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The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of British and Irish jumps racing — four days each March headlined by the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and one of the biggest antepost betting events on the international calendar. Australian bookmakers frame all-in markets on the championship races months in advance. Below: the four days, recent Gold Cup winners, the trends that decide the Festival, betting angles and where to watch from Australia.
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18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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📅 When: Mid-March (Tuesday–Friday, 4 days)
đź“Ť Venue: Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire, UK
🏆 Headline: Cheltenham Gold Cup (Friday)
🇮🇪 Trend: Irish-trained runners — Willie Mullins above all — dominate
📺 Broadcast (AU): Sky Racing — evening/overnight AEST
Cheltenham Festival — The Championship Races
| Day | Championship Race |
|---|---|
| Tuesday (Champion Day) | Champion Hurdle |
| Wednesday | Queen Mother Champion Chase |
| Thursday (St Patrick’s Thursday) | Stayers’ Hurdle |
| Friday (Gold Cup Day) | Cheltenham Gold Cup |
Antepost markets run for months; final fields and fixed odds firm up in the week of the Festival — check back for our best bets across the four days.
The History of the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham has been the home of British jumps racing since the sport settled at Prestbury Park in 1911, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup was first run as a championship steeplechase on 12 March 1924, won by Red Splash. A century on, the Festival has grown into four days each March that decide the season’s championships — the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and Gold Cup — drawing the very best from Britain and Ireland in front of 60,000-plus each day.
It is an occasion defined by atmosphere: the famous “Cheltenham roar” that erupts as the tape rises for the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is one of sport’s great sounds. The racing is fierce too, with the Anglo-Irish rivalry at its heart — Irish-trained raiders, led by Willie Mullins, have dominated the modern Festival, and the championship Grade 1s reward proven class over the unique galloping, uphill-finish test.
Cheltenham Gold Cup — Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Gaelic Warrior | Willie Mullins |
| 2025 | Inothewayurthinkin | Gavin Cromwell |
| 2024 | Galopin Des Champs | Willie Mullins |
| 2023 | Galopin Des Champs | Willie Mullins |
| 2022 | A Plus Tard | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2021 | Minella Indo | Henry de Bromhead |
Cheltenham Betting Trends & Angles
- Back the Irish. Irish-trained horses, led by Willie Mullins (the most successful trainer in Festival history), dominate recent Festivals — Mullins has saddled double-digit winners in a single Festival. Respect the powerful Irish yards in the championship races. Among the jockeys, Mullins\’s stable rider Paul Townend has been the dominant force — around 29 Festival wins at a 26% strike over the last five years — with Rachael Blackmore (19 wins) the other standout.
- Favourites hold up in the championship races. The Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase reward class — short-priced leaders win more often than in the big handicaps.
- Handicaps are each-way chaos. The Coral Cup, County Hurdle and cross-country are huge-field punts — each-way and extra-place specials are where the value sits.
- Antepost early. Australian bookmakers price the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle months out; the best value is often locked in well before the Festival.
How to Watch Cheltenham in Australia
The Cheltenham Festival is shown on Sky Racing in Australia, with the UK cards running through the evening and overnight AEST across the four days.
Best bookmakers for international racing
See our best horse racing betting sites in Australia guide, or the newest betting sites in Australia for fresh sign-up offers.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Exclusive 365AUCODE referral code: bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers.18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Cheltenham Festival FAQs
Where is the Cheltenham Festival held?
At Cheltenham Racecourse (Prestbury Park) in Gloucestershire, England — home of British jumps racing since 1911.
When is the Cheltenham Festival?
Four days in mid-March (Tuesday to Friday) at Cheltenham Racecourse, climaxing with the Gold Cup on the Friday.
What is the biggest race at Cheltenham?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup (Friday) is the championship of staying chasers and the Festival’s blue riband. The Champion Hurdle (Tuesday) headlines the hurdlers.
Who is the most successful Cheltenham trainer?
Willie Mullins — the most successful trainer in Festival history, with well over 100 Festival winners and multiple Gold Cups — Galopin Des Champs (2023 and 2024) and Gaelic Warrior (2026).
How do I bet on Cheltenham from Australia?
All major Australian bookmakers offer fixed-odds and antepost markets on every Festival race — win/antepost on the championship races, each-way on the big handicaps.
More International Racing Coverage
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