Cheltenham Festival 2026 race times, Gold Cup Day schedule and talkSPORT commentary for iconic event

Mar 11, 2026 - 09:00

Cheltenham Festival is one of the standout events in the British sporting calendar, and it is finally here.

The best of the best from jump racing have flocked to Cheltenham for four incredible days of action this week.

Jockey Mark Walsh celebrates winning the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Inothewayurthinkin — Inothewayurthinkin denied champion horse Galopin des Champs the chance to make history in 2025

talkSPORT BET: Latest Cheltenham Festival odds and free bet offers

The event is full of great races, but the showpiece is the Gold Cup, where Inothewayurthinkin claimed victory last year.

Mark Walsh produced one of the great Gold Cup shocks in what was the highlight of the festival in 2025.

But there were several other huge moments and shocks, all contributing to a brilliant event with hundreds of thousands of spectators in attendance.

And the 2026 edition has now arrived, meaning we’re in for another real treat across a superb week of racing.

Cheltenham Festival 2026: Dates and start times

This year’s Cheltenham Festival will run from Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13.

Each day of action includes seven races, meaning there is a total of 28 throughout the week of the festival.

Racing will begin at around 1:20pm on each day with 40-minute intervals between races.

The biggest races of each day are usually scheduled for 4pm, while the final races will be taking place at 5:20pm.

Each day also has its dedicated title – Tuesday is Champion Day, Wednesday is Ladies Day, Thursday is St Patrick’s Thursday and Friday is Gold Cup Day.

For many people, this is the biggest event in horse racing

Cheltenham Festival 2026: talkSPORT coverage

talkSPORT has live coverage of all the action from Cheltenham.

Commentary of every race will come from Lee McKenzie, Emmet Kennedy and Tony McCormick on talkSPORT 2, with coverage of the first five races of each day also available to talkSPORT.

A preview show at 10am each day will also be available to tune in to with Rupert Bell and Lizzie Kelly on talkSPORT.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. Listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

talkSPORT.com will keep you up to date with race-by-race updates and reaction in our dedicated Cheltenham live blog.

If you want to watch the action on TV, you can tune in to watch free-to-air coverage on ITV.

Cheltenham attracts celebrities and people from other sports

Cheltenham Festival 2026: Betting tips

talkSPORT will provide you with all the latest tips and free bet offers throughout the festival.

Odds will be available on talkSPORT BET and our resident tipster will be selecting multiple picks for each day of racing.

You can check the current odds for Cheltenham at talkSPORT BET.

Find all the best Cheltenham Festival free bet offers from talkSPORT and our partners across the website during the week.

Cheltenham Festival 2026: Race Schedule

Champion day – Tuesday, March 10

1.20pm: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 87y
2.00pm: Singer Challenge Trophy Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 1m 7f 199y
2.40pm: McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 2m 87y
3.20pm: Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – 3m 1f
4.00pm: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 87y
4.40pm: Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – 2m 4f 44y
5.20pm: National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase – 3m 5f 201

Ladies Day – Wednesday, March 11

1.20pm: Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 5f
2.00pm: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 3m 80y
2.40pm: BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 2m 5f
3.20pm: Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase – 3m 6f 37y
4.00pm: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) – 1m 7f 199y
4.40pm: Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) – 1m 7f 199y
5.20pm: Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) – 2m 87

St Patrick’s Thursday – Thursday, March 12

1.20pm: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) – 2m 179y
2.00pm: Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 4f 127y
2.40pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 4f 56y
3.20pm: Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 7f 213y
4.00pm: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 4f 127y
4.40pm: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap.) – 2m 7f 113y
5.20pm: Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase – 3m 2f

Gold Cup Day – Friday, March 13