13:30
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Grade 1 — novice hurdle
2m 0.5f — 8 hurdles
Watch on Racing TV
The Turf · Chapter 01
Welcome to the March card
Loamfurlong is a UK editorial site for the long, cold-weather sport of National Hunt jump racing. From the Cotswold morning at Cheltenham through the Aintree rail on Grand National day to the autumn novice meetings at Sandown and Newbury, we write about every card as though the loam, the brush and the patience all mattered — because, on the jumps, they always do.
Long-form previews, fixture coverage and responsible-play guidance, written for adult readers who like a thinking pause between fences. Adults only. 18+.
Fences
22
Festival
4 days
Distance
3 miles
Age
18+
UK yards we trust
1
2
Founded 1934. One of Britain’s oldest bookmakers. Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
Visit yard →3
Irish-British bookmaker with strong UK National Hunt coverage. Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
Visit yard →4
Part of the Flutter group. Jump-racing coverage on Sky Sports Racing. Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
Visit yard →Festival Day 1 — Champion Day
14:10
Arkle Challenge Trophy
Grade 1 — novice chase
2m — 13 fences
Watch on Racing TV
14:50
Ultima Handicap Chase
Grade 3 handicap chase
3m 1f — 22 fences
Watch on Sky Sports Racing
15:30
Champion Hurdle
Grade 1 — the day’s feature
2m 0.5f — 8 hurdles
Watch on Racing TV / Sky Sports Racing
16:10
Mares’ Hurdle
Grade 1 — mares only
2m 4f — 10 hurdles
Watch on Racing TV
16:50
National Hunt Chase
Grade 2 — novice / amateur
3m 6f — 24 fences
Watch on Sky Sports Racing
The four numbers we read by
22
Fences
The number of fences in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, run over 3m 2.5f. The blue-riband test of jump racing.
30
National fences
The Aintree Grand National features 30 fences over 4m 2.5f — the most famous handicap chase in the world.
4
Festival days
The Cheltenham Festival expanded from 3 days to 4 in 2005. Four days of racing, four days of pilgrimage.
1839
First National
The Grand National was first formally run in 1839, won by Lottery, ridden by Jem Mason. The longest-running British jump-racing institution.
The going’s good to soft. Read the loam, not the form.
A trainer’s whisper, half-an-hour before the offSix hazards on every card
A round of Cheltenham racing is a round of choices — and so is a session of predictions. Read our six-hazard guide to playing responsibly.
1
Hurdle
2
Brush
3
Plain fence
4
Open ditch
5
The bend
6