2008 Cheltenham Festival Fixtures

Severe weather has made an impact on this year's Cheltenham Festival. Just as the Festival was due to start, gale-force winds ripped down a marquee / restaurant at Cheltenham Racecourse. A 50mph gust tore the roof and sidings from the 300-seat tent, where at 4am yesterday. Fortunately, the Guiness Stand remained undamaged as its roof had been removed as a precaution.

The second day of the Cheltenham Festival has now been cancelled because of the stormy weather at the racecourse as strong winds had made the marquees in the tented hospitality area unsafe. Wednesday's races will now be run across Thursday and Friday's meeting. The Gold Cup showdown between Kauto Star and Denman will still take place on Friday as part of a nine-race card.

2008 Cheltenham Festival Fixtures

TUESDAY 11 MARCH
1400 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle (2m 110y)
1435 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (2m)
1515 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (2m 110y)
1600 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (3m 110y)
1640 BGC Cross Country Chase (3m 7f)
1720 Fred Winter Junior Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2m 110y)

WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH - cancellled, races run Thu&Fri
1400 Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle (2m 5f)
1435 Royal & SunAlliance Chase (3m 110y)
1515 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (2m)
1600 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (2m 5f)
1640 Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (4m)
1720 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (2m 110y)

THURSDAY 13 MARCH
1400 Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase (2m 5f)
1435 Ryanair Chase (2m 5f)
1515 Ladbrokes World Hurdle (3m)
1600 Racing Post Plate Handicap Chase (2m 5f)
1640 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (3m 1f 110y)
1720 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (3m)

FRIDAY 14 MARCH
1400 JCB Triumph Hurdle (2m 1f)
1435 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3m)
1515 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m 2f 110y)
1600 Christie's Foxhunter Chase (3m 2f 110y)
1635 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (2m 110y)
1710 David Nicholson Mares Only Hurdle (2m 4f 110y)
1745 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (2m 1f)