The 2027 Cheltenham Guide
The Cheltenham Festival returns to Prestbury Park for four days in March, a hole in the home straight forced the course to re-drain it, and one Irish trainer arrives chasing a ninth year in a row as leading trainer. This guide covers everything you need to know about Cheltenham 2027, from which day to book to what to wear, as well as how you can be there with Cheltenham Festival hospitality.
The Cheltenham Festival 2027
This free guide covers all four days of the Cheltenham Festival 2027, from Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th March at Prestbury Park. There are 28 jump races across the week, seven a day. As currently published, gates open at 10:30, with the first race at 13:20 and the last at 17:20. Willie Mullins was leading trainer in 2026 for the eighth year running. Here is what each day offers.
Tuesday 16th March: Champion Day
The Festival opens with the Cheltenham roar as the tape rises for the first race. The feature is the Champion Hurdle at 16:00, won in 2026 by Lossiemouth for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. Tuesday is the gentlest day for guests new to racing, which makes it the pick for first-timers and mixed groups. The guide explains why getting your group to the rail for the first race does more than any briefing note.
Planning to be there? See our Champion Day hospitality.
Wednesday 17th March: Ladies Day
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is two miles run flat out over fences, and for serious racing fans it is the race of the week, due off at 16:00. The Jockey Club promotes the day as Ladies Day and Style Wednesday, with a best dressed competition alongside. The guide covers what to wear in March, and why footwear is the mistake most guests make.
Planning to be there? See our Ladies Day hospitality.
Thursday 18th March: St Patrick’s Thursday
The only day with two headline races: the Stayers’ Hurdle at 15:20, then the Festival Trophy (Ryanair Chase) at 16:00, so the afternoon builds instead of peaking early. With the warmest atmosphere of the week and a strong Irish following, it is the pick for client entertaining. The guide explains why groups of twenty or more should choose Tuesday or Thursday.
Planning to be there? See our St Patrick’s Thursday hospitality.
Friday 19th March: Gold Cup Day
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is 22 fences over about three miles two and a half furlongs, due off at 16:00. Gaelic Warrior won it in 2026, a fifth Gold Cup each for Mullins and Townend. It is the race non-racing guests know, and Friday is also the busiest day of the four. The guide covers the six horses every guest should know.
Planning to be there? See our Gold Cup Day hospitality.
Planning your day
The guide explains what each enclosure actually gets you, and sets out a host’s timeline from autumn to the week before.
Or start an enquiry through our Cheltenham Festival hospitality page.
Inside you'll find:
- Four days, 28 races. A day-by-day guide to the 2027 card, with the best day for every type of group.
- The enclosures, explained. What Club, Tattersalls and Best Mate actually get you.
- A host’s timeline. Everything to sort from autumn to March, including the footwear warning guests always need.
Where to see it
Related event
Cheltenham Champion Day 2027
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Frequently Asked Questions
Champion Day on Tuesday 16 March, headed by the Champion Hurdle. Ladies Day on Wednesday 17 March, with the Queen Mother Champion Chase and a best dressed competition. St Patrick's Thursday on 18 March, the only day with two headline races. Gold Cup Day on Friday 19 March, which closes the week with the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Friday 19 March 2027, the last day of the Festival. The Gold Cup is due off at 4pm and is run over about three miles two and a half furlongs, with 22 fences. Gaelic Warrior won it in 2026 for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
The first race is at 1.20pm and the last at 5.20pm on each of the four days, with a race every 40 minutes. Gates open at 10.30am. The Jockey Club publishes these times with a note that they are subject to change.
There is no formal dress code, though many racegoers dress up. Dress for March: the course is open, often wet and windy, and you are on your feet most of the day. Layers, a warm coat and shoes you can walk in all day matter most, because the car parks are a walk from the course. Fancy dress is not allowed in hospitality, the restaurants or the Club Enclosure.
Club is the top public enclosure and also gets you into Tattersalls and Best Mate. It adds paddock viewing at the Parade Ring, the Main Grandstand viewing steps and the widest choice of food and drink. Tattersalls includes Best Mate, unless Best Mate is full, and puts you by the Winning Post and the Winner's Enclosure. Best Mate sits opposite the main grandstand, beside the finish line, with a head-on view of the course.
Tuesday, Champion Day, is the gentlest start for first-timers and mixed groups. For serious racing fans, Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase is the race of the week. Thursday has two headline races, the Stayers' Hurdle and the Festival Trophy (Ryanair Chase), and the warmest atmosphere, which makes it our pick for client entertaining. Friday has the Gold Cup, the race non-racing guests know, and is the busiest day of the four.
No. St Patrick's Day, 17 March, falls on the Wednesday in 2027, which is Ladies Day. St Patrick's Thursday is the Festival's name for its third day, Thursday 18 March.
Willie Mullins was top trainer for the eighth year running. His Gaelic Warrior won the Gold Cup under Paul Townend, a fifth Gold Cup for both of them, and his Lossiemouth won the Champion Hurdle. Townend was top jockey for the fifth Festival in a row.
A day-by-day guide to all four days and the race to watch each afternoon, what each enclosure gets you, what to wear in March, and a host's timeline from autumn to the week before. It is free: fill in your details on this page to download it.
Yes. Prestige Corporate Events arranges Cheltenham Festival hospitality on all four days, from a private box with a balcony over the course to a table in a shared restaurant. Each day has its own page where you can register your interest, or you can enquire through our Cheltenham Festival hospitality page.
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