Cheltenham festival

Horses and their jockeys walking at a racing track

Cheltenham roar returns, festival battles falling crowds

Prepare for plenty of mentions of the "Cheltenham roar" up until lunchtime, the traditional crowd greeting that heralds the start of the biggest four days in National Hunt racing.

Racing • 10 Mar

Pilgrimage nears its end as wide-open Cheltenham awaits

After predictions of a 2025 Festival dominated by bankers, the 2026 Cheltenham meeting seems a much more wide open affair.

Racing • 09 Mar

Cheltenham , United Kingdom - 9 March 2026: Horses from the Gordon Elliott yard make their way to the gallops ahead of the 2026 Cheltenham Racing Festival at Prestbury Park in Cheltenham, England. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Competitive Supreme to start Cheltenham with a bang

There will be an almighty roar when the tapes go up for the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle and potentially an even bigger one if Nicky Henderson's Old Park Star gallops up the famous Cheltenham hill first.

Racing • 09 Mar

Bob Olinger (right) jumps the final hurdle ahead of Teahupoo and goes on to win the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle during racing on day three of the Cheltenham National Hunt jump racing festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 13th 2025 in Gloucestershire,

Stayers' Hurdle field down to 13 runners

Teahupoo and Bob Olinger, the last two winners of the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, are among 13 potential runners in this year's renewal of the Cheltenham Festival's day three feature.

Racing • 06 Mar

Davy Russell on Lord Windermere after winning the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Russell on a day opportunity knocked at Cheltenham

With the Cheltenham Festival nearly upon us, Davy Russell recalls his victory aboard Lord Windermere in the 2014 Gold Cup, a day when things fell nicely into place for the Youghal native.

Racing • 06 Mar

Ex-footballer Doyle taking added interest in Cheltenham

Former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Doyle will take more interest than most in Amen Kate's performance in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

Racing • 06 Mar

Majborough is an odds-on favourite for the feature on day two of the Cheltenham Festival

Majborough heads Champion Chase dozen

Red-hot favourite Majborough will face a maximum of 12 rivals in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Racing • 05 Mar

Harry Fry's charge has impressed since tackling obstacles

Supreme hope Idaho Sun ruled out of Cheltenham

Harry Fry's leading Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle contender Idaho Sun has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival with a setback.

Racing • 05 Mar

Cheltenham Festival: Paul Nolan stable tour

Paul Nolan has assembled his biggest ever team for next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Racing • 04 Mar

NEWBURY, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 07: Harry Cobden riding Tutti Quanti clear the last to win The William Hill Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse on February 07, 2026 in Newbury, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Tutti Quanti supplemented for Champion Hurdle

The New Lion, last year's winner Golden Ace and the supplemented Tutti Quanti are among nine confirmations for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Racing • 04 Mar

The Reverend lame and misses out on trip to Cheltenham

The Reverend will not be part of Willie Mullins' formidable squad for the Cheltenham Festival after suffering a setback.

Racing • 04 Mar

Irish Panther could opt for Champion Chase over Arkle

Connections of Irish Panther are giving some consideration to running in the Queen Mother Champion Chase rather than the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival next week.

Racing • 03 Mar

Marine Nationale was an ultra-impressive winner of the Champion Chase last season

Marine Nationale to miss Cheltenham Festival

Marine Nationale will not defend his crown in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next week after suffering a setback.

Racing • 03 Mar

Kildare , Ireland - 2 May 2025; Jockey James Bowen and Constitution Hill go to post before the Boodles Champion Hurdle on day four of the Punchestown Festival at Punchestown Racecourse in Kildare. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Constitution Hill owner Buckley targets Melbourne Cup

While the burning question over whether Constitution Hill will bid to regain his Unibet Champion Hurdle crown remains unanswered, owner Michael Buckley has identified the Melbourne Cup as a potential dream target for his pride and joy later this year.

Racing • 22 Feb

Myretown made all to run out a well-backed winner of last season's Ultima Handicap Chase

Cheltenham Festival handicap entries revealed

Cheltenham Festival handicap entries reveal that Myretown has a repeat bid for the Ultima Handicap Chase in his sights any Grand National dreams were checked at Haydock on Saturday.

Racing • 17 Feb

Alan O'Sullivan, the brother of jockey Michael O'Sullivan who died after a fall last month, prepares to mount his horse Walking On Air in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys Handicap Steeplechase during racing on day three of the Chelt

Jockey O'Sullivan inspired by memory of late brother

On the anniversary of Michael O'Sullivan's tragic death, his brother Alan has spoken of the emotion of life without his brother and how honouring his memory is inspiring his own journey in the saddle.

Racing • 16 Feb

Townend eager to regain Gold Cup aboard Galopin

Seven-time Irish champion jockey Paul Townend admitted it would be "hard to get off" Galopin Des Champs as the 10-year-old aims to become only the second horse ever to regain the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Racing • 12 Feb

1 February 2026; Jockey Jack Kennedy celebrates on Brighterdaysahead after winning the Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle during day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin. Photo by Thomas Doolin/Sportsfile

Elliott hatches stable plan for Brighterdaysahead

Gordon Elliott is toying with a change of approach for Brighterdaysahead ahead of his star mare's bid to make it third time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Racing • 10 Feb

The Jukebox Man on song ahead of Gold Cup bid

Ben Pauling is delighted with The Jukebox Man as the King George winner builds up towards a crack at the Gold Cup next month.

Racing • 09 Feb

Dublin , Ireland - 26 December 2025; Jack Kennedy on El Cairos leads before falling at the last during the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle on day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin. (Photo By Shauna Clinton/S

El Cairos survives blunder to complete Cheltenham prep

Gordon Elliott's El Cairos survived a blunder at the final flight in his Thurles prep run to ensure he goes to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham with a victory under his belt.

Racing • 29 Jan

17 November 2025; Eventual winner I'll Sort That, with Declan Queally up, left, and Theflyingking, with Sam Ewing up, who finished second, jump the last 'first time round' in the Bar One Racing For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan Racecourse in Meath. Photo

I'll Sort That set to head straight to Cheltenham

Declan Queally has confirmed his intention to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival with I'll Sort That following his Grade One breakthrough at Naas.

Racing • 20 Jan

ESHER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Paul Townend riding Il Etait Temps clear the last to win The Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park Racecourse on December 06, 2025 in Esher, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Il Etait Temps bids to make it six wins on the bounce

The team behind Il Etait Temps are full of hope but taking nothing for granted ahead of his bid for a sixth successive victory in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday

Racing • 16 Jan

Jockey Jack Kennedy celebrates on Romeo Coolio after winning the Racing Post Novice Chase on day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin

Elliott plays down Arkle talk for Romeo Coolio

Gordon Elliott would be "shocked" if Romeo Coolio ran in the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival in March, unless the ground was soft.

Racing • 29 Dec 25

State Man fell at Cheltenham in March with the Champion Hurdle at his mercy

Mullins' star State Man ruled out for rest of season

The Willie Mullins-trained State Man has been ruled out for the season after suffering a tendon injury.

Racing • 12 Nov 25

The 2026 Cheltenham Festival gets under way on Tuesday, 10 March

Cheltenham Festival to implement changes for 2026

Cheltenham has announced some tweaks to the Festival running order, with the Grade One Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle moving from Tuesday's card to Thursday.

Racing • 17 Oct 25