Key points:
- The Cheltenham Festival runs from 11 to 14 March 2025, starting with Champion Day
- The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has been renamed in memory of jockey Michael O’Sullivan
- BetMGM marks its first year as sponsor of the Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Cheltenham Festival 2025 begins today at Prestbury Park, with Champion Day marking the first of four days of racing.
The festival, one of the most prominent events in the National Hunt calendar, features horses, jockeys and trainers competing across a full schedule of races.
The opening race, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, has been renamed in memory of Irish jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who died in February 2025 at the age of 24 following a fall at Thurles racecourse.
O’Sullivan won the same race in 2023 aboard Marine Nationale and the renaming serves as a tribute to his contribution to the sport.
Champion Day’s schedule includes seven races, among them the My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase, the Ultima Handicap Chase and the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Constitution Hill, the favourite for the Champion Hurdle, will return to the track after missing the 2024 edition due to injury.
Good to know: Live coverage of the festival will be available on ITV1 and Racing TV, with Champion Day’s broadcast beginning at 12:45pm on ITV1
The festival sees changes in sponsorship this year, with BetMGM making its first appearance as a race sponsor. The operator now backs the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, part of a wider sponsorship arrangement that includes promotional initiatives during the festival.
The Cheltenham Festival continues with Style Wednesday, St Patrick’s Thursday and concludes with Gold Cup Day on Friday.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup remains the highlight of the final day, with last year’s winner, Galopin Des Champs, set to defend his title.
With a packed field of top contenders, operators will be watching closely, hoping the likes of Lossiemouth, Constitution Hill and Galopin Des Champs can stumble at their final hurdles – preferably just metaphorically, rather than on the track.
