The Festival™ supporting WellChild
The opening day of this year’s Cheltenham Festival will kickstart four days of world-class racing on Tuesday 16 March 2021, with no fewer than four Grade One contests on the card.
The feature race is the Unibet Champion Hurdle over two miles, the first of five ‘Championship’ races at The Festival™. The yellow and gold colours of legendary owner JP McManus are synonymous with this race and he’s won each of the last four renewals, including with the mare Epatante last year. She’ll be back to defend her crown, while the 2017 and 2018 hero Buveur D’Air is back in business after more than 400 days away from the track.
The supporting card is a stellar one, with the curtain being raised by the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The ‘Cheltenham Roar’ may not be the same in 2021, but this race regularly produces a future star, as does the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy.
Also on the bill is the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, a race with a knack for producing late drama like no other, while each of the Ultima Handicap Chase, the National Hunt Chase and the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle are all hugely competitive and intriguing affairs.
Race Schedule
DAY ONE
Start Times |
Race |
Distance |
Type |
|---|---|---|---|
13:20 |
The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race |
2m abt ½f |
Hurdle |
13:55 |
The Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase |
abt 2m |
Chase |
14:30 |
The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase |
3m abt 1f |
Chase |
15:05 |
The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy |
2m abt ½f |
Hurdle |
15:40 |
The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race |
2m abt 4f |
Hurdle |
16:15 |
The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Grade 3) |
2m abt 4½f |
Chase |
16:50 |
The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase) (Grade 2) |
3m abt 6f |
Chase |
The next meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse will be the highlight of the Jump Racing season: the four days of The Festival™ supporting Wellchild from Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March 2021.
Based on current Government restrictions, professional sport is able to continue under stringent health and safety protocols, without spectators present. In horseracing’s case this is vital to support the livelihoods of the many thousands of people who rely on the industry and for the welfare of the thousands of Thoroughbred racehorses who live and train in Britain.
This means that under current restrictions, The Festival™ supporting WellChild will take place as a televised event, but sadly without spectators at the course. We continue to monitor Government guidance and should this change in advance of The Festival™ supporting WellChild we will act accordingly.
