The first day of the Cheltenham Festival is known as Champions Day. In this Cheltenham Festival Day One Guide, you will learn everything you need to know from the latest news, tips, stats and information on all the Day 1 action from Cheltenham Racecourse.
The official date of day one of the Cheltenham 2024 Festival is Tuesday 12th March.
This first day, is the first of four days of top-class racing, starting on a Tuesday and finishing on Friday.
The opening day showcases the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle which is a fiercely contested 2m hurdling race for the best hurdlers in the world. Other major races on the first day include the Grade 1 Arkle Trophy and the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
It also sees the start of the British and horses Irish runners competing against each other in The Prestbury Cup annual challenge.
Find out more about the first day of racing at the Cheltenham Festival:
Here are the following races competed on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, Tuesday 12th March 2024:
13:30 The Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
The curtain-raiser of the Festival is the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, there are eight hurdles to jump during the race, which is 2 miles and 12 furlongs long.
The opening race always draws huge loud cheers from the horse racing fans – known as the “Cheltenham roar”.
Cheltenham 13.30 Tips – The Skybet Supreme Novice Hurdle
Cheltenham 13.30 NAP – Firefox
Cheltenham 13.30 NB – Mystical Power
Cheltenham 13.30 Long Shot – Asian Master
14:10 Arkle Challenge Trophy
The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase for horses aged five and above.
It is run over a distance of 2 miles on the Old Course and there are 13 fences to jump during the race.
It is always one of the most thrilling and eagerly anticipated races of the festival.
Cheltenham 14.10 Tips – The Arkle Chase
Cheltenham 14.10 NAP – Found A Fifty
Cheltenham 14.10 NB – Facile Vega
Cheltenham 14.10 Long Shot – Sharjah
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The Ultima Handicap Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase for horses aged 5 and over.
It is run a distance of around 3 miles and 1 furlong on the Old Course at Cheltenham, and there are twenty obstacles to jump during the race.
Cheltenham 14.50 Tips – The Ultima Chase
The third race of the meeting at 2:50 pm is the Ultima Handicap Chase. A race where novices have a strong record.
Cheltenham 14.50 NAP – Chianti Classico
Cheltenham 14.50 NB – The Goffer
Cheltenham 14.50 Long Shot – Monbeg Genius
15:30 Champion Hurdle (the feature race)
The fourth race of the meeting at 3:30 pm is the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle where the best hurdlers lock horns on the biggest stage.
This is the feature race on the opening day. It is run a distance of 2 miles and 12 furlongs on the Old Course, and there are eight hurdles to leap during the race.
For a full guide on the Champion Hurdle, or the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy to give it its full name, check out our review page.
Cheltenham 15.30 Tips – The Unibet Champion Hurdle
Cheltenham 15.30 NAP – State Man
Cheltenham 15.30 NB – Irish Point
Cheltenham 15.30 Long Shot – Colonel Mustard
16:10 The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race
The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, now known as the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle for sponsorship reasons, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle event for mares aged four years and above.
It is run a distance of around 2 miles and 4 furlongs on the Old Course, and there are 10 hurdles to leap during the race.
Cheltenham 16.10 Tips – The Mares Hurdle
Cheltenham 16.10 NAP – Lossiemouth
Cheltenham 16.10 NB – Maries Rock
Cheltenham 16.10 Long Shot – Magical Zoe
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The Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, also known as the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for sponsorship purposes, is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle competition for horses aged four years.
It covers a distance of around 2 miles and 12 furlongs, with eight hurdles to overcome along the way.
These are the youngest horses that can compete over jumps and it is often a tricky race to predict.
The race is normally run at break-neck speed, so accurate jumping, stamina and guys are normally required to win.
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Cheltenham Festival Day One Tips – 12th March 2024
Here are the betting tips for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival 2024.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – Firefox
Arkle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) – Found A Fifty
Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – Chianti Classico
Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) – State Man
Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – Lossiemouth
Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase (Listed) – Lark In The Mornin
National Hunt Chase (Grade 2) – Corbetts Cross
Check our Cheltenham tips for all the other days as well!
If you are looking to bet on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival make sure you check out any Cheltenham Festival free bets and sign-up offers, you can see these on our Cheltenham Free Bets page.
If you are looking for Cheltenham tipsters on which horses to wager there is no better source of information than the trainers direct. Check what the trainers have to say about their horses running on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.
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Other Cheltenham Festival Days Out
If you are looking for information on the other Cheltenham Festival days and Cheltenham racecourse in general, check out our guides to the races, tips, odds history and more info, on the Cheltenham Festival days:
What time is first race in Cheltenham next Tuesday?
The time of the first race in Cheltenham on Tuesday is 1:30pm.
Each day of the Cheltenham Festival starts at half past one.
What Are The Cheltenham Day 1 Predictions?
The main Cheltenham Day 1 predictions are:
State Man to win the Champion Hurdle
Found A Fifty to win the Arkle Chase
Chianti Classico to win the Ultima Handicap Chase
Firefox to win the Supreme Novice Hurdle
What is the main race for Cheltenham Day One?
The main race on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival is the Champion Hurdle.
The main event race starts at 3:30pm with State Man a short-priced favourite.
What day is the Champion Hurdle on?
The Champion Hurdle takes place on the 12th of March 2024 (Day 1 of the festival).
Why is Cheltenham so popular?
Cheltenham is so popular because the greatest horses in the jump racing discipline show up and are put to the test on one of the industry’s most difficult courses.
What day is Champions Day at Cheltenham?
Champions Day at Cheltenham is on the first day which is Tuesday 12th March 2024.
Day one of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, otherwise known as Champions Day, is widely popular for the Champions Hurdle and the iconic Cheltenham Roar.
Summary of Day 1 Racing at the Cheltenham Festival
The first day of the Cheltenham Festival, known as Champion Day is held on a Tuesday at the world-class Cheltenham racecourse, the feature race is the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle where all eyes will be on Constitution Hill.
The first day of Cheltenham is famed for a cracking atmosphere and the “Cheltenham roar” which goes up after the tapes rise on the first race.
The Grade 1 Arkle Trophy and the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle are the two other significant races on the opening day. Along with several excellent handicaps including the Festival Handicap Chase, which is always a tough race.
The first day at Cheltenham is one of British sports great days out and is highly recommended by the teams here at British Racecourses.
Other Cheltenham Related Articles
If you have enjoyed this Cheltenham Day One guide, here are some other articles related to Cheltenham betting you may also like:
Keywords and races covered – Champion Hurdle (full name – Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy) and free bet stakes options (qualifying bet restrictions apply), National Hunt chase, Supreme novices hurdle, Cheltenham festival 2023.
James Dooley is a UK entrepreneur who founded British Racecourses because of his love for horse racing. James owns 14 racehorses through Dooley Thoroughbreds, so he understands all aspects of horse racing, from wagering bets, and booking jockeys to sourcing the best horse racing trainers. James Dooley’s connections give him inside information on horse racing tips and best chances of a winner.
40-1 odds on Constitution Hill to win the Champion Hurdle has been voted the best betting promotion for day one Cheltenham Races
