ALL eyes will turn to Cheltenham Racecourse next week as the ‘best show on turf’ gets underway at Prestbury Park.

Millions of pounds will change hands on each of the four days of the festival as punters try their luck to beat the bookies.

The festival is considered by many as the pinnacle of the National Hunt racing calendar in the UK as racing fans flock from all four corners with the prize money up for grabs second only to the Grand National.

The meeting will feature several Grade 1 races where the best race horses in the UK and Ireland will battle it out in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Queen Mother Champion Chase and more.

 

When does Cheltenham 2022 Festival start?

 

It all begins with next Tuesday, with the opening race at 13.30 and the final race at 17.30.

There are seven races on each day with the showpiece event at 15.30 each day.

These are the must watch races:

  • Tuesday; Champion Hurdle
  • Wednesday; Queen Mother Champion Chase
  • Thursday; Ryanair Chase and Stayers Hurdle
  • Friday; Cheltenham Gold Cup

 

Where to watch Cheltenham 2022 Festival

 

You can indeed! The majority of the races across all four days will be shown on ITV1 and each morning on ITV 4 you can watch the Opening Show as the day's races are previewed.

 

Full Cheltenham 2022 Festival schedule

 

Tuesday, March 15

1.30pm, Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 87y

2.10pm, The Sporting Life Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1), 1m 7f 199y

2.50pm, Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3), 3m 1f

3.30pm, Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 87y

4.10pm, Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 3f 200y

4.50pm, The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Grade 3)

5.30pm, National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Grade 2), 3m 7f 147y

Wednesday, March 16

1.30pm, Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 5f

2.10pm, Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1), 3m 80y

2.50pm, Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3), 2m 5f

3.30pm, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1), 1m 7f 99y

4.10pm, Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, 3m 6f 37y

4.50pm, The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Grade 3), 2m 44y

5.30pm, Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1), 2m 87y

Thursday, March 17 (St Patrick's Day)

1.30pm, Turners Novices' Chase (Grade 1), 2m 3f 166y

2.10pm, Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3), 2m 7f 213y

2.50pm, Ryanair Chase (Grade 1), 2m 4f 127y

3.30pm, Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 7f 213y

4.10pm, Paddy Power Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3), 2m 4f 166y

4.50pm, Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2), 2m 179y

5.30pm, Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase, 3m 2f

Friday, March 18

1.30pm, JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 179y

2.10pm, McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3), 2m 179y

2.50pm, Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 7f 213y

3.30pm, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1), 3m 2f 70y

4.10pm, St James's Place Hunters' Chase, 3m 2f 70y

4.50pm, Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Grade 3), 2m 4f 127y

5.30pm, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145), 2m 4f 56y