Don’t Miss a Single Race: Date and Time Guide for the Cheltenham Festival 2023
Ivan Larsen 
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most anticipated events in the world of horse racing, attracting spectators and punters from around the globe. The festival has become a favorite among racing enthusiasts with its rich history, unparalleled prestige, and top-notch horses and jockeys.
The Cheltenham Festival 2023 is fast approaching; you don’t want to miss a race. With that in mind, here’s a date and time guide to help you plan your viewing schedule.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Day one of the festival starts with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1:30 PM GMT. The day’s feature race is the Champion Hurdle, which begins at 3:05 PM GMT.
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Day two features the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at 1:30 PM GMT, followed by the RSA Chase at 2:10 PM GMT. The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the day’s main event, starting at 3:05 PM GMT.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Day three is commonly known as St. Patrick’s Thursday and is one of the liveliest days of the festival. The Marsh Novices’ Chase starts at 1:30 PM GMT, and the Ryanair Chase follows at 2:10 PM GMT. The day’s feature race is the Stayers’ Hurdle, which begins at 3:05 PM GMT.
Friday, March 17, 2023
The final day of the festival, also known as Gold Cup Day, features seven Cheltenham festival 2023 races. The first race, the JCB Triumph Hurdle, starts at 1:30 PM GMT, followed by the County Handicap Hurdle at 2:10 PM GMT. The highlight of the day, and arguably the entire festival, is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which starts at 3:05 PM GMT.
Top Jockeys to Watch Out for at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
With so many talented jockeys set to compete, it can be tough to know who to watch out for. Here are some of the top jockeys to keep an eye on.
Paul Townend
Townend has been a strong performer in recent years, particularly after the retirement of legendary jockey Ruby Walsh. Townend has already won the leading jockey award at the 2020 and 2022 Cheltenham Festivals, and his partnership with Al Boum Photo has resulted in multiple victories in the Gold Cup. At just 32 years old, Townend has many years left in the saddle, and fans can expect to see him continue to rack up victories in the future.
Rachael Blackmore
Blackmore made history at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, becoming the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle. She also rode an impressive six winners at the same festival, earning her the Ruby Walsh Trophy for the leading jockey. Blackmore’s partnership with Honeysuckle has been particularly successful, with the pair winning the Champion Hurdle in 2021 and 2022 and the 2022 Gold Cup.
Harry Skelton
Skelton has already ridden four winners at the Cheltenham Festival, including Politologue in the 2019 Champion Chase. As the brother of successful trainer Dan Skelton, Harry is well-connected in the racing world and has a promising career ahead of him.
Harry Cobden
Cobden is the number one jockey at Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard and has already landed some major victories in National Hunt racing. He has won King George VI Chase twice and rode Politologue to victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2020. Cobden is just 24 years old but has already shown that he has a wise head on his shoulders and can handle the pressure of big races. With strong prospects for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, including Bravemansgame, Hermes Allen, Tahmuras, and Facile Vega, Cobden is a jockey to watch in the coming years.
Summary
The Cheltenham Festival will indeed be packed with talented jockeys vying for glory. While there are many more names to watch out for, Paul Townend, Rachael Blackmore, Harry Skelton, and Harry Cobden are worth watching in the coming years.
The Cheltenham Festival 2023 promises to be an exciting event for horse racing enthusiasts. With top-class horses and jockeys competing in various races, it’s an event you don’t want to miss. Make sure to mark your calendars and adjust your viewing schedule to catch all the action.
