Smurfit Champion Hurdle

The Cheltenham Festival, the greatest national hunt meeting in the world, takes place 16-18th March this year at Cheltenham Races. The twenty races are the most hotly contested of the entire racing calendar with more than £2million in prize money. Best Mate is looking a good thing to win a third consecutive Gold Cup at Cheltenham with Jair Du Cochet, the last horse to beat Best Mate, the next best bet.

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Day 1, Tuesday, 11th March.
The waiting is over. "They're off" and the runners for the Supreme Novices Hurdle charge towards the first. The second race is the two-mile Irish Independent Arkle Chase Championship for Novices. The Smurfit Champion Hurdle is next with Rooster Booster hoping for back to back titles. Three more top class races complete a fantastic first day.

2.00 L & C Supreme Novices Hurdle.
2.35 Irish Independent Arkle Chase.
3.15 Smurfit Champion Hurdle.
4.00 W.Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase.
4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
5.20 Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle. Day 2, Wednesday, 12th March.

Day2, Wednesday 12th March. Queen Mother's Chase Day
Day 2 sees the world's fastest steeplechasers compete in The Queen Mother Champion Chase and will be won through a touch of genius or bravery. This, and The Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle are the Championship events for Novices. The programme completes with the race that started this whole event, the National Hunt Chase, the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup and the Weatherbys Festival Champion Bumper that could see a top Flat jockey making a rare appearance at Cheltenham.

2.00 The Royal and Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle.
2.35 The Royal and Sun Alliance Steeplechase.
3.15 The Queen Mother Champion Steeplechase.
4.00 The Coral Cup Hurdle.
4.35 The National Hunt Steeplechase Challenge Cup.
5.10 The Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Steeplechase.
5.45 The Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Day 3, Thursday, 13th March. Gold Cup Day
The Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of 7 brilliant races on the card. Best Mate could well be on the cards to equal the forty year old record of Arkle to win three titles. The day starts with the JCB Triumph Hurdle and closes with the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.

2.00 The JCB Triumph Hurdle.
2.35 The Bonusprint Stayers Hurdle.
3.15 The Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeplechase.
4.00 The Christie’s Foxhunter Steeplechase Challenge Cup.
4.35 The Cheltenham Grand Annual Steeplechase Challenge Cup.
5.10 The Cathcart Challenge Cup Steeplechase.
5.45 The Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle.

For information about the Cheltenham Festival, please see our Cheltenham Festival Guide.

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