Cheltenham Festival 2024 | Preview (ITV1)

Presented by Ed Chamberlin, viewers get the best seat in the house to see all their favourite equine stars at jump racing’s most famous Festival.   

Ed will be joined daily by 20-time champion jump jockey, Sir Anthony McCoy, and the Festival’s winning-most rider, Ruby Walsh, who will offer his unique and state-of-the-art race analysis of all the best action. Mick Fitzgerald and Luke Harvey will be with the team all week as will Megan Nicholls and Alice Plunkett to offer their expert opinions on every race and the horses in the parade ring. 

Rishi Persad and Matt Chapman will be out and about on the course talking to connections, Brian Gleeson will be in the thick of the action in the betting ring and Oli Bell interacting with viewers at home in the popular Social Stable.

Richard Hoiles will be in the commentary box, with Kevin Blake and Brough Scott offering their unique views on stories as they unfold throughout the week.

Across the week, the Bafta and Broadcast award-winning production and technical team will have cameras covering every aspect, including a wire-cam across the parade ring, trackers and a drone out on course and AR graphics that enhance what appears on screen. 

The Opening Show, presented by Oli Bell will be on every day from 8.30am-10.00am on ITV4 and ITVX. It will provide viewers with a full preview of each day's races and capture more of the morning action as the Irish battalions exercise out on track at Prestbury Park.

Oli will be joined daily by Matt Chapman, Sally Ann Grassick and Kevin Blake. Sir Anthony McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Megan Nicholls, Mick Fitzgerald, Rishi Persad and Luke Harvey will also join the team across the week.

Ed Chamberlin, ITV presenter: "The 100th year of the Boodles’ Gold Cup makes this year’s Cheltenham extra special. We’ll look back at all the great winners, and are set for a brilliant renewal as defending Champion Galopin des Champs faces challenges aplenty from the talented Fastorslow, the 800 euro King George winner,  Hewick, and the home team’s enigmatic Shiskin.”

Ruby Walsh, ITV pundit: “The race I am most looking forward to this year is the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday. It was set up to be a rematch between El Fabiolo and Jonbon, but after his performance at Newbury and the way he went there, Edwardstone has now thrown his hat into the ring and added a whole new dynamic.”

Every day there will also be a free-to-enter ITV7 competition, which has total jackpot prizes of over £1 million across the week.