The going for day one of The Festival 2018, Champion Day, Tuesday, March 13, remains: 
 
HEAVY, SOFT IN PLACES 
 
It was dry overnight. Today is forecast to be dry with sunny spells and temperatures of around 9 to 10 Celsius.
 
Cheltenham's Clerk of the Course, Simon Claisse, said at 7.00am today: "We had a dry night and have not had any rainfall since about 1.00am this morning.
 
"The outlook is for a dry day with temperatures up to about 9 or 10 degrees.
 
"The going on the chase and hurdle courses today is Heavy, Soft in places. This is the first time we have started The Festival on Heavy since 1982, with the last day to feature Heavy in the description being Gold Cup Day in 1989.
 
"It is a long time since we have had conditions like this but we have a dry outlook for the next two days."
 
Today's race distances are as follows:
 
Race 1: As advertised.
 
Race 2: As advertised.
 
Race 3: As advertised.
 
Race 4: As advertised.
 
Race 5: As advertised.
 
Race 6: Stud Chase Bend set out six yards, adding 19 yards. The start has been moved forward 23 yards. Actual distance run is 3m 7f 166yds.
 
Race 7: Stud Chase Bend set out six yards, adding 19 yards. The start has been moved forward 23 yards. Actual distance run is 2m 4f 74yds.
 
 
NON-RUNNERS TODAY
 
3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle
10      MY TENT OR YOURS (IRE) (Vet's Certificate, No Reason)
13      VERDANA BLUE (IRE) (Going)
 
5.30pm Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase
11     DIVINE SPEAR (IRE) (Vet's Certificate, No Reason)
 
NON-RUNNER TOMORROW
 
2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle      
26      PROJECT BLUEBOOK (FR) (Self Certificate, Bad Scope).
Set to be replaced by first reserve MISCHIEVIOUS MAX (IRE)