Cheltenham: Everything you need to know about the Festival

- This year's Cheltenham Festival takes place from March 12-15
- The Cheltenham Festival takes place at Prestbury Park in the heart of the Cotswolds 
- There are seven races each day for a total of 28 across the Festival 
- The feature race each day takes place at 3.30pm 
- Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer at the Festival with 94 previous winners

The Cheltenham Festival in March is the biggest event in the jumps racing calendar, with four days of thrills and spills in the Cotswolds countryside at what is regarded as 'the greatest show on turf'.

The meeting is the biggest racing event in the calendar and draws in seasoned racing enthusiasts and passing interest sports fans in equal measure.

The best talents from Britain, Ireland and France come together to face off in National Hunts racing's greatest arena and it is a captivating sporting spectacle.

When is the Cheltenham Festival?

The Festival at Cheltenham takes place in mid-March annually, beginning on Tuesday afternoon and running through until the Friday.

In 2024, the Cheltenham Festival is scheduled to take place from Tuesday, March 12 to Friday, March 15. 

Where is the Cheltenham Festival?

The Cheltenham Festival takes place at Prestbury Park in the heart of the Cotswolds. 

The Gloucestershire venue is a mecca for fans of jumps racing.

Where can I watch the Cheltenham Festival?

All four days of the Cheltenham Festival are shown live on ITV Racing in Britain (selected races only) as well as dedicated subscription channel Racing TV, which shows all 28 races over the four days. You can also watch every race for free on LiveScore Bet (you just need a funded account).

How many people attend the Cheltenham Festival?

The average attendance over the four-day period of The Festival is between 65,000-70,000 with a capacity attendance on Gold Cup Day (the concluding day) set at 75,000.

How many races are there at the Cheltenham Festival?

There are 28 races at the meeting, seven per day on each of the four days. 

They are run over hurdles (smaller obstacles) or fences. 

Just one race — the Champion Bumper — at the meeting does not include jumps.

What are the feature races at the Cheltenham Festival?

The main race each day takes place at 3.30pm and they are the Championship races. They are:

• Tuesday - Champion Hurdle

• Wednesday - Queen Mother Champion Chase

• Thursday - Stayers' Hurdle

• Friday - Cheltenham Gold Cup

How many staff work at the Cheltenham Festival?

Approximately 6,000 staff are employed daily during The Festival, which includes 350 chefs. 

Nine tons of potatoes are consumed over the four days, along with nearly 50,000 bread rolls and at least 9,000 gallons of tea/coffee and more than a quarter of a million pints of Guinness.

Who is the most successful trainer at the Cheltenham Festival?

Willie Mullins has dominated in recent years and the Irishman now has a whopping 94 Festival winners on his CV, including at least one win in all four Championship races.

Who is the most successful jockey at the Cheltenham Festival?

Ruby Walsh's tally of 59 Festival winners is unsurpassed. 

He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009, the Champion Hurdle on four occasions for Mullins — Hurricane Fly (2011, 2013) Faugheen (2015) and Annie Power (2016), the Champion Chase three times on the Paul Nicholls-trained Azertyuiop (2004) and Master Minded (2008, 2009) and the Stayers' Hurdle four time on Nicholls' Big Buck's (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) and once for Mullins on Nichols Canyon (2017).

Which horse has won at the most Cheltenham Festivals?

Quevega won the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle every year between 2009 and 2014 — six wins — for her own slice of Festival history.

What is the Prestbury Cup?

The rivalry between Britain and Ireland has always been a key factor and, in 2014, the Prestbury Cup was introduced, with either Britain or Ireland taking the spoils for having the most winners across the four days of The Festival. 

The Prestbury Cup, named after the nearest village to Cheltenham Racecourse, is awarded to a nominated team captain from either Britain or Ireland.