One of the greatest horse racing Festivals in the world, the Cheltenham Festival never seems to take too long to come around. It doesn’t seem too long ago that Sizing John was powering his way home for Jessica Harrington in the Gold Cup, beating out Minella Rocco by almost three lengths and subsequently leaving favourite Djakadam and 16/1 chancer Bristol De Mai firmly in his wake, with Cue Card taking a tumble on his way around.
It was another thrilling spectacle at the Gloucestershire racecourse and with the new year here there are already eyes turning towards the 2018 Cheltenham Festival. Over 200,000 spectators will be expected to be flooding their way into the course over the duration of the four-day Festival, which all starts on Thursday, March 13th and which comes to its conclusion on Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 16th. More than £500 million worth of betting is expected to go down on the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.
It is still ante-post betting time at the moment of course and there are still no guarantees about who exactly will be lining up at the races. What we do know of course is when the races are going to be going off and here is the full list of races and times for the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.
Tuesday 13th March
1.30 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2m 1/2f)
2.05 – Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (2m)
2.40 – Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Handicap Chase (3m 1/2f)
3.20 – Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (2m 1/2f)
4.00 – Mares’ Hurdle (for the David Nicholson Trophy) (2m 4f)
4.40 – National Hunt Chase (4m)
5.15 – Novices’ Handicap Chase (2m 4 1/2 f)
Wednesday 14th March
1.30 – Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (2m 5f)
2.05 – RSA Steeple Chase (3m 1/2f)
2.40 – Coral Cup (2m 5f)
3.20 – BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Steeplechase (2m)
4.00 – Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (3m 7f)
4.40 – Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m 1/2f)
5.15 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Open NH Flat Race) (2m 1/2f)
Thursday 15th March
1.30 – JLT Novices’ Steeple Chase (2m 5f)
2.05 – Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (3m)
2.40 – Ryanair Chase (2m 5f)
3.20 – Ladbrokes World Hurdle (3m)
4.00 – Byrne Group Plate Handicap Steeple Chase (2m 5f)
4.40 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (3m 1 1/2f)
5.15 – St. Patrick’s Derby (Charity Race) (1m 5f)
Friday 16th March
1.30 – JCB Triumph Hurdle (2m 1f)
2.05 – Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (2m 1f)
2.40 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3m)
3.20 – Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (3m 2 1/2f)
4.00 – Foxhunter Steeple Chase (3m 2 1/2f)
4.40 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m 4 1/2f)
5.15 – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeplechase (2m 1/2f)
Cheltenham Festival Ante Post Preview
The prices are still big and uncertain at the ante-post stage of Cheltenham Festival 2018 betting so while there are some attractively appealing prices around, you are going to want to ensure that you go off an shop around and look for some Non-Runner No Bet insurance at bookmakers. This will give you your money back in the case of your runner not even making it to the starting line after selection.
Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle looks to be a really good battle with the names that could be lining up there. Buveur D’Air is going as the 4/6 outright favourite in the William Hill ante-post betting* (betting odds taken January 7th, 2018 at 3pm), but in potentially lining up against Melon and 2015 winner Faugheen that could be a bit of a generous favouritism on Buveur D’Air who stormed to the title last year. No-one has managed to successfully defend a Champion Hurdle since Hardy Eustace in 2005.
Wednesday’s feature race is the Queen Mother Champion Chase which was won by Special Tiara last season. This race has produced some big winners like Sizing Europe, Sprinter Sacre and Dodging Bullets recently and there could be a wide open challenge down this year. Altior is the William Hill 11/8 ante-post favourite* (betting odds taken January 7th, 2018 at 3pm) but there really could be an evenly matched field with the likes of Min, Douvan, Yorkhill, Fox Norton and Politologue potentially in contention.
Thursday’s Stayers Hurdle (the World Hurdle) has Sam Spinner heading up the market at 4/1 after having taken some decent early ante-post backing. Nichols Canyon was a 10/1 winner last year in the race for Willie Mullins. The exciting Apples Jade could have a crack at the Stayers Hurdle this year with Supasundae and Penhill other potential entries to the field.
Then comes Gold Cup Day on Friday. The impressive Might Bite who won the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day could be the one to beat at Cheltenham in the Blue Riband race of the Festival. He is trading strongly as the outright favourite for the race. Reigning Champion Sizing John, who missed the King George because of ground conidtions, could well be back for a title at more Gold Cup success and they would be the standout stars of the show. Bristol De Mai and Thistlecrack could make an entry too.
