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The Cheltenham Festival is back as hundreds of thousands of fans descend on the iconic Gloucestershire racecourse for one of the sport’s biggest weeks of the year.
The Gold Cup takes the headlines but four action-packed days will see the very best of British and Irish racing as runners and riders battle it out for glory, though Willie Mullins will hope to repeat a dominant 2024, which saw him claim the big one with Galopin Des Champs for a second successive year.
It ensured the iconic Irish trainer went home with nine winners for the week, as well as bringing up the historic mark of 100 Cheltenham Festival winners over his career.
The festival runs from Tuesday 11 March to Friday 14 March and fans can look forward to 28 compelling races across the four days.
Racing begins at 1.20pm GMT and the final race of the day is at 5.20pm, though fans pack in after the gates open daily at 10.30am.
The weather can be crucial to the chances with punters studying the going days and hours out from each race. If the course is heavy, then expect a real test of the horse’s stamina, though the forecast currently suggests a quicker track due to a dry spell just before and throughout the festival.
The forecast looks good during the week: the BBC shows light cloud and a gentle breeze on day one, sleet and a gentle breeze on day two, sunny intervals and a gentle breeze on day three and day four for the Gold Cup.
Most outlets suggest a mostly dry week at Cheltenham, though Accuweather forecasts an afternoon shower in spots on Wednesday for day two, a couple of morning showers on Thursday for day three and a stray morning shower on day four.
It should be a chilly week on the ground, with temperatures range from 7-9c throughout the week.
Apple weather suggests a 50 percent chance of rain on Wednesday, meaning the ground could soften as we apporoach Gold Cup day on Friday. The going at Cheltenham is currently good to soft, good in places, while the top loop in front of the stands currently has soft ground. We’ll keep the forecast updates throughout the festival.
Check out the latest Cheltenham odds before considering your bets where you’ll find the best prices from betting sites and free bet offers to claim during 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
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