Race Night at Cheltenham Friday 30th April 2027 (Previously Hunters Chase Evening)

Race 1 - Cleeve Hill Open Hunters' Chase - 16:35

The first race of the evening meeting is a Hunter’s Chase. That’s not surprising, of course, given the entire meeting is made up of them. Nevertheless, it’s still worth pointing out.

More specific to this race is the length of two miles and sixty-two yards (2m, 62y), during which time there are fourteen fences that need to be jumped.  That actually makes it the shortest race of the day by a margin, with the next five races all coming in at over 3 miles.

It’s a Class 5 race that’s open to horses aged five-years-old and up. All the the races during the meeting take place on the New Course and this one takes about four minutes to be completed if the going’s Good.

This race isn't always the biggest field, seven ran last year, but there can still be an option to pick up a decent priced place.  This race also sees plenty of horses that don't finish, with half of the field failing to do so in 2024 and one pulling up last year.

Race 2 - Intermediate Point-To-Point Hunters' Chase - 17:10

Race number two usually lasts for around seven minutes when the going’s Good. That because it takes place over three miles and two furlongs (3m, 2f), with an impressive twenty-two fences between the horses and the final furlong.

It’s a Class 4 offering and, as with Race One, is for horses over the age of five. The field is normally about ten horses or so, meaning that there can often be good value to be found with the right bookmaker.  Last years winner coming home at 11/1, for example.

As you might have inferred from the race’s name, this is the final race of the Point-to-Point Championship.

Race 3 - Junior Jumpers Open Hunters' Chase - 17:45

The day is well underway by the time this race gets started. It’s similar in many ways to Race Two, with the major difference being that it’s for six-year-old horses and upwards rather than those aged five and over. It’s also run over three miles, one furlong and one hundred and fifty-six yards (3m, 1f, 156y), meaning it’s just a touch shorter.

It’s still got twenty-one fences to be negotiated, though, which are arguably easier to cope with because the field is usually much smaller. In terms of timings, if the going’s Good then it will last for about six and a half minutes.  Field-wise, last year six horses ran.

Race 4 - Memorial Open Hunters' Chase - 18:20

It is another long one up in fourth on the card, this is raced over three miles, two furlongs and seventy yards (3m, 2f, 70y). It’s the second most tricky in terms of obstacles, thanks to the twenty-two fences that need to be jumped.

It tends to take horses about seven minutes when the going’s Good and there’ll usually be a field with about ten in it. It’s open to those aged five-years-old and up and is a Class 4 offering.

This is often the biggest field race of the days and a great one for an each-way wager.  Having said that last year only five ran but that was thanks largely to a run of dry hot weather leaving the ground pretty firm.

Race 5 - Mares' Open Hunters' Chase - 18:55

We’re back to twenty-one fences for this race. As the name suggests, it’s open to mares and they need to be five or older to take part.

Lasting for three miles, one furlong and fifty-six yards (3m, 1f, 56y), it usually takes just over six minutes for the competitors to reach the end of it when the going’s Good.

The field can be anywhere between four and ten, though it’s usually closer to the busier of the two. It’s a Class 4 race.  The favourite wins this one quite often so bear that in mind.

Race 6 - Golden Miller Open Hunters' Chase - 19:30

The penultimate race of Day One is for horses aged five and over. A Class 4 race, it takes place over four miles and one hundred and twenty yards (4m, 97y), but every inch of it is necessary. That’s because it’s the day’s most challenging race, thanks in no small part to the twenty-seven fences that must be jumped by the competitors if they’re hoping to be declared the winner.

The length of it combined with those fences means that it takes more than eight minutes for the horses to reach its final moments when the going is Good.  It's not called a chase evening for nothing as you can see with this race.

It’s also usually one of the larger fields of the day, with 18 running last year out of a possible 20.  The number of runners also meaning that good bookmakers will often offer more places and decent odds.  Expect a fair number of the starters not to finish this one, though.

Race 7 - Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Open Hunters' Chase - 20:05

The day comes to its conclusion as far as the racing is concerned with this chase that lasts for about five minutes when the going’s good. It takes place over two miles, four furlongs and one hundred and twenty-seven yards (2m, 4f, 127y). Open to horses aged five years of age and up, it’s a Class 5 race.

There are seventeen fences in place on the course and it’s not unusual for some of the more casual punters to have already made their way to the bar by this point. It would be a mistake to join them, however, given that the field of close to twenty horses in some years means that there are often some upsets to be found, especially if you opt for the Each-Way market.

Despite it being one of the quicker races of the day it is very often won by older runners.  Rebel Dawn Rising won in 2024 at 10 years old and again in 2025 as an 11 year old, as a good example. This is another race where you can expect over half of the field not to make it to the end in some years.