Champion Day is the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival — a Tuesday packed with Grade 1 action including the Champion Hurdle, the Arkle Trophy, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Mares' Hurdle. It sets the tone for the entire four-day festival and is one of the most heavily bet days in the racing calendar.
The Champion Day Race Card
Champion Day features the Supreme Novices' Hurdle as the opening race — the festival's traditional curtain-raiser — followed by the Arkle Trophy Chase (2 mile novice chase championship), the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the Champion Hurdle (the flagship 2 mile hurdle championship), the Mares' Hurdle and the festival's first major handicap. The day culminates in the Champion Hurdle in the afternoon.
The Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is the supreme 2 mile hurdle championship. Fields are typically smaller (10–15 runners) compared to handicap races, but the quality is exceptional. The race is often dominated by one or two outstanding hurdlers — the favourite has a stronger win rate in the Champion Hurdle than in most other festival races. Each-way value is limited in small fields; some punters prefer win-only betting.
Full Day Strategy
- Allocate budget across the day rather than committing everything to the Champion Hurdle. Early races provide good each-way opportunities.
- Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Large field (15+) with competitive ante-post market — each-way at 4 places offers genuine value.
- Arkle Trophy: Grade 1 novice chase — typically smaller field; more polarised market between two or three horses.
- Handicaps on the card: Festival handicaps on Champion Day provide each-way opportunities with competitive fields throughout the day.
Responsible Betting
Champion Day is the festival's opening — enthusiasm is high and budgets can erode quickly. Set per-race budgets. Contact the Gambling Awareness Trust at 1800 753 753 or visit gamblingcare.ie. 18+ only.
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Compare Betting Odds →Frequently Asked Questions
The Cheltenham Festival 2027 is expected to take place in the third week of March 2027, running Tuesday to Friday. Exact dates will be confirmed by the Jockey Club. The Gold Cup is traditionally run on the Friday.
Yes — ante-post markets for most of the 28 Cheltenham Festival races are available from the autumn onwards. Some races have markets open from the previous season. Non-runner risk applies — if your selection is withdrawn, most ante-post bets are lost unless non-runner money-back is offered.
Standard each-way terms at Cheltenham are 4 places at 1/4 odds for championship races with 8 or more runners. Terms vary by race type and field size — always check with your bookmaker before placing.
Irish punters bet most heavily on races with strong Irish-trained runners: the Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Arkle Trophy and the novice hurdle races. St Patrick's Thursday is the peak day for Irish betting volume.