Cheltenham 2019: Tips, race cards, runners, weather and schedule | Racing | Sport

Cheltenham 2019 gets underway next week and it promises to be a firecracker of a festival.

The big names from UK and Irish horse racing will descend on Cheltenham for four days of furious racing.

All eyes will be on Mite Bite, Thistlecrack and Native River in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 15.

The Gold Cup will come towards the end of the festival and there are plenty of races to get stuck into a punters.

Here, we take you through your essential Cheltenham 2019 guide…

Cheltenham 2019 tips:

Champion Hurdle – Tuesday

Buveur d'Air defended his crown in this race last year and yet again is one of the favourites here.

But Apples Jade – Gordon Elliott’s French seven-year-old – is joint favourite leading up to race day.

Apples Jade has won his last four races – three of which have been Grade 1 outings – and last raced at Leopardstown in February.

Champions Chase – Wednesday

Altior is the big tip among the bookies to win the Queen Mother Champions Chase.

he won this race last year with Nico de Boinville guiding the eight-year-old to a convincing finish.

Many bookmakers have Altior down at as little as 4/9 to defend his crown.

But Min – at 5/1 – may also be worth considering.

Stayers Hurdle – Thursday

Faugheen is priced at 9/2 with some bookmakers to win the Stayers, with Paisley Park the current favourite at 7/4.

It looks as though it may be a straight shoot-out between these two, with Supasundae out at 8/1.

Cheltenham Gold Cup – Friday

Native River runs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup seeking to defend his crown.

Colin Gizzard’s horse won by over four lengths to claim one of the most coveted prized in racing.

This year he is 5/1 with most bookmakers to win the Grade 1 race again.

Cheltenham 2019 races

There are 28 races in total at Cheltenham 2019, split across four days.

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle kicks everything off on Tuesday, Mach 12.

The festival ends on Friday, March 15 with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

There are 14 Grade 1 races during the Cheltenham Festival, including the much-coveted Gold Cup.

Cheltenham 2019 runners

There are hundreds of horses racing at Cheltenham Festival over the four-day event.

Keeping track of all of them is almost impossible – even for the experts!

But there are plenty of well-known runners and favourites worth keeping an eye on.

Last year’s Gold Cup winner Native River runs in the big race once again. The nine-year-old has not run since placing third at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Apples Jade could be the one horse that stands in the way of Buveur D’Air claiming a third straight Champions Hurdle on Tuesday.

It looks increasingly likely that we will be talking about Apples Jade for some time.

French horse Min has won his last two races and is worth watching in the Champion Chase.

And 2018 Grand National winner Tiger Roll – remember him? – is the 11/10 favourite in the Cross Country Chase on Wednesday.

Cheltenham 2019 weather

We could well be in for a wet one at Cheltenham this year.

The weather has been chilly the last few days as the UK endures a cold snap following those warm February days.

Scattered showers are expected over the weekend.

CHELTENHAM WEATHER UPDATE

The sun is meant to come out on Monday to potentially lift the soft ground somewhat.

But Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are all tipped to be rainy.

Tuesday in particular could could heavy downpours, especially overnight and into the morning.

That will likely produce a very soft ground for races across the festival.

Cheltenham 2019 schedule

Tuesday

Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Arkle Challenge Trophy

Festival Trophy Handicap Chase

Champion Hurdle

David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle

Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase

National Hunt Challenge Cup

Wednesday

Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle

RSA Chase

Queen Mother Champion Chase

Coral Cup

Cross Country Chase

Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Champion Bumper

Thursday

Golden Miller Novices' Chase

Pertemps Final

Festival Trophy

Stayers' Hurdle

Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Friday

Triumph Hurdle

County Handicap Hurdle

Spa Novices' Hurdle

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Foxhunter Chase

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle