A Closer Look at Some of Cheltenham's Biggest Races
How do the Championship races at Cheltenham stack up this year?
Four days in March see the best horses, trainers and jockeys in National Hunt racing converge on Prestbury Park for the sport's most prestigious meeting. Welcome to the Cheltenham Festival.
From 10th to 13th March 2026, 28 races will be run. But four stand above the rest as must-watches: the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers' Hurdle and Gold Cup. These are the races that help define careers, cement legacies and draw the biggest crowds of the week.
Here's what you need to know about each of them.
Champion Hurdle – Tuesday, 10 March
The race
Two miles over eight hurdles. The opening race of the festival and the blue riband event for hurdlers. The field is stacked with talent, the pace is blistering and the noise as they come down the hill sets the standard for the races that follow.
The Champion Hurdle is Cheltenham at full throttle and full volume.
Notable winners
Istabraq won three straight hurdles in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and Hurricane Fly took first place in 2011 and 2013. Constitution Hill delivered one of the race’s most dominant performances in recent memory when he stormed home in 2023.
How to bet on it
The Champion Hurdle attracts short-priced favourites, but it can also deliver upsets. Each-way betting makes sense in a field this competitive.
Check out the results from the trial races that took place earlier in the year. They can help shape the market and separate genuine contenders from the hype.
Queen Mother Champion Chase – Wednesday, 11 March
The race
Two miles over fences and obstacles. The best two-mile chasers in training attack Cheltenham's fences at pace, and one mistake ends your race. Precision, nerve and class: that's what it takes to win the Champion Chase. And a winning horse needs strength, stamina, speed and impeccable jumping form to clear the course.
Notable winners
Sprinter Sacre won in 2013 and 2016, becoming a legend in the process. Then Altior went back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. This race rewards the brave and punishes any hesitation.
How to bet on it
The Champion Chase is less predictable than its billing may suggest. Favourites have a mixed record here; the pace is relentless and small mistakes get punished. In-play betting has its place. If a horse is jumping cleanly and travelling well turning in, its form often shows in the odds.
Stayers' Hurdle – Thursday, 12 March
The race
At around three miles over hurdles, this race is a real test of stamina and tactical intelligence.
The Cheltenham hill climbs sharply in the final stages, exposing tired legs. Only horses with genuine staying power handle the gradient and make it to the line in front.
The final hurdle separates those with something left from those running on empty.
Notable winners
Big Buck's won four straight between 2009 and 2012 – a record that still stands. Paisley Park took it in 2019. This race has a history of separating the genuine stayers from the ones that just look the part on paper.
How to bet on it
The Stayers' Hurdle often produces value. The field is deep, the race is long and tactical rides can make ground late if the pace collapses.
Each-way betting works here, too. Horses held up in the early stages can finish strongly if the leaders go too hard, but it depends on how the race unfolds.
Cheltenham Gold Cup – Friday, 13 March
The race
Three miles and two furlongs over fences. The one they all want. The pinnacle of National Hunt racing and the race that gets mentioned in the history books.
The Gold Cup demands stamina, jumping ability and the mental strength to perform when the entire racing world is watching. Mistakes are punished, and only the best come out on top.
Notable winners
Golden Miller won five consecutive Gold Cups in the 1930s – a record that's never been touched. Best Mate claimed three straight between 2002 and 2004. Kauto Star won in 2007 and 2009. Galopin Des Champs took it in 2023 and reminded everyone what a champion looks like.
How to bet on it
The Gold Cup is the Festival’s marquee race, and the markets reflect that.
Favourites have a solid record, but the race is long, the fences are unforgiving and one bad jump can change everything.
Each-way odds are often generous given the field size.
Performances in the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and the Cotswold Chase in late January should tell you who's ready.
The four races that define the Festival
The Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers' Hurdle and Gold Cup are all races that help make Cheltenham Festival what it is. Each one brings its own challenges, its own drama and its own place in racing history.
Whether you’re backing favourite, looking for value or building your acca across all four, these are the races that make the week.
The Bally Bet Sports & Casino blog is the place to be for even more useful Cheltenham and horse racing content. You'll find how-to guides and explainers for a range of other sports there too.
All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.