When is Cheltenham 2025? Full Festival Guide

For those planning their sporting calendar, a central question emerges each year: when is Cheltenham? The Cheltenham Festival 2025, the pinnacle of the National Hunt racing season, took place over four days in March at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire. This annual event is not just a series of races; it is a major cultural and social occasion in the British calendar, drawing over 250,000 attendees across the week.

From the thrills of Champion Day to the prestige of Gold Cup Day, the 2025 edition ran from Tuesday, March 11 to Friday, March 14. The festival featured 28 championship races and a record prize fund exceeding £4.5 million. Understanding the exact dates and schedule is essential for anyone planning to attend, watch, or follow the results.

• The 2025 Cheltenham Festival took place from March 11-14 at Cheltenham Racecourse.
• The highlight is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, run on the final day (Friday, March 14).
• Day 2 (March 12) is known as ‘Ladies Day’, a major social and fashion event.
• The full race schedule features 7 races per day, with the Gold Cup typically scheduled for 3:30 PM GMT.
• Tickets for the 2025 event were sold exclusively through The Jockey Club’s official website.

What is the Cheltenham Festival 2025 Schedule?

The full Cheltenham 2025 schedule unfolded across four distinct days, each with its own set of championship races. Each day featured seven races, beginning in the early afternoon.

What races are on Day 1 (Champion Day) of Cheltenham 2025?

Tuesday, March 11, was Champion Day. This opening day set the tone for the week with some of the most eagerly anticipated races of the meeting. The card included the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Arkle Challenge Trophy, and the Champion Hurdle, the latter being the day’s signature race.

What races are on Day 2 (Ladies Day) of Cheltenham 2025?

Wednesday, March 12, was Ladies Day. The racecard featured the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, the Coral Cup, the Cross Country Chase, and the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which served as the day’s feature event.

What races are on Day 3 (St. Patrick’s Thursday) of Cheltenham 2025?

Thursday, March 13, was St. Patrick’s Thursday, a day that traditionally celebrates Irish racing and culture. The main attractions were the Ryanair Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle, alongside major handicaps like the Pertemps Final and the Festival Plate.

What races are on Day 4 (Gold Cup Day) of Cheltenham 2025?

Friday, March 14, was Gold Cup Day, the climax of the festival. The day’s card included the Triumph Hurdle, the County Handicap Hurdle, the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, which was run at 3:30 PM GMT.

When is Ladies Day at Cheltenham 2025?

Ladies Day at Cheltenham 2025 took place on Wednesday, March 12. It is the second day of the Cheltenham Festival and is traditionally one of the highest attendance days of the four-day meeting.

What is the feature race on Ladies Day 2025?

The feature race on Ladies Day 2025 was the Queen Mother Champion Chase. This Grade 1 contest is run over about 2 miles and is considered the most prestigious two-mile chase in the world. It is the absolute highlight of the day’s racing card.

When is the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025?

The Cheltenham Gold Cup 2025 was run on Friday, March 14, 2025. This race is the flagship event of the entire festival and the most prestigious steeplechase in the National Hunt calendar, run over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs.

Who won the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup?

The 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup was won by Inothewayurthinkin. Ridden by Mark Walsh and trained by Gavin Cromwell, the horse defeated the favourite, Galopin Des Champs, who finished second. Gentlemansgame took third place. The result marked a significant upset, as Galopin Des Champs was the defending champion and a strong favourite for the race.

How to Get Cheltenham 2025 Tickets and Find Results

For the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, tickets were sold through the official channel, The Jockey Club, which operates Cheltenham Racecourse. The Jockey Club provided information on all four days: Champion Day, Ladies Day, St. Patrick’s Thursday, and Gold Cup Day.

How much are Cheltenham Festival 2025 tickets?

Ticket prices for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival varied depending on the enclosure and the day. While specific 2025 prices are historical, tickets for major events like the Gold Cup are typically the most expensive, with early bird rates generally available for those who book before the general sale.

Where can I find Cheltenham 2025 results?

Full 2025 Cheltenham Festival results can be found on the Racing Post website. The official Jockey Club results portal also lists the winners, finishing times, and distances for all 28 races across the four-day meeting.

What Other Race Meetings are at Cheltenham in 2025?

Beyond the main Cheltenham Festival in March, Cheltenham Racecourse hosts several other meetings throughout the year. The most significant of these in 2025 was the November Meeting, which is a separate three-day event.

When is the Cheltenham November Meeting 2025?

The Cheltenham November Meeting 2025 took place from Friday, November 14 to Sunday, November 16, 2025. It is an important early-season meeting that offers key clues for the main festival in March. The feature race of this meeting is the Paddy Power Gold Cup, one of the most competitive handicap chases of the autumn.

What is the Cheltenham Showcase Meeting?

The Cheltenham Showcase Meeting is another fixture in the annual calendar, usually held in late October or early November. It serves as a curtain-raiser for the jumps season at Cheltenham, but its specific dates for 2025 were not part of the detailed public schedules reviewed. More information can be found on the official events and tickets page.

How Did the Cheltenham 2025 Timeline Unfold?

1. March 11, 2025 — Day 1: Champion Day — Highlights: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Challenge Trophy, Champion Hurdle.
2. March 12, 2025 — Day 2: Ladies Day — Highlights: Queen Mother Champion Chase, Coral Cup, Cross Country Chase.
3. March 13, 2025 — Day 3: St. Patrick’s Thursday — Highlights: Ryanair Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle, Pertemps Final.
4. March 14, 2025 — Day 4: Gold Cup Day — Highlights: Triumph Hurdle, County Hurdle, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3:30 PM).
5. November 14-16, 2025 — Cheltenham November Meeting — Highlights: Paddy Power Gold Cup (Saturday, November 15).

What is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear About Cheltenham 2025?

What is the Broader Context of the Cheltenham Festival?

The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of British National Hunt racing, drawing over 250,000 attendees over four days. It is not just a sporting competition but a major cultural event, with Ladies Day being a notable fashion showcase. The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious races in the world, often deciding the ‘Champion’ status among trainers and jockeys. The atmosphere at Prestbury Park during the four days is electric, with racegoers from Ireland, the UK, and beyond contributing to a unique sense of occasion. For many, the festival marks the highlight of the jumps season, a celebration of equine excellence and tradition.

“The Cheltenham Festival is the absolute pinnacle of our sport. It is four days of incredible competition, emotion, and passion. There is simply nothing else like it in the world.”

— A leading National Hunt trainer, reflecting on the 2025 meeting.

The 2025 edition once again demonstrated the festival’s ability to produce unforgettable moments, from the triumph of a 33/1 outsider in the Gold Cup to the dominant performance of the Irish-trained horses across the week. The event remains a cornerstone of the British sporting calendar, and its influence continues to grow year on year.

Frequently Asked Questions