This is an editorial guide provided for information only, updated as each stage of the festival is confirmed. The Cheltenham Festival is run by Cheltenham Racecourse, part of The Jockey Club. fortunegames.com is not affiliated with it or with any bookmaker, and does not take sports bets. Race times are provisional until the racecards are published.
Cheltenham Festival 2027: Dates, Races and Results
The 2027 Cheltenham Festival runs from Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March 2027 at Cheltenham Racecourse, with seven races a day and 28 in all. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is on the Friday. This page is updated as the entries, runners and results are confirmed. Last updated: 28 September 2026.
The four days of the 2027 festival
| Day | Date | Feature race (provisional time) |
|---|---|---|
| Champion Day | Tuesday 16 March | Champion Hurdle, 4pm |
| Ladies Day | Wednesday 17 March | Queen Mother Champion Chase, 4pm |
| St Patrick’s Thursday | Thursday 18 March | Stayers’ Hurdle, 3.20pm (and the Ryanair Chase, 4pm) |
| Gold Cup Day | Friday 19 March | Cheltenham Gold Cup, 4pm |
The provisional timetable has gates opening at 10.30am, the first race at 1.20pm and the last at 5.20pm each day, with a race every 40 minutes. In 2027, St Patrick’s Day itself (17 March) falls on the Wednesday. As in 2026, the Old Course is expected to be used on the Tuesday and Wednesday, and the New Course on the Thursday and Friday.
The championship races
| Race | Day | Distance | 2026 winner (jockey, trainer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion Hurdle | Tuesday | About 2m ½f | Lossiemouth (Paul Townend, Willie Mullins) |
| Queen Mother Champion Chase | Wednesday | About 2m | Il Etait Temps (Paul Townend, Willie Mullins) |
| Stayers’ Hurdle | Thursday | About 3m | Home By The Lee (JJ Slevin, Joseph O’Brien) |
| Cheltenham Gold Cup | Friday | About 3m 2½f | Gaelic Warrior (Paul Townend, Willie Mullins) |
The Gold Cup had a total prize fund of £625,000 in 2026, and the 2027 race will be its 99th running. The Champion Hurdle, first run in 1927, reaches its centenary in 2027, though it will be the 97th running because the race was not run in 1931, 1943, 1944 or 2001. The 2027 prize money has not been announced yet.
Key dates before the festival
| Stage | When (2026 dates for comparison) |
|---|---|
| Entries for the Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase | January, about nine weeks before the festival (6 January in 2026) |
| Entries for the Champion Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle | January, about eight weeks before the festival (13 January in 2026) |
| Handicap weights | About two weeks before the festival (24 February in 2026) |
| Confirmations | Six days before each race day |
| Final declarations | 48 hours before each race: Sunday 14 March for Tuesday’s races, through to Wednesday 17 March for the Gold Cup |
The 2027 dates for entries and weights have not been published yet. This page will add the entries, the declared runners for the championship races and each day’s results once they are confirmed.
The 2026 festival in numbers
Willie Mullins was leading trainer for the eighth year running with eight winners, including the Champion Hurdle, the Champion Chase and the Gold Cup in the same week. Paul Townend was leading jockey for the fifth year running with four winners. Ireland won the Prestbury Cup, the Ireland v Britain contest, by 15 wins to 13, and 226,223 people attended over the four days, up 3.7% on 2025.
How to follow the festival
ITV Racing broadcasts the festival on free-to-air TV, and Racing TV shows every race. BBC Radio 5 Live covered the 2026 festival on the radio. The racecourse is at Prestbury Park, just outside Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.
Race bets and instant games: the difference
A bet on a race waits for the result, and the bookmaker settles it at the odds you took. Scratchcards, slots and Slingo are instant games with an immediate result, and every game lists its rules and return to player (RTP) before you play.
Fortune Games does not take sports bets. If you are 18 or over, see our slot game guides, browse our online slots or visit the Fortune Games online casino. Set a deposit limit before you play.
18+ | Free help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133
Frequently asked questions
When is the Cheltenham Festival 2027?
From Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March 2027 at Cheltenham Racecourse.
What day is the 2027 Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Friday 19 March 2027, Gold Cup Day, provisionally at 4pm.
How many races are there at the Cheltenham Festival?
Twenty-eight over four days, seven a day, and 13 of them are Grade 1 races.
Who won the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Gaelic Warrior, ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins.
Related guides: the Grand National 2027, each way bets explained and the Lucky 15 explained.