The 2025 Cheltenham Festival is drawing ever closer. The format remains the same as is cherished every year; four days of top class racing, opening with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the Tuesday, and concluding with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on the Friday.
With just months to go until the Festival gets underway, here is all you need to know about when the Cheltenham Festival starts, what races will be held when, and when the meeting will draw to an end.
When is the 2025 Cheltenham Festival Starting?
Beginning on Tuesday, 11th March 2025, the Cheltenham Festival 2025 contains 28 of the highest quality jumps races held across the UK and Ireland every season. Each day between Tuesday and Friday hosts seven races each.
The meeting begins on the Tuesday with the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and features a further three top-level races throughout the day. The feature of the day is the Champion Hurdle, for the fastest flyers over the smaller obstacles across the UK and further afield. The already great Constitution Hill will hopefully headline the contest after missing out through injury last year.
Wednesday’s action opens with the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, yet another Grade 1. The day’s headliners will compete in the 2m Queen Mother Champion Chase, a race in which many a big upset has occurred in recent seasons.
Day three now features two highlights in the middle: the Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase. Both compete on equal footing for the main title, with each Grade 1 being won in contrasting fashion last season as Protektorat defeated defending champion Envoi Allen in the Ryanair, and Teahupoo claiming the Stayers’ as a red hot favourite.
The final day retains the showpiece of the entire week. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the toughest tests in the racing calendar, and is even more keenly anticipated this year as the brilliant Galopin Des Champs looks to emulate Best Mate and win three renewals in a row.
Cheltenham Festival Tuesday 11th March Schedule
| Time | Race |
| 13:30 | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle |
| 14:10 | Arkle Challenge Trophy |
| 14:50 | Ultima Handicap Chase |
| 15:30 | Champion Hurdle |
| 16:10 | Mares’ Hurdle |
| 16:50 | Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle |
| 17:30 | National Hunt Chase |
Cheltenham Festival Wednesday 12th March Schedule
| Time | Race |
| 13:30 | Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle |
| 14:10 | Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase |
| 14:50 | Coral Cup |
| 15:30 | Queen Mother Champion Chase |
| 16:10 | Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase |
| 16:50 | Grand Annual Chase |
| 17:30 | Champion Bumper |
Cheltenham Festival Thursday 13th March Schedule
| Time | Race |
| 13:30 | Turners Novices’ Chase |
| 14:10 | Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Final |
| 14:50 | Ryanair Chase |
| 15:30 | Stayers’ Hurdle |
| 16:10 | TrustATrader Plate |
| 16:50 | Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle |
| 17:30 | Kim Muir Challenge Cup |
Cheltenham Festival Friday 14th March Schedule
| Time | Race |
| 13:30 | Triumph Hurdle |
| 14:10 | County Hurdle |
| 14:50 | Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle |
| 15:30 | Cheltenham Gold Cup |
| 16:10 | Foxhunters’ Chase |
| 16:50 | Mares’ Chase |
| 17:30 | Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle |