Our guide to the Cheltenham Festival

From champions day to the gold cup – key features and things to know about the world-famous horse racing spectacle. 

If only we could bottle the atmosphere of the Cheltenham Festival… The parking is mayhem, the buzz is unique, and the green and navy river of tweed and fleece that cascades towards the racecourse every morning during festival week is something to behold.

Bagpipes play, Guinness flows, and a palpable undercurrent of excitement and anticipation builds steadily during the first few hours. The famous Cheltenham Roar, which marks the start of the first race of the four-day extravaganza, then fixes it in place to stay the course.

We visited Cheltenham Racecourse for day one – Champions Day – keen to document and highlight the features that combine to make the jewel in racing’s crown what it is.

This year’s festival is particularly special, as Gold Cup Day on Friday 15 March marks the hundredth anniversary of the iconic jumps race. History and heritage are central to what is widely held as the pinnacle of the National Hunt Racing calendar.

As a day out, Cheltenham Festival holds great appeal for both the racing aficionado and the casual punter. People of all ages and backgrounds come together on the 350 acres of tarmac and turf nestled in the Cotswolds Hills, for a celebration of the UK’s finest horses, jockeys, trainers and everyone else involved in horse racing’s elite.

From the Parade Ring and the Winners’ Enclosure to the Betting Ring, Guinness Village and the famous collection of statues that immortalise Cheltenham legends, there’s so much to see. So, if you haven’t been, what should you expect? How can you make the most of it? And, if you’re a regular, what else would you add to our list of not-to-miss highlights?

First, a few essential things to know about Cheltenham festival 

How long does the Cheltenham Festival last?
The annual event spans four days. The 2024 Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday 12 March and concludes with Gold Cup Day on Friday 15 March.

What time does the racing start at Cheltenham Festival?
Although timings are subject to change, the first race on each day is at 13.30. The last race on each day of Cheltenham Festival starts at 17.30.

What are the big races at Cheltenham Festival?
Of the 28 races spread over the four days, 14 are Grade 1 events which pit the best of the best against one another. Each day also has a highlight race:

Day 1 – Champions Day – The Unibet Champion Hurdle (at 15.30)

Day 2 – Style Wednesday – The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (at 16.00)

Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday – The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (15.30)

Day 4 – Gold Cup Day – The Cheltenham Gold Cup (15.30)

How many people attend the Cheltenham Festival?
More than 65,000 people visit Cheltenham Festival each day.

Who is favourite to win the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup?
As we publish this article, Galopin Des Champs is the current favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024. Galopin Des Champs’ trainer, Willie Mullins, has a remarkable 100 Cheltenham Festival winners to his name (and counting), making him the most successful trainer in the event’s history. 

Things to see at Cheltenham festival

A single day almost doesn’t cut it if you want to immerse yourself fully in the many elements that combine to make Cheltenham Festival special – it’s easy to underestimate its scale and how busy it becomes. To help you make the most of your experience, we’ve picked a few of our favourite features…

The parade ring

By the Parade Ring, which is central to the racecourse, you can get up close to the horses which carry the hopes of so many as they are led around the oval of grass before each race. Think of it like an amphitheatre that can get very busy before and after each race!

The Cheltenham roar

It doesn’t take long for the enclosures to fill up as the horses begin to make their way from the Parade Ring to the track. To ensure the best viewing spot, it’s a good idea to choose where you want to stand before it gets too busy. The thunderous Cheltenham Roar signals the beginning of the first race on the first day as the crowd comes together to set the tone for the rest of the week. We recommend getting right in the thick of it during the races if you want to experience the fever as people cheer on the horses they’ve backed, because when thousands of people are doing the same thing, it’s enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

The Guinness Village

Even if you're not a fan of the black stuff, the Guinness Village is worth a visit for the mood alone. Whether you've backed a winner or you're having a bad run with the bookies, you're sure to find kindred spirits who are celebrating or consoling themselves amid the lively crowds. 

The shopping village

From wildlife and sporting art to jewellery and handmade rocking horses, the Shopping Village, while fairly compact, is packed with trade stands which provide racegoers with ample opportunity to explore a range of goods. An excellent but – we’ll warn you now – dangerous place to visit with a full purse or wallet.

The bronzes

As you navigate Cheltenham Racecourse, you’ll notice various plaques, displays and statues which pay homage to well-known people and horses that are key to Cheltenham’s colourful history. Some of the statues are life-size, and apart from being fitting tributes in their own right, if you’re attending the festival with family or friends, they serve as easy-to find meeting places, too. We found several bronzes throughout the day – of Best Mate, Arkle, Dawn Run, and 20-time champion jump jockey AP McCoy. Did we miss any?

The hall of fame

In the same vein, if racing history and learning more about horse racing legends is your thing, don’t forget to visit the Hall of Fame. Open to Club and Tattersalls ticket holders, it boasts a wealth of information, photographs, the winners’ silks from past Gold Cups, a hologram of Desert Orchid, and more.

The Winners’ Enclosure

Back to where you were for the Parade Ring experience, but straight after a race when it becomes the Winners’ Enclosure, where winning and placed horses return to be reunited with their owners. The winning jockeys, with arms raised as they trot through the white gates, receive a well-deserved ovation. This is also where the trophies are presented.

Ahead of Cheltenham Festival, we visited top National Hunt jockey Harry Skelton, who, at the time of writing, has just won the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle atop Langer Dan in the 14.50 at Cheltenham. You can read or watch the full interview here.