The Cheltenham Festival is known as being one of the biggest horse racing events in the horse racing calendar and is only second to the Grand National in race prize money in the United Kingdom. The festival hosts several Grade I races, which happen to be some of the most prestigious in horse racing. The Grade I races include the Champion Hurdle, the Stayers’ Hurdle, the Queen Mother’s Champions Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The highlight of the week is considered to be the Gold Cup, which also happens to be the most valuable non-handicap chase in Britain. The award of Top Jockey is given to the jockey who has won the most races over the course of the festival, the man who currently holds this title is Ruby Walsh and he has won it a total of eleven times during his career.
The first day of Cheltenham 2018 is the Champion Day, which is where the first Cheltenham roar of the year is heard, this year it is on Tuesday, 13th March. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the first race of the day and if you want to be one of the punters who get to hear the very first roar of the year, this is the day for you. Those that want to attend Champion Day will want to keep a keen eye on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle. Buveur D’Air won 2017’s Champion Hurdle and is the odds-on favorite to win the race at 2018’s festival with odds of 2/5.
Ladies’ Day is the second day of the festival and as you would expect all of the focus is on the women during the day, with the women dressing to impress by wearing their favorite outfits. There are prizes for the best dressed lady, best accessories and best hat and is certainly the best day for the women that like the attention. The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the highlight of the day’s races and the race was won by Special Tiara, while this year Altior, priced at 5/4, is expected to race to victory in the 2018 Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The color green is very much the color to wear on the third day of Cheltenham Festival as this day is St. Patrick’s Day and is the perfect day to attend if you are a fan of Guinness as there is plenty provided for the racegoers who attend the Guinness Village. There are two favorites for the main race of the day, the Stayers’ Hurdle, with both Apples Jade and Supasundae priced at 11/4. Nichols Cnayon won the race last year, unfortunately the horse will not be defending the title as he suffered a fatal injury at Leopardstown at the end of last year.
Arguably the main day of the week and highlight for the racegoers is the final day, Gold Cup day, which features one of the most prestigious races in horse racing, the Gold Cup race. If you are a fan of the biggest races, then the Gold Cup day is the one for you to attend and racegoers will have the opportunity to witness last year’s race winner try and defend his title. Sizing John was the winner with Robbie Power as his jockey, however this year, Sizing John is the second favourite, with Might Bite the favourite at 3/1.
So for those that are trying to decide which would be the best day for them, if you want to be the first to hear the roar, then the first day is the day for you. If you’re a lady who likes to be the centre of attention and win a prize while you’re at it, then day two, Ladies’ Day is your day. Those that love the Irish stout Guinness will find their favourite tipple in plentiful supply on the third day, while those that want to watch the pinnacle of the festival will be best off waiting until the final day to attend.
