Cheltenham Festival and the coverage on radio and TV in UK

There are several hugely popular horse racing events in the United Kingdom, both flat and jump; however, only a few can match the prestige and love that the Cheltenham Festival has boasted for decades.

It is eagerly awaited throughout the year, and although fans arrive in Cheltenham from far away to witness the best hurdlers and steeples on the British islands, many opt to stay at home and watch it from the comfort of their homes.

After all, the joy of the festival isn’t limited to people on the track as the media coverage strives to be top-notch, presenting all the pinnacles and amending them with knowledgeable insights from numerous experts. Let’s look at the coverage to uncover why some of us prefer watching the Cheltenham Festival at home instead of experiencing the atmosphere in person.

TV Coverage

The TV Coverage is extensive for casual fans and hardcore devotees, as there are two channels dedicated to racing, one suitable for each group.

ITV Racing

Although we consider the ITV Racing coverage more friendly to casual spectators, it nevertheless brings lots of information. This channel serves as the primary free-to-air broadcaster that delivers live coverage of the main races to millions of people, while they don’t omit any races of the Cheltenham Festival throughout all four days. 

ITV Racing offers interviews with jockeys and trainers, their experts analyze racing fields, giving predictions and a subsequent dissection of how the race unwrapped. As the amount of information might be too demanding for a more casual audience, the coverage often features light-hearted moments. For example, we learn more about the jockeys themselves, watch and listen to interesting stories of some horses, and enjoy captivating views of the course and horses, enhancing our experience at home.

Racing TV

While ITV Racing focuses on providing viewers with a comprehensible view of the whole day at Cheltenham, Racing TV is a subscription-based channel meant for true connoisseurs. It omits the interviews and offers us uninterrupted broadcasts of all the races throughout the day, including races from other courses. Moreover, the Racing TV expert dives much deeper into the analyses, discussing forms in detail, and should be a great help for those thinking of Cheltenham free bet offers as the experts often mention the odds and could recommend a good opportunity. 

Radio Coverage

In case we cannot watch the races on TV for any reason, there is always BBC Radio 5 Live, covering the Cheltenham Festival for all horse racing enthusiasts alongside some local radio stations. Like on TV, BBC Radio 5 Live also discusses the races with experts, offers analyses, and does its best to deliver the atmosphere of the Cheltenham Festival to our homes. Whether driving or working, tuning to the radio is a viable option to be in touch and not miss such an event.

While BBC Radio 5 Live is better for casual fans, TalkSPORT could be the right option for seasoned fans as it provides us with in-depth analyses, delves into strategy predictions, and usually discusses betting opportunities. 

Key Personalities

Both TV and radio coverage rely heavily on their key personalities, often the reason people choose certain channels or stations is that they are curious about their opinions. For example, Ed Chamberlin is the face of ITV Racing, inseparable from the broadcast today, which also applies to energetic Matt Chapman and legendary jockey Sir Anthony McCoy. Racing TV relies on Lydia Hislop and Nick Luck, while radio coverage logically needs a person with an enthralling voice to maintain attention – and Cornelius Lysaght is one.  

Comparison

While radio is accessible virtually anywhere, and we can listen to the races when driving or working, the lack of visuals will always be its main drawback. Watching the beautiful horses running, jumping and fighting for the win is hardly transferable by words. Moreover, the view of the green course and massive crows creates a perfect picture.

We can listen to the predictions and strategies just fine, but it is necessary to watch the drama unfold in real-time, take in the replays, spot key moments, and simply admire the aesthetics of this breathtaking event. Still, it depends on one’s preference for enjoying the Cheltenham Festival either on TV or radio, watching more accessible coverage on ITV Racing or the in-depth broadcast on Racing TV.