Cheltenham Festival TV addicts get their wish as ITV make armchair fans' dream come true
Cheltenham have announced that ITV Racing will be broadcasting an extra race on each day of The Festival in 2025.
Track chiefs have also confirmed the four showpiece contests of week will be moved back in time into new slots.
In an additional bonus for armchair punters, ITV will now screen six races live a day while all seven races will continue to be shown on Racing TV.
Richard Willoughby, ITV Racing Editor, commented: “This means we will be showing 24 live races across the week and be on air for over four hours every day, as well as broadcasting our extended 90-minute Opening Show each morning.”
Cheltenham also confirmed their new running order the 2025 Festival.
Ian Renton, The Jockey Club’s Managing Director of Cheltenham Racecourse, said: “It is fantastic news that ITV Racing will be now covering six of the seven races on each day of The Festival.
“The publication of the Order of Running today follows on from the changes announced last month and sees the feature race now taking place later in the card each day, allowing the sense of excitement and anticipation to build through the afternoon.”
THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2025 – ORDER OF RUNNING
Champion Day, Tuesday 11th March (Old Course)
13:20 ITV Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m £150,000
14:00 ITV My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m £200,000
14:40 ITV Ultima Handicap Chase 3m1f £150,000
15:20 ITV Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f £120,000
16:00 ITV Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m £450,000
16:40 ITV Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m £80,000
17:20 National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Handicap) 3m 6f £100,000
Style Wednesday, 12th March (Old Course)
13:20 ITV Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f £150,000
14:00 ITV Brown