Cheltenham Racecourse is one of the most popular sporting venues in the country, welcoming over 400,000 racegoers a year.
Not only do they host the world famous Cheltenham Festival, but they also put on six other BHA endorsed fixtures throughout the National Hunt season.
THE SHOWCASE (24-25 OCTOBER 2025)
The Showcase Meeting raises the curtain to the 2025/26 Cheltenham season, with eager participants and excited fans returning to the Home of Jump Racing.
The meeting is somewhat of a cobweb blower, with many people getting excited about the start of the “Road To Cheltenham” in spite of the Festival being many months away. I guess you can’t beat enthusiasm?
THE NOVEMBER MEETING (14-16 NOVEMBER 2025)
The “three day-er” starts with Countryside Day, celebrating rural life and top-class racing, before moving onto Super Saturday, which features the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
The weekend concludes with Carnival Sunday, when the highlight on the racecard is the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.
THE CHRISTMAS MEETING (12-13 DECEMBER 2025)
The name was changed from the International Meeting in 2023 following the decision to move the International Hurdle to Festival Trials Day.
Friday is a slow burner with the main race being the The Crystal Cup European Cross Country Challenge, while Saturday bursts into life with the focal point being the December Gold Cup.
NEW YEAR'S DAY (1 JANUARY 2026)
The regular card was changed up a bit in 2024 due to some directives given by the Jumps Pattern Committee.
This resulted in the removal of the Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase, as well as the Listed Novices’ Hurdle that was usually the first race. These were replaced by a Maiden Hurdle to open up proceedings, plus a Novices Limited Handicap Chase.
The meeting still includes, and rightly so, the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle, the New Year’s Day Premier Handicap and the Listed bumper that traditionally closes the card.
FESTIVAL TRIAL'S DAY (24 JANUARY 2026)
Trial’s Day is the final opportunity to see the sports protagonists strut their stuff on the racecourse, before the Cheltenham Festival itself. Also a time to get your Cheltenham sports betting fancies placed.
The last Saturday of January plays host to a day that gives punters and trainers alike, clues to which horses are going to be returning with live chances two months later.
For many of the horses, it will be the last time they have a competitive run before their big targets in March.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL (10-13 MARCH 2026)
Right through from opening day thrills of Champion Day, to the elegance of Ladies Day, every day at Cheltenham is electric. St Patrick's Thursday brings a splash of Ireland to the racecourse, while Gold Cup Day brings the Festival to a close on an afternoon of unforgettable drama and glory.
There’s little question that the entire Festival builds up to a crescendo before the running of the Gold Cup. Friday is by far and away the most popular day of the Festival and is always a sell-out.
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the main horse racing betting events of the year.
THE APRIL MEETING (15-16 APRIL 2026)
Jump racing fans who prefer a more relaxed pace tend to really enjoy The April Meeting while still watching a host of competitive racing involving the most successful jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival.
While The April Meeting crowds are significantly less the Festival, there are still plenty of thrilling races and it’s a wonderful opportunity to get even closer to the action, by taking a wander down to the rails.
*Credit for the main photo in this article belongs to Adobe*
