Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010: March 16 – 19

The Cheltenham Festival of horse racing starts Tuesday March 16 and includes 26 of the year’s most eagerly anticipated horse races, all leading up to the coveted Cheltenham Gold Cup race on March 19, 2010.

Among the highlights of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival leading up to the big Gold Cup race itself is the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on Champion Hurdle Day, Tusday, March 16. Here Kyber Kim and Go Native go head to head for big bonus money promised to each one’s connections on top of the Cheltenham prize money.

Then on St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17, is the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, in which Master Minded is one win away from horse racing history’s first hattrick.

Following that is Ladies Day, on Thursday, March 18, when there will be both a charity horse race and 6 world class jump races, including the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, where Big Buck will be defending his crown with a vengeance.

That leaves Gold Cup Day this year, Friday, March 19, 2010, in which stable-mates Denman and Kauto Star, the former 2008’s Gold Cup winner and the latter 2009’s square off for a third go-round. If Kauto Star wins, this will put him up there with Best Mate, Arkle, and Golden Miller for notching three Chelternham Gold Cup victories.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup boasts the largest prize purse of all the races at the Festival with £425,000 split between the top 3 finishers; the second largest prize purse being the Champion Hurdle, at £360,000.

Other top contenders this year include Imperial Commander,What a Friend, and Cooldine. If you want to bet on horse races visit Bodog’s Racebook and get signed up with an account. Great lines for the Cheltenham Gold Cup Race.