The Cheltenham Festival takes place across four days between March 10 and March 13 as hundreds of thousands of fans descend on the iconic Gloucestershire racecourse for one of the sport’s biggest weeks of the year.
The Met Office has forecast sunny conditions with a high chance of light rain on day four of the Festival. Monday’s weather saw some mist and fog and a smattering of rain, while expected rain on Tuesday never arrived. That means racing conditions are ideal but with disruptions unlikely.
Fans can look forward to 28 compelling races across the four days. Racing begins at 1.20pm GMT and the final race of the day is at 5.20pm, though fans pack in after the gates open daily at 10.30am.
The weather can be crucial to the chances with punters studying the going days and hours out from each race. If the course is heavy, then expect a real test of the horse’s stamina, though the forecast currently suggests a quicker track due to a dry spell just before and throughout the festival.
The forecast has generally been good this week with Thursday’s constant rain the only dour note. The BBC show gentle to moderate breeze on all four days and consistent drizzle and light rain from Monday to Friday. Sunny intervals should appear on Friday with light rain spells set for the afternoon, just as racing begins.
Some outlets suggest a mostly dry week with Accuweather forecasting rain earlier in the week but from Wednesday onwards they predict overcast, cloudy skies with temperature highs of 15 degrees for Friday’s Gold Cup day.
It is expected to be a brisk week on the ground, with temperatures ranging from 12 to 15 degrees celsius throughout the week.
Apple weather suggests rain on Thursday morning with heavy winds throughout the day. The going at Cheltenham is currently soft on the Old Course and Good to Soft on the New Course with the Cross Country a mix of both. Soft ground means there is a high level of moisture in the turf and running is often slower. Horses sink deeper into this surface, requiring more effort to maintain speed, which tends to favor stamina-based runners.
Check out the latest Cheltenham odds and where you’ll find the best prices from betting sites and free bet offers to claim during the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
