The Cheltenham Racing Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the sporting calendar. The week long meeting builds up to the main attraction, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which takes millions of bets every year. Starting on 10th March 2009 at 13.30 and running through to 17.15 on Friday 13th March 2009, Cheltenham is a packed race meeting.
Below is the schedule for the whole Cheltenham Festival :
Cheltenham Festival Racing Schedule
Check out the full Cheltenham festival line up below, with scheduled race times included. This is subject to change due to any unforseen circumstances occurring. Click the race name to get the latest odds for Cheltenham festival runners.
Tuesday 10th March
Time Race Distance
13:30 Williamhill Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2m 1/2f
14:05 Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase 2m
14:40 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase 3m 1/2f
15:02 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2m 1/2f
16:00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase 3m 7f
16:40 David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle Race 2m 4f
Wednesday 11th March
Time Race Distance
13:30 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 4m
14:05 Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle 2m 5f
14:40 Royal Sun Alliance Chase 3m 1/2f
15:20 Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase 2m
16:00 Coral Cup 2m 5f
16:40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m 1/2f
17:15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper 2m 1/2f
Thursday 12th March
Time Race Distance
13:30 Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase 2m 5f
14:05 Pertemps Final 3m
14:40 Ryanair Chase 2m 5f
15:20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle 3m
16:00 Freddie Williams Festival Plate Handicap 2m 5f
16:40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap 3m 1 1/2f
Friday 13th March
Time Race Distance
13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 1f
14:05 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f
14:40 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle 3m
15:20 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup 3m 2 1/2f
16:00 Christie's Foxhunter Steeple Chase 3m 2 1/2f
16:40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle 2m 4 1/4f
17:15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeple Chase 2m 1/2f
I’ve been a big Binocular fan for a long time. As the Champion Hurdler gets closer more and more people seem to doubt the horse, saying he won’t get into his stride or get up the hill.
I completely disagree as they’ll go a fierce gallop so AP can settle him in to his natural pace and his stamina would be more of an issue on the new rather than the sharper Old Course, which they use on the first two days anyway.
Binocular’s a much stronger horse than last year, the ground will be quicker, McCoy knows him much better and he’s in a different league to the rest. I firmly believe Binocular will win the 2009 Champion Hurdle. So that’s my first prediction…
Hopefully by the time of the feature on day one, McCoy will be looking for a double as my ante-post selection (advised at 12-1) Calgary Bay runs in the Arkle.
The champion jockey loves the horse and his high cruising speed and brilliant jumping should stand him in good stead in a below par renewal.
Ireland have won the last ten out of 17, six of the last eight, renewals of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and hold a trump card again with Cousin Vinny. I have a feeling the Irish will back him down to a crazy prize on Tuesday and if he wins it will get the meeting off to a flyer and whip the Irish punters into a frenzy.
He’s probably the best horse in the race but the fact that his jockey Patrick Mullins has never ridden in a hurdle race round Cheltenham worries me and I prefer the chance and price of Micheal Flips, who would be much shorter in the betting if trained by a Mullins, Henderson or Nicholls.
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