Join the nation in watching Cheltenham Festival on TV today to witness “the greatest show on turf” with the added bonus of excellent angles, exciting commentary and expert punditry.
ITV will screen most of the action live and for free, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast via its subscription-based service.
You don’t an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.
If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to unlock your ITVX stream of this week’s Cheltenham action from anywhere in the world.
Free ITV coverage
ITV Racing will broadcast racing from Cheltenham Racecourse on 10–13 March from 12:30pm–5pm. You can watch on TV or online via ITVX.
The first six races on each day of the Cheltenham Festival are broadcast live on ITV1 (and can be streamed on ITVX). The ITV coverage is limited, however, to the first six races as it will only run between 12:45pm and 5pm. This means that the final race of each day (starting at 5:20pm) will not be available on ITV.
There is also “The Opening Show” each morning (9–10am) where they will preview the day’s racing. This is shown on ITV4 and ITVX. Finally, there is also a Cheltenham Festival Highlights show available on ITVX, which is a round up of each day after the event.
Who’s presenting ITV racing at Cheltenham?
The ITV racing coverage will, once again, be hosted by Ed Chamberlin, who has been the ITV Racing presenter since 2017. Richard Hoiles will be the lead commentator.
Analysis will be provided by former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner AP McCoy, extremely successful retired jockeys Ruby Walsh and Mick Fitzgerald, and jockey turned presenter Megan Nicholls.
Matt Chapman, Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad and Luke Harvey will be roving reporters bringing you the biggest stories from around Prestbury Park.
Oli Bell presents the The Opening Show each morning.
How to watch the Cheltenham Festival live from anywhere
Coverage on ITVX is geo-blocked outside the UK. A VPN, though, will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.
There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get 73% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.
Today’s highlights are the Grade One Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, which is run over three miles, and the Grade One Ryanair Chase, which is a shorter 2m4½f. The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle is considered the ultimate test of stamina for long-distance hurdlers, while the Ryanair Chase is ideal for horses that are too fast for the Gold Cup but need more stamina than the Champion Chase provides, and the fences are higher, which leaves less room for error.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 race times
All these races will be broadcast on ITVX. Races at 5.20pm (shown in italics) are available on Racing TV, while the feature races of each day are shown in bold.
Day 1: Champion day – Tuesday, 10 March
1.20pm | The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
2.00pm | The Singer Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
2.40pm | The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
3.20pm | The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
4.00pm | The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.40pm | The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm | The Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase
As the ITV coverage ends at 5pm, to watch the 5.20pm races each day you will need to sign up to Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536).
What time is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup will start at 4pm today, Friday 13 March, which is Gold Cup Day at the Cheltenham Festival. Following the final declarations on Wednesday, 11 March, the Cheltenham Gold Cup runners have now been confirmed.
When is the big race at Cheltenham Festival?
Racing fans are treated to a “championship” race every day of the Cheltenham Festival, beginning on Tuesday with the Unibet Champion Hurdle, Wednesday features the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, on Thursday it’s the Ryanair Chase and it all culminates on Friday with the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Each showpiece race runs as the fourth race and will start at 4pm. However, each of the 28 races over the four days offers something to savour with 12 Grade One (top level) races in total.
Yes, you can watch the Cheltenham Gold Cup for free on ITV or ITVX – the Gold Cup sets off at 4pm today (Friday, 13 March), but it’s one of seven races throughout the day. ITV Racing is broadcasting 12:30–5pm.
You don’t an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.
If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to unlock your ITVX stream of this week’s Cheltenham action from anywhere in the world.
How to bet at Cheltenham Festival
Online betting companies will be clamouring for your custom during Cheltenham Festival so look out for some of their promotional deals for new customers which include everything from a free bet to giving your money back if your horse loses.
You’ll need to deposit some money into your betting account, choose a race, select your horse (you could study the form and read our tips for day 4, or you could simply pick your lucky number of favourite colour from the jockeys’ silks) and the type of bet — then get ready to cheer!
How to watch Cheltenham Festival in person
If you don’t already have your Cheltenham Festival ticket, there are no more options to watch in person this year as Gold Cup Day is sold out. Thinking of visiting next year? Book somewhere to stay now before everyone else – here’s a list of hotels near Cheltenham Racecourse and other accommodation.
We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:
Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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