The 2018 Cheltenham Festival gets under way on March 13 and we've got all the information you need ahead of the four-day spectacular, including features and tips, race times and schedule plus the latest Sky Bet odds and offers.
Cheltenham Festival 2018 Schedule
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RESULTS FROM CHELTENHAM
CHELTENHAM DAY 1 - TUESDAY MARCH 13
Officially billed as Champion Day, the opening day of the Festival is packed with top quality and starts with a real bang as the best young hurdlers around clash in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
The Racing Post Arkle crowns the champion two mile novice chaser but the headline day one act is the Unibet Champion Hurdle, won 12 months ago in fantastic style by the Nicky Henderson-trained Buveur D'Air, who returns to defend his crown this year.
- 1.30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Sky Bet Offer: Money back as a free bet if your horses loses - click here to bet - 2.10 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase
- 2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase
- 3.30 UniBet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
- 4.10 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle
- 4.50 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase)
- 5.30 Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase
CHELTENHAM DAY 2 - WEDNESDAY MARCH 14
Ladies Day consists of a brilliant blend of speed and stamina, with the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase one of the most exhilarating races of the entire week as the finest two-milers wing around Prestbury Park's demanding chase course.
The RSA Chase is a severe examination for burgeoning staying talents and few could forget Might Bite's dramatic success over stablemate Whisper in last year's renewal.
- 1.30 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
Sky Bet Offer: Money back as a free bet if your horses loses - click here to bet - 2.10 RSA Chase
- 2.50 Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race)
- 3.30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
- 4.10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
- 4.50 Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
- 5.30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race)
CHELTENHAM DAY 3 - THURSDAY MARCH 15
The St Patrick's Thursday crowd has every reason to celebrate with a couple of cracking contests in the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase.
The JLT Novices' Chase also carries top-class status while the Pertemps Network Final provides an amazing puzzle for punters to solve as a huge field scrap for honours over three miles.
- 1.30 JLT Novices’ Chase
Sky Bet Offer: Money back as a free bet if your horses loses - click here to bet - 2.10 Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race)
- 2.50 Ryanair Chase
- 3.30 Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle
- 4.10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase)
- 4.50 Trull House Stud Mares Novices’ Hurdle
- 5.30 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145)
CHELTENHAM DAY 4 - FRIDAY MARCH 16
Gold Cup Day needs little introduction.
One of the most sought after titles in racing is decided on the final day of the Festival and always promises to provide the greatest spectacle.
The Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup is a race associated with the elite of the sport and nothing can rival the Cheltenham roar as the horses charge up the famous hill.
The JCB Triumph Hurdle and Albert Bartlett also crown top-class talents while the 28th and final race sees quality two-mile handicappers vie for glory in the Grand Annual.
- 1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle
Sky Bet Offer: Money back as a free bet if your horses loses - click here to bet - 2.10 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
- 2.50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
- 3.30 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
- 4.10 St. James’s Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
- 4.50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-145)
- 5.30 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase Challenge Cup
Studying the form for the Cheltenham Festival? We have FREE and unlimited video replays from ALL UK and Irish racecourse - click here for full details...
Cheltenham Festival 2018: Ante-post tips & Features
Click here for all our daily tips throughout the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival 2018: Ante-post tips & Features
Ed Chamberlin previews
Banker bets: Ed channels his inner Ted Rogers (kids, ask your dad) and has his 3-2-1 of Cheltenham best bets for next week.
Lydia Hislop's Road To Cheltenham
Racing UK presenter Lydia Hislop has been reviewing the season with her regular in-depth articles which analyse the changes on the ante-post betting markets for the Cheltenham Festival.
The last stop on the 'Road' before the daily previews begin features a recommended bet in the Coral Cup. Click here to read more.
Lydia strikes a NRNB wager in the Unibet Champion Hurdle in part one of her post-winter break update, while the second instalment includes three more selections.
Donn McClean previews
Beyond the big two: Donn has five horses from outside the Elliott and Mullins camps who could strike for Ireland next week - and four are exclusive Price Boosts.
Irish handicappers: Donn McClean with five Irish handicappers to follow at the Cheltenham Festival - including a 25/1 chance in the Grand Annual.
Mullins v Elliott: The leading Irish scribe looks at the battle between Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott as we build up to the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.
Oli Bell tips
Handicap Yankee: Oli Bell looks ahead to the Cheltenham handicaps with an ante-post Yankee.
Paul Woloszyn's Festival form
'Festival form' dominates the discussion ahead of Cheltenham, so who should we be keeping an eye on as they return to Prestbury Park this spring? Click here to find out.
Matt Brocklebank's Antepost Angle
Our man rallies against the notion that antepost betting is an extinct pastime by nominating five horses he wants onside ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, including Santini in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
Matt Tombs' Major Players
Matt Tombs of bettrends.co.uk and the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide looks at the big players in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Sky Bet's Cheltenham Festival odds and offers
Click here to place your bets on the Cheltenham Festival - all Non Runner No Bet!
Sky Bet, who sponsor the first event of the Festival, have priced up all 28 races well in advance and to give punters the opportunity to bet in confidence prior to the meeting, they are offering Non-Runner, No Bet - which means you'll be refunded in full if your selection does not take part in the race.
On top of that, the online firm are offering their standard Best Odds Guaranteed price promise, which means if the Starting Price is greater than the ante-post price you take, you'll get paid out at the longer odds.
So whether you think Buveur D'Air is a stone-cold certainty in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, or you have a dark horse for the Kim Muir, head to the Sky Bet racing pages to place your bets on the Cheltenham Festival.
There will also be plenty of offers in the run-up, including Festival Fever and Money Back promotions.
Cheltenham Festival 2018: Stable Tours, Videos and Podcast
CLICK HERE FOR A ONE-STOP SHOP TO ALL OUR STABLE TOURS
We visited the yards of Nicky Henderson, Colin Tizzard, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins and Jessica Harrington in the run-up to the Festival, while Ben Pauling also provided us with all the latest news from his Gloucestershire stable.
Click here for our latest video interviews with Pauling, Tom George, Warren Greatrex and Harry Whittington.
Nicky Henderson (20/02/18)
Colin Tizzard (21/02/18)
Nigel Twiston-Davies (22/02/18)
Gordon Elliott (25/02/18)
Willie Mullins (26/02/18)
Jessica Harrington (26/02/18)
Ben Pauling (06/03/18)
Daryl Jacob
Cheltenham Festival 2018: Key trials video form
With FREE video replays available from all UK and Irish tracks on sportinglife.com, we take a look at the key ones to watch for all four days of the Cheltenham Festival.
Day 1: Key video form including Unibet Champion Hurdle trials
Day 2: Key video form including Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase trials
Day 3: Key video form including Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle trials
Day 4: Key video form including Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup trials
Cheltenham Festival 2018: Records
Most successful trainers of all time at the Cheltenham Festival
Wins Trainer
58 Nicky Henderson (1985-present)
54 Willie Mullins IRE (1995-present)
41 Paul Nicholls (1999-present)
40 Fulke Walwyn (1946-86)
34 Martin Pipe (1981-2006)
28 Fred Winter (1970-1988)
27 Fred Rimell (1948-1981)
26 Tom Dreaper IRE (1946-1971)
26 Jonjo O'Neill (1991-present)
23 Vincent O'Brien IRE (1948-1959)
23 Bob Turnell (1956-1980)
22 Ivor Anthony (1930-1952)
19 George Beeby (1930-1959)
19 Philip Hobbs (1990-present)
18 Edward O'Grady IRE (1974-present)
17 David Nicholson (1986-1999)
17 Nigel Twiston-Davies (1992-present)
15 Harry Brown (1920-1938)
15 Tom Coulthwaite (1911-1936)
15 Alan King (2004-present)
15 David Pipe (2007-present)
15 Tom Rimell (1927-1949)
14 Gordon Elliott IRE (2011-present)
14 Dan Moore IRE (1953-1979)
13 Jack Anthony (1929-1950)
13 Peter Easterby (1967-1986)
13 Tim Forster (1963-1998)
12 John Edwards (1969-1994)
12 Tom Jones (1965-1978)
(NB trainers of some of the earliest winners were not recorded)
Most successful current trainers at the Cheltenham Festival
Wins Trainer
58 Nicky Henderson
54 Willie Mullins IRE
41 Paul Nicholls
26 Jonjo O'Neill
19 Philip Hobbs
18 Edward O'Grady IRE
17 Nigel Twiston-Davies
15 Alan King
15 David Pipe
14 Gordon Elliott IRE
11 Jessica Harrington IRE
10 Ferdy Murphy FR
9 David Elsworth
8 Enda Bolger IRE
8 Arthur Moore IRE
7 Mouse Morris IRE
6 Tony Martin IRE
6 Donald McCain
6 Aidan O'Brien IRE
6 Oliver Sherwood
6 Venetia Williams
5 Noel Meade IRE
5 Colin Tizzard
Winners Of The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award
2017 Gordon Elliott IRE (6)
2016 Willie Mullins IRE (7)
2015 Willie Mullins IRE (8)
2014 Willie Mullins IRE (4)
2013 Willie Mullins IRE (5)
2012 Nicky Henderson (7)
2011 Willie Mullins IRE (4)
2010 Nicky Henderson (3)
2009 Paul Nicholls (5)
2008 Paul Nicholls (3)
2007 Paul Nicholls (4)
2006 Paul Nicholls (3)
2005 Howard Johnson (3)
2004 Paul Nicholls (4)
2003 Jonjo O'Neill (3)
2002 Martin Pipe (3)
2001 Cancelled
2000 Nicky Henderson (4)
1999 Paul Nicholls (3)
1998 Martin Pipe (4)
1997 Martin Pipe (4)
1996 Ferdy Murphy, Edward O'Grady IRE, Martin Pipe (2)
1995 David Nicholson (3)
1994 David Nicholson, Edward O'Grady IRE (2)
1993 Nicky Henderson, Martin Pipe, Nigel Twiston-Davies (2)
1992 Nicky Henderson, David Nicholson, Simon Sherwood (2)
1991 Martin Pipe (3)
1990 Nicky Henderson (2)
1989 Toby Balding, John Edwards, David Elsworth, Josh Gifford, Martin Pipe (2)
1988 Josh Gifford (3)
1987 Toby Balding, Nicky Henderson, Fred Winter (2)
1986 Nicky Henderson (3)
1985 Nicky Henderson (3)
1984 Michael Dickinson (3)
1983 Michael Dickinson (3)
1982 Michael Dickinson (3)
1981 Peter Easterby (3)
1980 John Edwards, Edward O'Grady IRE, Bob Turnell, Fred Winter (2)
Most successful trainers in Cheltenham Gold Cup
5 Tom Dreaper IRE (1946 Prince Regent, 1964, 1965 & 1966 Arkle, 1968 Fort Leney)
4 Basil Briscoe (1932, 1933, 1934 & 1935 Golden Miller)
Paul Nicholls (1999 See More Business, 2007 & 2009 Kauto Star, 2008 Denman)
Vincent O'Brien IRE (1948, 1949 & 1950 Cottage Rake, 1953 Knock Hard)
Fulke Walwyn (1952 Mont Tremblant, 1962 Mandarin, 1963 Mill House, 1973 The Dikler)
3 Owen Anthony (1927 Thrown In, 1936 Golden Miller, 1940 Roman Hackle)
Henrietta Knight (2002, 2003 & 2004 Best Mate)
2 Ivor Anthony (1938 Morse Code, 1941 Poet Prince)
Jack Anthony (1929 & 1930 Easter Hero)
George Beeby (1939 Brendan's Cottage, 1951 Silver Fame)
Noel Chance (1997 Mr Mulligan, 2000 Looks Like Trouble)
Michael Dickinson (1982 Silver Buck, 1983 Bregawn)
Peter Easterby (1979 Alverton, 1981 Little Owl)
Nicky Henderson (2011 Long Run, 2013 Bobs Worth)
Dan Moore IRE (1970 & 1971 L'Escargot)
Most successful trainers in the Champion Hurdle
6 Nicky Henderson (1985, 1986 & 1987 See You Then, 2009 Punjabi, 2010 Binocular, 2017 Buveur D'Air)
5 Peter Easterby (1967 Saucy Kit, 1976 & 1977 Night Nurse, 1980 & 1981 Sea Pigeon)
4 Willie Mullins (2011 & 2013 Hurricane Fly, 2015 Faugheen, 2016 Annie Power)
Vic Smyth (1941 Seneca, 1942 Forestation, 1947 and 1948 National Spirit)
Fred Winter (1971 & 1972 Bula, 1974 Lanzarote, 1988 Celtic Shot)
3 Colin Davies (1968, 1969 and 1970 Persian War)
Aidan O'Brien IRE (1998, 1999 & 2000 Istabraq)
Ryan Price (1955 Clair Soleil, 1959 Fare Time, 1961 Eborneezer)
Willie Stephenson (1952, 1953 & 1954 Sir Ken)
Most successful trainers in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
6 Tom Dreaper IRE (1960 & 1961 Fortria, 1964 Ben Stack, 1966 Flyingbolt, 1969 Muir, 1970 Straight Fort)
5 Paul Nicholls (1999 Call Equiname, 2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 & 2009 Master Minded, 2015 Dodging Bullets)
4 Nicky Henderson (1992 Remittance Man, 2012 Finian's Rainbow, 2013 & 2016 Sprinter Sacre)
3 Michael Dickinson (1982 Rathgorman, 1983 & 1984 Badsworth Boy)
Most successful trainers in the Ryanair Chase
2 Nicky Henderson (2006 Fondmort, 2012 Riverside Theatre)
Willie Mullins IRE (2016 Vautour, 2017 Un De Sceaux)
Paul Nicholls (2005 Thisthatandtother, 2007 Taranis)
Jonjo O'Neill (2010 & 2011 Albertas Run)
David Pipe (2008 Our Vic, 2014 Dynaste)
Most successful trainers in the Stayers' Hurdle
4 Paul Nicholls (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Big Buck's)
3 Howard Johnson (2005, 2007 & 2008 Inglis Drever)
Fulke Walwyn (1982 & 1986 Crimson Embers, 1985 Rose Ravine)
2 Francois Doumen FR (2002, 2003 Baracouda)
Nicky Henderson (1989 Rustle, 2000 Bacchanal)
John Mulhern IRE (1987 & 1988 Galmoy)
Edward O'Grady IRE (1978 Flame Gun, 1980 Mountrivers)
Jonjo O'Neill (2004 Iris's Gift, 2014 More Of That)
Martin Pipe (1994 Balasani, 1996 Cyborgo)
Leading current owners at the Cheltenham Festival
Wins Owner
52 J P McManus
19 Gigginstown House Stud
14 Susannah Ricci
13 Andrea & Graham Wylie
11 Trevor Hemmings
8 The Moulds
7 John Hales
7 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate
7 The Stewart Family
6 Jim Lewis
6 Terry Warner
5 Michael Buckey
5 Ann and Alan Potts
5 Clive Smith
5 Robert Waley-Cohen
