Cheltenham Festival 2026 - Day 1 (Champion Day) Overview

Tuesday 10 March 2026 is the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, with seven races on the card and the famous “Cheltenham Roar” kicking things off at 1:20pm.

The headline act is the Unibet Champion Hurdle (4:00pm), and it’s often the race that attracts the biggest bookmaker attention (and therefore some of the best Cheltenham Matched Betting angles and promos).

Cheltenham 2026 Day 1 Race Schedule

1:20pm – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

The Festival always begins with the Supreme, and it’s arguably the most famous novice hurdle of the season.

Run over roughly two miles, it’s for inexperienced hurdlers who are stepping up to the biggest stage for the first time.

The pace is usually strong, the atmosphere is electric, and it often throws up future stars, either over hurdles or fences later in their careers.

Expect a fast-run race where slick jumping, speed, and the ability to handle the occasion matter just as much as raw talent.

2:00pm – The Arkle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)

The Arkle is the premier two-mile novice chase of the week - pure speed and precision at championship level.

It’s a high-tempo contest where horses have to attack their fences without losing momentum, and where one mistake can end a winning chance instantly.

The Arkle typically suits bold, accurate jumpers with plenty of pace, and it’s often one of the most exciting races of the entire Festival because everything happens at such intensity from flag fall to the line.

2:40pm – The Fred Winter (Juvenile Handicap Hurdle) (Premier Handicap)

Commonly known as the Fred Winter, this is a juvenile handicap hurdle for four-year-olds.

Because it’s a handicap, the weights are designed to level the playing field, which often produces a big, competitive field and a real puzzle for punters.

Juvenile races can be particularly tricky because these horses are still developing and can improve quickly from run to run.

It’s often run at a strong gallop, and positioning can be key given the size of the field and the hustle for a good spot heading into the closing stages.

3:20pm – The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

The Ultima is the first of the Festival’s big staying handicap chases, run over 3m 1f.

It’s a proper test of stamina and jumping under pressure, often featuring seasoned handicappers who’ve been trained specifically for this race.

The pace can be relentless, and horses need to travel comfortably, jump accurately, and still have enough left to dig deep up the famous Cheltenham hill.

It’s the kind of race where a clean round and smart race management can be just as important as class.

4:00pm – The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) – The Feature Race

This is the headline act of Day 1 - the Festival’s championship two-mile hurdle.

The Champion Hurdle is all about speed, slick hurdling, and finishing power, with the very best hurdlers in training aiming to peak for this moment.

It’s run at a fierce pace and often becomes a test of who can travel smoothly, conserve energy, and then produce a decisive turn of foot after the last.

It’s one of the most prestigious races in National Hunt racing, and it regularly delivers a proper “big occasion” feel.

Of course the big question on everyone’s lips is……will Constitution Hill run in the Champion Hurdle? After a recent successful flat race, there’s now a debate on whether Nicky Henderson should risk running him in the Champion Hurdle or let him finish his career doing flat races. UPDATE: Constitution Hill will NOT take part in the Champion Hurdle.

4:40pm – The Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

The Plate is a highly competitive handicap chase over roughly 2m 4f - a distance that demands both speed and stamina.

It often suits strong-travelling chasers who can hold a position and jump fluently at pace, before staying on powerfully up the hill.

Because it’s a handicap, it usually attracts a deep field with plenty of different profiles: some will be progressive types on the upgrade, others will be proven Festival performers returning for another go.

It’s typically a tactical race that still finishes at full intensity.

5:20pm – National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Handicap Chase) (Class 2)

The closing race on Day 1 is a marathon: a long-distance novice handicap chase over roughly 3m 6f.

This is a proper endurance contest where stamina is non-negotiable, and jumping becomes even more important as tiredness sets in.

Because it’s for novices, there’s an added layer of uncertainty; not every horse has been this far before, and some simply won’t see it out.

The ones that do are usually strong stayers who keep finding up the hill when others have emptied.

Matched betting at Cheltenham - Why Day 1 Matters

Cheltenham is one of the best weeks of the year for Matched Bettors because it’s so popular with regular punters.

That pushes bookmakers into offering more generous promos, better odds, and more daily extra places than normal.

On Champion Day, the two races that most often attract the biggest “headline” offers are the first race (1:20pm) and the feature race (4:00pm Champion Hurdle), so it’s worth planning your day around those start times and staying organised if you want to make the most of what’s available.

We’ll have all the best Cheltenham offers listed in the membership with full step by step instructions to help you take full advantage and make this Cheltenham your most profitable yet.