How to Enjoy the Cheltenham Festival 2026 in Ireland

Your complete guide to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

This guide covers everything you need to enjoy the Festival from this side of the Irish Sea, where to watch live, how to check the latest odds and racecards, and how to claim the best Cheltenham free bet offers. Whether you’re new to Cheltenham betting or a regular punter who knows every Irish raid inside out, this guide has you covered.

When Is the Cheltenham Festival 2026?

The Cheltenham Festival 2026 runs from 10–13 March, a four-day celebration of National Hunt racing that builds towards the iconic Gold Cup on Friday. Each day follows a familiar rhythm, with the opener around 13:20 and the last race usually at 17:20, giving fans a perfect afternoon slot to settle in for the action.

What makes Cheltenham special, particularly for Irish fans, is the prestige. 28 races packed with Grade One contests, the fierce Ireland vs Britain rivalry for the Prestbury Cup, and an atmosphere that pulls in hundreds of thousands to Prestbury Park every year. But you don’t need to travel to feel part of it, as office sweepstakes, pub watchparties, family traditions, and lively debates have made Cheltenham week a national event in its own right across Ireland.

In the ensuing scuffle, Robinson appeared to stick his fingers in Docherty's eyes.

Cheltenham Free To Play Predictor: Receive €5 free bet each day and win share of €1,000 jackpot!

Playing JOE x BOYLE Sports' Free To Play Predictor game for the Cheltenham Festival is simple - we’ve picked out one horse running in each of the first five races every day of Cheltenham, and all you need to do is decide if it will Win, Place or finish Unplaced!

You have until 12.30pm GMT on each day of the festival to submit your predictions, with the competition then resetting daily from 1.30pm GMT for the next day’s racing.

How to Watch the Cheltenham Festival Live

In this section, we’ll show you how to watch the Cheltenham Festival live in Ireland, so you can keep up with the action as it unfolds at Prestbury Park.

Free-to-Air TV and Streaming in Ireland & the UK

Irish viewers can watch the Cheltenham Festival live and free on Virgin Media One, which will carry the same live broadcasts shown on ITV in the UK. Coverage generally runs from 12:45pm to 5pm each day, showing the first six races before the final race switches exclusively to subscription services.

You can also stream Virgin Media’s coverage through the Virgin Media Player app or website, which works across smart TVs, phones, tablets, and laptops — ideal for following the action on the go.

Because streaming demand spikes around race time, it’s worth signing in to the Virgin Media Player a few minutes before the opening race at 1:20pm.

Racing TV for Full Cards and Expert Coverage

For fans who want every single race — including the seventh and final race each day — Racing TV is the only service that broadcasts the entire Festival live in Ireland.

Racing TV is available through:

• Sky Ireland
• Virgin Media Ireland
• The Racing TV website and mobile app

Subscribers get full, uninterrupted coverage of all 28 races, plus expert previews, analysis, replays, pundit insights, and extended commentary. If you want true walltowall Cheltenham coverage, and guaranteed access to every Irish runner, Racing TV is the top choice.

How to Check Cheltenham Odds and Race Line-Ups

Next, we’ll break down the best way to check Cheltenham odds, because comparing prices across bookmakers is one of the most important steps during Festival week.

Using Oddschecker to Compare Prices

When it comes to Cheltenham betting, comparing prices is essential. Small differences in odds can make a big impact over four days, especially if you’re placing several bets or backing multiple Irish contenders across the card.

Oddschecker’s Cheltenham pages make this easy by showing sideby-side prices from all the major bookmakers, including boosts, free bet incentives, and enhanced terms. For example, one bookmaker may offer 4/1 on a runner while another offers 9/2, those small boosts can really add up. Using oddschecker ensures you always get the best available value before you place your bet.

Finding Racecards and Runners

Racecards are the essential prerace guide, listing the horses, jockeys, trainers, form, and ground conditions. You’ll find full Cheltenham racecards on Oddschecker’s racing pages, complete with live odds comparisons.

What to look for on a racecard:
• Horse name & number – Your key ID for the runner.
• Jockey & trainer – Especially important for assessing Irish hopes.
• Form – Recent results shown as letters and numbers.
• Going – Ground conditions (soft, heavy, good) that suit certain horses.
• Distance & class – Helps gauge race suitability.
• Entries & odds – Useful for both antepost and ontheday betting.

These details help you get a better read on the race and spot value before betting.

Hunting Down the Best Cheltenham Free Bet Offers

Why Cheltenham Week Is Massive for Free Bets

Cheltenham week is one of the biggest periods of the year for bookmaker promotions, especially for Irish punters who often see enhanced offers tailored for the Festival. Expect boosted odds, moneyback specials, extra places, and generous signup deals as bookmakers compete for attention during the busiest betting week of the calendar.

Using Oddschecker’s Free Bets & Offers Section

Oddschecker gathers all the top Cheltenham free bet offers in one place, meaning you don’t need to check each bookmaker individually. Their Festival hub includes:
• Welcome offers
• Odds boosts
• Enhanced place specials
• Price promotions on feature races

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Cheltenham Offers

• Always read the terms, especially minimum odds, expiry times, and wagering rules.
• Use multiple bookmakers so you can claim a wider range of promos across the week.

Even a small bit of planning can significantly boost your overall value during Cheltenham.

What races are on at the Cheltenham Festival?

Tuesday 10 March 2026 – Champion Day

• 13:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
• 14:00 – Arkle Novices’ Chase
• 14:40 – Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
• 15:20 – Mares’ Hurdle
• 16:00 – Champion Hurdle
• 16:40 – Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
• 17:20 – National Hunt Chase

Wednesday 11 March 2026 – Ladies Day

• 13:20 – Turners Novices’ Hurdle
• 14:00 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
• 14:40 – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
• 15:20 – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
• 16:00 – Queen Mother Champion Chase
• 16:40 – Grand Annual Handicap Chase
• 17:20 – Champion Bumper

Thursday 12 March 2026 – St Patrick’s Thursday

• 13:20 – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
• 14:00 – Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
• 14:40 – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
• 15:20 – Stayers’ Hurdle
• 16:00 – Ryanair Chase
• 16:40 – Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase
• 17:20 – Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase

Friday 13 March 2026 – Gold Cup Day

• 13:20 – Triumph Hurdle
• 14:00 – County Handicap Hurdle
• 14:40 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
• 15:20 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
• 16:00 – Cheltenham Gold Cup
• 16:40 – Hunter Chase (Challenge Cup)
• 17:20 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle