Cheltenham Festival is the highlight of the National Hunt racing year. For Irish punters, it is four days of unrivalled betting interest, with Irish-trained horses typically contesting the majority of championship events. This guide covers what to expect in March 2027 and how to approach the Festival from a betting perspective.
Cheltenham 2027 Race Schedule by Day
| Day | Name | Feature Race | Irish Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (Tue) | Champion Day | Champion Hurdle | Very high — Mullins/Elliott dominate |
| Day 2 (Wed) | Ladies Day | Queen Mother Champion Chase | High — strong Irish novice chase form |
| Day 3 (Thu) | St Patrick’s Thursday | Stayers’ Hurdle + Ryanair Chase | Very high — Irish trainers strong in stayers |
| Day 4 (Fri) | Gold Cup Day | Cheltenham Gold Cup | Highest — Irish trainers have dominated Gold Cup in recent years |
Irish Trainer Performance at Cheltenham
Irish-trained horses have won the majority of championship events at the Festival in recent seasons. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott dominate both the number of runners and winners. When assessing ante-post markets, the Irish raider angle is central — market moves in Dublin and Leopardstown markets often predict Cheltenham prices more accurately than UK boards.
Cheltenham 2027 Betting Strategy for Irish Punters
Ante-post markets open months before the Festival. Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) is available from most licensed Irish bookmakers on the day of racing. Consider: placing ante-post bets on longer-priced Irish-trained horses with NRNB (Non-Runner No Bet) protection; waiting for day-of-race to take BOG if you think market will drift; each-way value is strongest in fields of 12 or more (Pertemps, County Hurdle, National Hunt Chase) where place terms extend to 5 or 6 places.
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Most bookmakers open Cheltenham ante-post markets in autumn 2026, following the season’s early novice and graded races. Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle markets are usually available from October/November 2026 onwards.