Cheltenham Festival 2022 schedule: Racecard times, key runners, weather and free bets

The 2022 Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest weeks in the National Hunt calendar. Tickets for the festival have been snapped up by fans eager to return to the event. Willie Mullins and Rachael Blackmore are two of big names chasing winners. Henry de Bromhead’s Minella Indo won the feature Gold Cup last year. Robbie Power is due to ride the defending champion this year at Prestbury Park. Rachaael has won back-to-back Champion Hurdle triumphs on Honeysuckle and Shishkin is another star on show in Champion Chase.

Cheltenham Festival 2022 schedule is available. Day 1 is Champion Day on Tuesday, March 15th.

Day 2 of Cheltenham Festival is Ladies Day on Wednesday, March 16th.

Cheltenham Festival 2022 schedule is available. Day 3 is St Patrick’s Thursday, March 17th.

Cheltenham Festival 2022 schedule is available. Day 4 is on Friday, March 18th.

The action gets underway on day one with Honeysuckle racing for back-to-back Champion Hurdle (3.30pm). Nicky Henderson's Supreme Novices' HURDLE (1. 30pm) has strong contenders from British stables. Shishkin takes on Energumene in Wednesday's Champion Chase ( 3.20pm), while Willie Mullins plans to run Chacun Pour Soi in Chocun pour Sois (4.10pm. The Gavin Cromwell-trained Flooring Porter returns to defend his title in Stayers' hurdles (2.50pm and 3:30 pm). Henry de Bromhead's Gold Cup (5.00pm): Minella Indo and A Plus Tard renew rivalry in the Festival feature.

Up to 10mm of rain could fall at Cheltenham this week. The meeting has started on soft ground in recent seasons. A couple of dry days could see the ground get faster.

Betfred is offering new customers £60 in free bets and bonuses when they bet £10 on horse racing.