An established programme of National Hunt racing will unfold at Cheltenham Racecourse on Tuesday, 10 March, where a carefully structured card of hurdle races and steeplechases will be staged through the afternoon, with all contests scheduled as GBB races. The meeting will assemble novice performers, seasoned handicap runners and leading hurdlers, with the championship hurdle contest set to stand as the principal feature of the day.
The programme will begin at 1:20pm and will extend through the afternoon until the concluding staying chase at 5:20pm. Distances will range from two miles to nearly three miles and six furlongs, offering opportunities for different types of National Hunt runners across novice races, championship contests and competitive handicaps.
The afternoon’s programme will commence with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Class 1) (Grade 1) at 1:20pm. Contested over 2m 87y for prize money of £150,000, the opening race will bring together a field of 12 runners. Baron Noir, Eachtotheirown, El Cairos and Koktail Brut are among those expected to take their place in the line-up as emerging novice hurdlers will seek to establish themselves in the opening contest of the meeting.
The schedule will proceed at 2:00pm with the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 1) (Grade 1), staged over 1m 7f 199y with a purse of £200,000. Seven runners are anticipated to contest the race, including Hansard, Jax Junior, Kopek des Bordes and Lulamba, in a contest that will place emphasis on pace, precision and fluent jumping over fences.
At 2:40pm, attention will turn to the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 1) over 2m 87y with prize money of £80,000. A sizeable field of 24 runners is expected to assemble for the handicap event, with Bertutea, Barbizon, Madness d’Elle and Harwa among the entries anticipated to compete in what will be one of the largest fields of the afternoon.
The programme will then advance to the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1) at 3:20pm. Run over a distance of 3m 1f and offering £150,000 in prize money, the race will feature 22 runners including Iroko, Handstands, Resplendent Grey and Jagwar. The extended trip will place a clear emphasis on stamina and disciplined jumping as runners negotiate the staying contest.
The focal point of the afternoon will arrive at 4:00pm with the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Class 1) (Grade 1), run over 2m 87y with a substantial prize fund of £465,750. Nine runners are expected to contest the championship hurdle race, with Alexei, Anzadam, Poniros and The New Lion among the notable participants scheduled to line up in the premier hurdle contest of the programme.
The meeting will continue at 4:40pm with the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1) staged over 2m 4f 44y for £150,000. A field of 23 runners is expected to assemble for the handicap chase, with Dee Capo, Down Memory Lane, No Questions Asked and Jungle Boogie among those anticipated to take part in the competitive intermediate-distance event.
The concluding race of the afternoon will be the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) at 5:20pm. Run over a demanding distance of 3m 5f 201y and offering prize money of £100,000, the staying novice contest will feature 17 runners. Wade Out, Pic Roc, King of Answers and One Big Bang are among those expected to line up as the meeting reaches its closing stage.
The afternoon programme will present a balanced sequence of novice contests, competitive handicaps and a championship hurdle, forming a structured day of National Hunt racing at Cheltenham Racecourse. With several established runners and emerging performers scheduled to compete, the Cheltenham Race Cards 10 March will assemble a varied and competitive racing fixture across the afternoon schedule.
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