Cheltenham Festival 2023: When is it, full schedule, TV channel and odds

One of the most highly-anticipated events in the horse racing calendar is set to get underway this week as thousands make their way to the Cheltenham Festival. 

The festival will showcase 28 races across four days and will end with the much-loved Gold Cup.

Last year’s 2022 festival saw a total of 280,627 people attend the action over the four days of racing.

The 2022 Gold Cup saw a sell-out crowd of 73,875 watch the final day of races, with this year’s event set to be just as big. 

Sportsmail breaks down everything you need to know ahead of this year’s Cheltenham Festival including how to watch and who are the favourites to win the Gold Cup. 

With the racing taking place over four days, many will be looking ahead to Friday’s Gold Cup

When is the Cheltenham Festival?

The Cheltenham Festival will begin on Tuesday, with the first race getting underway at 1.30pm and drawing to a close at 5.30pm. 

The Opening Show will take place on the morning of each race from 8.30am until 10am. 

This year’s action will draw to a close on Friday, ending with the much-anticipated Gold Cup. 

How to watch

This year’s Cheltenham Festival will be shown live on ITV, with coverage getting underway at 1pm each day.

Fans will also be able to stream the action on the ITVX app. 

ITV will show the first five races, with the final two races being shown live on Racing TV and on a bookies’ live stream service. 

Sportsmail will also be providing live coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, so you can keep up-to-date with all the latest developments here. 

Thousands of fans are once again set to make the trip to the 2023 Cheltenham Festival

When is the Gold Cup?

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the most anticipated races in the horse racing calendar.

It will take place on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

This year’s Gold Cup will take place on Friday, with the race getting underway at 3.30pm. 

Who are the favourites for the Gold Cup 

Galopin Des Champs – 6/4

Bravemansgame – 6/1

A Plus Tard – 15/2

Noble Yeats – 8/1

Stattler – 9/1

Odds via Paddy Power and correct at the time of publication. 

 Galopin Des Champs trained by Willie Mullins is a big favourite heading into the Gold Cup

Full schedule

Tuesday March 14

• 1.30pm – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 
• 2.10pm – Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase 
• 2.50pm – Ultima Handicap Chase 
• 3.30pm -Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 
• 4.10pm – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 
• 4.50pm – The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race 
• 5.20pm – The Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup

Wednesday March 15

• 1.30pm – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 
• 2.10pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 
• 2.50pm – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
• 3.30pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase 
• 4.10pm – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 
• 4.50pm – The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 
• 5.30pm – The Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Thursday March 16

• 1.30pm – Turners Novices’ Chase 
• 2.10pm – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle 
• 2.50pm – Ryanair Chase 
• 3.30pm – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 
• 4.10pm – Plate Handicap Chase 
• 4.50pm – The Mares Novices’ Hurdle 
• 5.30pm – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup 

Friday March 17

• 1.30pm – JCB Triumph Hurdle 
• 2.10pm –  McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle 
• 2.50pm – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 
• 3.30pm – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase 
• 4.10pm – St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase 
• 4.50pm – The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase 
• 5.30pm – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle