheltenham Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle | Air Of Entitlement (IRE) 7yo - 10/1 | Henry De Bromhead Patrick M O'Brien |
Cheltenham Festival - By Car
Cheltenham Racecourse advises people to follow the signs when close to the racecourse, which will guide you to the pick-up & drop-off areas. This is at the West Car Park, which is a five-minute walk from the entrances.
Cheltenham Racecourse member Jennywales says the routes to the car parks have changed slightly, and whilst at first, it may appear you've entered a cross-country rally, follow the signs for your designated area.
Car Park Chaos
The Cheltenham website gives full details on the car parking arrangements.
- Those with prepaid parking at the course can view the various coded areas here - Parking.
- Constantly updated travel map for the Cheltenham area. Travel Map
- Any accidents and appropriate diversions are reported here by Gloucestershire Police Road Incident Updates
There will be delays and diversions near the M5 to the north of Cheltenham between Tewkesbury and Worcester during the festival week. This website - Roadworks.org - displays all current and planned roadworks for the area and offers an email update facility.
Several places close to the track offer parking for the day. For example, parking and refreshments are available at Southam Village Hall, within a short walk of the racecourse. Check local press and social media for other similar offers.
Cheltenham Festival - By Train
OLBG stalwart Nors advises anyone travelling via Birmingham to arrive there early, as queues are potentially very long.
Taxis from Cheltenham Spa train station to the racecourse take approximately ten minutes.
Anyone intending to use a bus between the station and the racecourse should read the relevant “By Bus“ section below.
Arrivals boards with the facility to receive disruption alerts - Just click the name of the relevant station.
Cheltenham Festival - By Bus
To Cheltenham, National Express offer a Cheltenham Festival service, arriving at the course well before the first race and leaving after the racing finishes.
Click this link - National Express Cheltenham booking page - and use the drop-down menus on the left
In Cheltenham, Stagecoach offers a bus service during the Festival, with pickups in the town centre and en route.
Details can be found here: Stagecoach Festival Bus Service
Cheltenham Festival - At The Course
Cheltenham has updated its racecourse map specifically for the festival, and it can be viewed here: Cheltenham Racecourse Map.
Most, if not all of us, will be aware of the significant changes to the course and grandstands.
Cheltenham Racecourse and The Jockey Club have invested millions in improving facilities, and if this is your first visit to the track this season, then take a few minutes to view the above map and also images online and on social media websites.
OLBG's Jennywales mentions the Tapas Bar ( formerly Hurdler's Hall ), which could be fun if the weather changes!
And if you like to fill out your placepots slips next to a statue of your favourite Cheltenham legend, then a few of these have been relocated: it seems Arkle was bored and has now moved to the second tier at the head of the parade ring ( also improved with a new concourse at its entrance )
Luggage or bags can be deposited at the Left Luggage facility, #12, bottom left of the map in the North Car Park.
The first thing I do after arriving at the course is to make my way to the stands next to the finish line and look out across Prestbury Park towards Cleeve Hill.
The view is spectacular yet also feels like an artist might when looking upon a blank canvas or a writer on a blank page "The possibilities yet to unfold, what drama awaits.
This is where I stand when the tape goes up for the festival opener, the Supreme Novices Hurdle. However, as you can see below, it can get rather busy, so get there early!
The advice from many OLBG members is to get these done early.
Placepots and any accumulators or Lucky 15's can be placed at several locations, with the Centaur building being a popular and thus busy location.
OLBG is the ideal place for betting tips and useful information when selecting a horse for any of the 28 races during the week.
Place Your Bets!
Read the blogs and tipping advice,
Take advantage of the bookmaker offers by accessing the relevant sections from the menus at the top of the page, or visit the dedicated site for the Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival - Places to Eat
Highest Rated Restaurants Within A 5-Mile Radius Of Cheltenham Racecourse
When the busy Cheltenham festival is in full swing, there is a high likelihood of working up an appetite. After you have cheered on a potential winner or two at the racecourse, it is time for a spot of dinner.
With that in mind, we have looked at the Top 20 restaurants within the Cheltenham area as rated by TripAdvisor. Will any of these take your fancy?
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Coconut Tree Cheltenham | International | 5 | 2,390 |
| Memsahib's Lounge | Indian | 5 | 613 |
| Indian Voojan | Indian | 4.5 | 768 |
| Prithvi | Indian | 5 | 1,617 |
| The Mahal | Indian | 5 | 949 |
| Starbistro | British | 5 | 256 |
| MUSE Brasserie - Cheltenham | French | 5 | 1,087 |
| Turtle Bay Cheltenham | Caribbean | 4.5 | 2,405 |
| Domaine 16 French Restaurant | French | 5 | 226 |
| Lumière Restaurant | European, British | 5 | 941 |
| Kemble Brewery Inn | British | 5 | 271 |
| East India Cafe | Indian | 5 | 1,396 |
| Chelsea Brasserie | European, British | 4.5 | 1,161 |
| Petit Coco | French | 5 | 563 |
| Revival Cafe Bar & Grill | Bar/Café | 4.5 | 374 |
| Bombay and Co | Indian | 5 | 524 |
| The Suffolk Arms | Bar, British | 4.5 | 286 |
| Apple Tree | Bar, British | 4 | 1,185 |
| Suffolk Rock | European, British | 5 | 301 |
| Purslane | Seafood | 4.5 | 815 |
Cheltenham Festival - Local Pubs
Cheltenham Pubs That Offer Live Sport
Not only is there the opportunity to eat some of the finest food in Cheltenham, but there is also plenty of opportunity to frequent some of Cheltenham’s best pubs. Then again, why stop there? You could even venture to some less salubrious venues, with their being a total of 88 to choose from.
A definitive list that you can find below, and for those looking for additional live sport and/or some quick pub grub, we also have you covered with this definitive list.
| Number | Pub | Live Sport | Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaufort Arms | Yes | |
| 2 | Sandford Park Alehouse | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | The Swan | Yes | |
| 4 | The Strand | Yes | |
| 5 | The Vine | Yes | |
| 6 | Old Restoration | Yes | |
| 7 | The Spectre | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Lounge72 | ||
| 9 | Plantet Caravan | Yes | |
| 10 | Bentleys | ||
| 11 | Aura | ||
| 12 | The Miller | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Botanica | ||
| 14 | Moon Under Water | Yes | |
| 15 | Tailors | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | Mr Cambrays Curiosity | Yes | |
| 17 | Copa | Yes | |
| 18 | Whittle Taps | Yes | |
| 19 | The Old Courthouse | Yes | |
| 20 | Rouge | Yes | |
| 21 | Cocos | ||
| 22 | The Grape Escape | ||
| 23 | AquaVitae | Yes | |
| 24 | Popworld | ||
| 25 | MooMoos | ||
| 26 | Yates | Yes | Yes |
| 27 | The Clarence Social | Yes | |
| 28 | Revolution | Yes | |
| 29 | The Bank House | Yes | |
| 30 | Turtle Bay | Yes | |
| 31 | The Cotswold Inn | Yes | |
| 32 | 2 Pigs | ||
| 33 | Smokey Joe's | Yes | |
| 34 | Brewhouse and Kitchen | Yes | |
| 35 | Cosy Club | Yes | |
| 36 | The Botanist | Yes | |
| 37 | The Alchemist | Yes | |
| 38 | Hubbox | Yes | |
| 39 | Flightclub | Yes | |
| 40 | Brewdog | Yes | |
| 41 | Frog and Fiddle | Yes | |
| 42 | The Shamrock | Yes | |
| 43 | The Coconut Tree | Yes | |
| 44 | The Railway | Yes | |
| 45 | The Bottle of Sauce | Yes | |
| 46 | St George's Vaults | ||
| 47 | The Bayshill | Yes | |
| 48 | Boston Tea Party | Yes | |
| 49 | The Tavern | Yes | |
| 50 | Home & Botanica | ||
| 51 | Four Cats | ||
| 52 | Imperial Haus | ||
| 53 | Imperial Beer Gardens | Yes | |
| 54 | Under The Prom | ||
| 55 | 131 The Promenade / Gin & Juice | Yes | |
| 56 | Queens Hotel | Yes | |
| 57 | Circus Bar | Yes | |
| 58 | John Gordons | Yes | |
| 59 | All Bar One | Yes | |
| 60 | Harry Cooks | Yes | Yes |
| 61 | Rotunda Tavern | ||
| 62 | The Beehive | Yes | Yes |
| 63 | The Retreat | Yes | Yes |
| 64 | Suffolk Arms | Yes | |
| 65 | The Jolly Brewmaster | ||
| 66 | The Exmouth Arms | Yes | |
| 67 | Five Alls | Yes | |
| 68 | The Brown Jug | Yes | Yes |
| 69 | Norwood Arms | Yes | |
| 70 | Fioro Lounge | Yes | |
| 71 | The Beehive | Yes | |
| 72 | The Retreat | Yes | |
| 73 | Suffolk Arms | Yes | |
| 74 | The Jolly Brewmaster | ||
| 75 | Tivoli | Yes | |
| 76 | Malbar | Yes | |
| 77 | Hotel Du Vin | Yes | |
| 78 | Lansdown | Yes | Yes |
| 79 | Favourite Beers | ||
| 80 | The Feathered Fish | Yes | |
| 81 | The Airs & Graces | Yes | |
| 82 | 33 The Rum Bar | ||
| 83 | The Kemble Brewery Inn | Yes | |
| 84 | Adam & Eve | Yes | Yes |
| 85 | The Kings Arms | Yes | |
| 86 | The Steam and Whistle | Yes | |
| 87 | Deya Taproom | Yes | |
| 88 | The Swamp | Yes |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Essential Guide To The Cheltenham Festival are Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.
Darren Brett
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
