2022 Cheltenham Festival guide: race-by-race schedule and how to watch it

The biggest fixture in the jump racing calendar is not far away. The Cheltenham Festival pits the best horses against each other across four fantastic days at the iconic Cotswold venue.

There are 28 races in total with the very best jockeys and trainers from Britain and Ireland in action. Day one kicks off with four Grade 1 races, headlined by the Champion Hurdle, while Wednesday's action features the Champion Chase. The Stayers' Hurdle and Ryanair Chase take centre stage on Thursday before the Cheltenham Gold Cup headlines the final day.

Read on to get all the information you need for a spectacular week of racing.

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When and where does the Cheltenham Festival take place?

The Cheltenham Festival takes place at Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire. This year, the Cheltenham Festival runs between Tuesday, March 15 and Friday, March 18, with seven races each day.

Last year the meeting was held behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions, but usually more than 250,000 attend across the four days.

Why is the meeting so important?

The festival serves as the pinnacle of the jump racing calendar and often marks the target towards which many trainers aim months – and years – in advance.

Considered the Olympics of jump racing, it brings together the most talented horses of the season to battle over the biggest prizes of the year, often pitting the brightest stars in Ireland against Britain's leading talents.

The March fixture also serves as an integral week for bookmakers, with the festival often attracting a massive amount of betting turnover as punters flock to find the winners among the Grade 1 races and competitive handicaps on offer.

The Cheltenham Festival: one of the most exciting weeks in the racing calendarCredit: Edward Whitaker

What are the main races and horses to look out for?

Day one: Tuesday, March 15

The Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.30) is the opening-day feature and has a superstar in action in the form of the unbeaten Honeysuckle. She is the defending champion having triumphed by six and a half lengths last season. Last year's Supreme winner Appreciate It and previous race winner Epatante are among the nine rivals taking her on.

Preceding that is the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30), which showcases the best two-mile novices of the season. The Nicky Henderson-trained pair Constitution Hill and Jonbon could be formidable opponents in a clash with Irish challenger Dysart Dynamo.

Another tantalising novice test on Tuesday is the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (2.10). Willie Mullins still has several in contention despite injury ruling out ante-post favourite Ferny Hollow. The Alan King-trained Edwardstone leads the charge for the British team against opponents Blue Lord and Riviere D'Etel, who were a close one-two against each other at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The fourth and final Grade 1 contest on Tuesday is the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (4.10), a race largely dominated by Irish winners and the tradition seems set to continue in 2022, with Relkeel Hurdle winner Stormy Ireland and last year's Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner Telmesomethinggirl heading a strong travelling contingent.

Day two: Wednesday, March 16

Day two will showcase an eagerly anticipated rematch between Shishkin and Energumene in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) after Shishkin got the better of his Irish rival in an epic Clarence House Chase in January. Last year's beaten favourite Chacun Pour Soi adds an extra layer of intrigue after returning to form at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Wednesday's card opens with the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (1.30), another race dominated by Irish winners in recent years, and Willie Mullins has decided to send hot favourite Sir Gerhard here instead of the Supreme. Britain's champion trainer Paul Nicholls drew a rare blank at the festival last year, but could have a strong contender in Stage Star, who is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles.

The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (2.10) will showcase the best British staying novice chasers, with a rematch between Bravemansgame and Ahoy Senor, who last met on Boxing Day, in the offing. They are joined by the impressive L'Homme Presse, who is unbeaten over fences, while Capodanno and Gaillard Du Mesnil lead the charge for Willie Mullins.

The second day of the festival also features the Glenfarclas Chase over the cross-country fences and dual-Grand National hero Tiger Roll could bow out with his fourth win in the race, with retirement beckoning. Wednesday's racing is closed out by the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.30), which often produces a future star for next season's novice hurdling division. Facile Vega, whose dam is six-time Cheltenham Festival winner Quevega, appears the standout candidate.

Day three: Thursday, March 17

The day kicks off the with the Turners' Novices' Chase (1.30) (formerly the Marsh), which could feature a mouthwatering showdown between two Irish-trained potential superstars in Bob Olinger and Galopin Des Champs, who were both winners at last year's festival.

Attention then turns to two signature races on Thursday with the Ryanair Chase (2.50) coming up first, in which Allaho is out to repeat his sublime victory last season. Challengers could include Ascot Chase winner Fakir D'Oudairies, second to Allaho last year, and Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated.

Then it is on to the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (3.30), which looks a wide-open renewal with no stand-out candidate. Last year's winner Flooring Porter, Champ, Thyme Hill, Klassical Dream and 2019 hero Paisley Park all have solid claims.

Day four: Friday, March 18

The Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30) is the big-race highlight of the meeting and while it may not feature the blockbuster heavyweight contenders of previous years, it remains every bit as fascinating.

Minella Indo triumphed last season but has not won a race since, while the stablemate he beat in second, A Plus Tard, has appeared to step forward again having finished first and second in Grade 1s since.

Galvin is the new kid on the block after toppling A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase, while two-time winner Al Boum Photo made another successful Tramore return. Protektorat and Chantry House could be the best of the British.

The JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30), the target for Gordon Elliott's unbeaten hurdler Pied Piper and Rich Ricci's new kid on the block Vauban, and the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50) precede the Gold Cup and are the final two Grade 1s on offer on before the festival showpiece.

2022 Cheltenham Festival offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new customers and existing customers and all you need is an account. Sign up here
• Sky Bet have got a selection of offers for new customers. Choose yours when you sign up here. They've also got an offer on every race of the festival
• Betfair have lots of offers, extra places and money back offers for the festival. Sign up for a new account here
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today sign up to a new account here
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here as well as benefit from their money back offers here
• 888 Sport have free bets for all new customers. Sign up here
• If you're a new customer, Tote are offering you a free bet. Sign up here to claim. They're also offering a free Placepot bet each day of the festival

Which trainers and jockeys will be competing at the Cheltenham Festival?

Last year's trainers' title at the festival was a close-fought affair between the Irish juggernauts, but Willie Mullins came out on top and can be expected to be a leading player again this year alongside Henry de Bromhead and Gordon Elliott.

Rachael Blackmore, who took top jockey honours in 2021, will be back for more against the likes of Paul Townend, Nico de Boinville and Jack Kennedy, while Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls will be aiming to lead the charge on behalf of the British trainers.

Best bookmaker offers: how to make the most of your Cheltenham Festival betting

How can I watch the racing and can I attend?

The majority of races each day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival will be broadcast live on ITV's main channel throughout the week, while the entire card will be shown on Racing TV for those with a subscription. This can be accessed through Sky and Virgin Media, or streamed online.

You can also watch the races on your phone, tablet or computer by logging on to a bookmaker account and streaming via the Racing Post website or mobile app.

Tickets are available through the Jockey Club website for each of the first three days, although only a handful of hospitality tickets remain for Gold Cup day on Friday. Tickets, hospitality packages and car park spaces are available to purchase here.

Cheltenham Festival: race-by-race schedule

Who should I bet on at the Cheltenham Festival?

Have a look at the and check out our to start with, then stay up to date with the Racing Post website, mobile app and newspaper for our expert betting advice and all the latest news in the run-up to the big week.

Read more on the Cheltenham Festival:

2022 Cheltenham Festival: what chance of a repeat win for last year's scorers?

'Vauban? He's better than Pied Piper' – Patrick Mullins answers your questions

Cheltenham's greatest gambles, including the £900,000 punt from 66-1 to 16-1

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