Cheltenham Day 1 Betting:
Champion Day 2027 Card & Odds
Tuesday 16 March 2027 · Feature: Champion Hurdle (~15:30) · 7 races · 3 Grade 1 championships
Intro
Cheltenham Day 1 Betting: Champion Day 2027
Cheltenham day 1 betting starts with Champion Day on Tuesday 16 March 2027, the opening day of the four-day Cheltenham Festival betting at Prestbury Park.
Champion Day features seven races, including three Grade 1 championships led by the Champion Hurdle. Full Champion Hurdle odds are available on the dedicated race page. The card also includes the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Challenge Trophy and Mares’ Hurdle.
This page includes the Day 1 race card, per-race summaries and links to dedicated race pages for markets. It also covers Day 1 tips, ante-post markets and available offers.
BetGoodwin applies Non-Runner No Bet across every Day 1 championship market before final declarations.
Odds
Ante-post Odds markets
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Runners
Runners module
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Day card
Champion Day Race Card and Full 7-Race Schedule
Cheltenham betting Tuesday begins with seven races on Champion Day, starting with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at approximately 13:20. Final race times remain TBC and will receive confirmation in January 2027. Cheltenham odds Tuesday attracts attention across every contest, while day 1 Cheltenham delivers championship races, major handicaps and novice events. Cheltenham festival Tuesday sets the tone for the remaining three days of the meeting.
Going conditions receive updates on the Monday before Tuesday's racing. The template race grid below will display the confirmed 2027 schedule once official times become available.
Feature race
Champion Hurdle - Day 1 Feature
The Champion Hurdle stands as the Grade 1 feature of Champion Day. The race covers 2m ½f on Cheltenham’s Old Course and takes place at approximately 15:30 on Tuesday 16 March 2027. It remains the highlight of Cheltenham betting Tuesday and crowns the season’s leading two-mile hurdler.
Success requires speed, rhythm and accurate jumping throughout the contest. Horses must also handle Cheltenham’s demanding uphill finish under championship conditions. Many previous winners built strong reputations before producing memorable Festival performances.
Ante-post prices are available now for the Champion Hurdle. They continue to move through autumn and winter after key trials at Punchestown, Kempton and Sandown. Visit the Champion Hurdle race page for live odds, runners, race preview, recent winners and going preferences.
Quick Links
Champion Day preview · intro, races, tips, non-runners & offers
Cheltenham Day 1 Betting: Champion Day 2027
Champion Day opens the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 16 March 2027. The first race usually starts at around 13:20, while the feature Champion Hurdle takes place at approximately 15:30. Final race times remain TBC and receive confirmation in January 2027. This page provides an overview of Cheltenham day 1 betting and the latest Cheltenham day 1 odds before Festival week.
The opening afternoon follows a familiar pattern. The card begins with Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, continues with Arkle Challenge Trophy, and reaches its highlight in the Champion Hurdle. Handicaps, the Mares’ Hurdle, and the concluding National Hunt Chase complete a varied programme of championship and competitive betting races.
Ante-post prices are already available on the Champion Hurdle. Day 1 prices go live from the Monday of Festival week. Cheltenham day 1 odds continue to evolve throughout the National Hunt season. Form, declarations and market confidence drive market movements before Champion Day.
The confirmed 2027 timetable will appear on the official Race Card page once the Festival schedule receives final approval.
Day 1 Grade 1 championships
- Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - the Festival’s traditional opening race for leading novice hurdlers.
- Arkle Challenge Trophy - the premier two-mile novice chase of the National Hunt season.
- Champion Hurdle - the championship contest for elite two-mile hurdlers and the headline race on Champion Day.
Supporting Championship & Novice Races on Day 1
Champion Day offers far more than its headline race. Alongside the Champion Hurdle, the card includes two additional Grade 1 contests and a prestigious mares’ championship. Competitive handicaps complete one of jump racing’s strongest opening days. Together, they shape the early Cheltenham day 1 odds across the Festival.
Many bettors also focus their Cheltenham day 1 betting around these supporting races.
- Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - A Grade 1 contest over 2m ½f that opens the Festival at approximately 13:20. Many future Champion Hurdle contenders begin their Festival careers here.
- Arkle Challenge Trophy - A Grade 1 novice chase over two miles. The race often identifies future contenders for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
- Mares’ Hurdle - A Grade 1 championship over 2m 4f. Irish-trained runners have produced many notable victories throughout the race’s history.
- Ultima Handicap Chase - A 3m 1f handicap that attracts large and competitive fields. Wide-open ante-post markets make it one of the most competitive betting races on Champion Day.
- Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - A 2m 1f handicap for four-year-olds. Large fields of more than 20 runners often make this one of the day’s most unpredictable races.
- National Hunt Chase - A historic amateur-riders’ race over 3m 6f. Stamina and accurate jumping often decide the outcome across the longest trip of the Cheltenham Festival.
Champion Day Tips & Preview
The BetGoodwin Racing Desk publishes the Day 1 preview on the Cheltenham Tips Hub, alongside per-race Champion Day analysis.
Ante-post coverage for the Champion Hurdle begins in October 2026. Weekly Day 1 previews follow from January 2027. The full Tuesday race card and analysis publish at around 9:00am on Tuesday 16 March 2027.
Every preview focuses on form, race trends and market developments. Tips provide informed analysis rather than guaranteed winners. You can also enable notifications to read the latest Day 1 preview as soon as it becomes available. The Willie Mullins Day 1 record also remains an important talking point during Festival week.
Champion Day Ante-Post Markets
Champion Day ante-post markets are open now (July 2026) on the Champion Hurdle, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Challenge Trophy. Early Cheltenham day 1 betting allows bettors to secure prices before the Festival approaches.
Backing horses early offers potential value but also carries non-runner risk. The dedicated Ante-Post Markets page covers prices across every Championship race and the wider Festival.
BetGoodwin applies Non-Runner No Bet across Day 1 championship markets. That policy reduces withdrawal risk while markets develop throughout autumn and winter.
Champion Day Non-Runners and Non-Runner No Bet
Day 1 non-runners receive confirmation alongside the final declarations, 48 hours before each Tuesday race. Final fields normally become official on the Sunday before Champion Day.
BetGoodwin applies Non-Runner No Bet to the Champion Hurdle, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Challenge Trophy. If a selected horse withdraws, BetGoodwin returns your stake in full on those markets.
Full NRNB and Rule 4 details are available in the Day 1 non-runners policy.
Champion Day Betting Offers
BetGoodwin’s Champion Day offers cover Day 1 ante-post markets and race-day markets across the Tuesday card.
Offers may include Best Odds Guaranteed on UK and Irish racing. Festival promotions may also feature refunds, insurance offers and a new-customer welcome bonus. Promotions may vary as the Festival approaches, with different offers available before racing begins and during Champion Day itself.
Explore the wider horse racing betting markets throughout the Festival. Visit the Offers page for available promotions, eligibility requirements and claim details before betting.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Champion Day takes place on Tuesday 16 March 2027 at Prestbury Park. It opens the four-day Festival. The first race starts at approximately 13:20, while the Champion Hurdle follows at around 15:30. Final race times receive confirmation in January 2027.
The Champion Hurdle serves as the feature race on Cheltenham festival day 1. It is a Grade 1 contest over 2m ½f for the season’s leading two-mile hurdlers. The dedicated race page covers the full market, while this page focuses on Cheltenham day 1 betting and the overall card.
Champion Day features seven races, including three Grade 1 championships: the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Challenge Trophy, and Champion Hurdle. The card also includes the Mares’ Hurdle, Ultima Handicap Chase, Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, and National Hunt Chase, offering a varied opening day programme.
Ante-post markets for the Champion Hurdle, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and Arkle Challenge Trophy are open now (July 2026). Prices continue to move throughout autumn and winter as key trial races take place. The dedicated Ante-Post Markets page provides the full price grid across every Championship race.
BetGoodwin applies Non-Runner No Bet across Champion Day’s championship markets. If your selected horse is withdrawn before the race, your stake is returned in full on those markets. Side markets follow standard betting rules. Full details are available in the Cheltenham non-runners policy.
Watch list
Trainers & jockeys to watch
Willie Mullins
Day 1 record (Tier 2)
Nicky Henderson
Champion Day form (Tier 2)
Colin Keane
at Cheltenham (Tier 2)
