09 March 2020

Cheltenham Festival preview: When is it, what are the big races, how to watch the action, will coronavirus affect it?

The Cheltenham Festival gets underway tomorrow with top jockeys Rachael Blackmore, Paul Townend and Bryony Frost looking to get among the winners.

The Festival runs for four days with a total of 28 races for punters to lose their hard-earned pennies on.

Jockeys to watch:

All eyes will be on Paul Townend who takes over from the legendary Ruby Walsh for Willie Mullins' stable (PA Images)

Ruby Walsh, who is the Festival's most successful jockey, with 58 wins, is not competing this year for the first time in two decades after his retirement in May of last year.

So all eyes are now fully on the man who took over the reins for trainer Willie Mullins' horses, Paul Townend. He's already having an outstanding season and starts the week as favourite to be the Festival's leading jockey.

But Rachael Blackmore will have something to say about that and has a great chance to get off to a winning start aboard Notebook in Tuesday's Arkle.

Blackmore is also a serious contender for top jockey during the week, something never previously achieved by a woman, while Bryony Frost, fresh from her double at the all-female card at Southwell yesterday, has an enviable pairing with Frodon to defend the Ryanair Chase on Thursday.

Which races to look out for:

The feature race on the final day is the Magners Gold Cup (PA Images)

The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on the first day, with Nicky Henderson-trained Epatante heading the betting.

Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase sees dual winner and favourite Altior a doubt after he was lame on Sunday morning.

Henderson said: "Unfortunately Altior was lame this morning, due to an old splint that has been dormant. It's never bothered him before and typically it rears its ugly head now."

Thursday could see Paisley Park repeat last year's performance in the Stayers Hurdle, while Frodon will be pushed hard to make it back-to-back wins in the Ryanair.

The final day sees the prestigious Gold Cup and the return of reigning champion Al Boum Photo, another Henderson charge.

How to watch it:

Francesca Cumani is part of the ITV Racing team at Cheltenham (PA Images)

ITV will showing the racing on every day of the Festival throughout the afternoon - bad news for regular viewers of Loose Women!

The racing will be live on Tuesday from 1pm until 4.30pm, 2pm until 4.30pm on Wednesday, and between 1pm and 4.30pm on both Thursday and Friday.

Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani will be presenting with expert analysis from former jockeys AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh.

The Opening Show will also air on ITV4 from 9.30am through to 10.30am each day during the festival.

Will it go ahead?

Organisers have said the Festival will go ahead as planned but they are following public health advice in relation to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, which has already claimed several major sporting events.

The best videos delivered daily

Watch the stories that matter, right from your inbox