Cheltenham 2023 Preview - Racecards and schedule for the greatest show on turf

National Hunt racing's showpiece meeting of the year is the Cheltenham Festival. Thousands of racing fans, punters and celebrities will descend upon Gloucestershire during the middle week of March, all eager to take in four fantastic days of jumps racing.

The 2023 edition of "the greatest show on turf" promises to be as exciting as ever. Here's the full schedule for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, including racecards, dates and race previews.

The red carpet will be rolled out for Honeysuckle, as Henry De Bromhead's mare makes what will likely be the final appearance of her glittering career in Tuesday's Championship race. Following the first defeat of her career at Fairyhouse in November, Henry De Bromhead's two-time Champion Hurdle winner sits a long way adrift of odds-on favourite Constitution Hill, who bolted up in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on this day 12 months ago.

The betting for this year's Supreme is dominated by another winner from the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, Champion Bumper winner Facile Vega, who's two-from-two over hurdles this season. Like Facile Vega, Arkle favourite Jonbon is yet to taste defeat this term, but Nicky Henderson's star will have an army of Willie Mullins runners to fend off in the second of four Grade Ones on Champions' Day.

Marie's Rock will attempt to defend her crown in a typically open renewal of the Mares' Hurdle. Day one viewers will also enjoy the National Hunt Chase and a couple of competitive handicaps, the Ultima Handicap Chase and the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

Energumene hacked his way through heavy ground to hand Willie Mullins his first victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase 12 months ago. The defending champion can already be backed at a short price for the 2023 Champion Chase, where Energumene could square off against stablemate Blue Lord and last year's Arkle winner, Edwardstone.

Paul Nicholls will saddle favourite, Hermes Allen ahead of the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, before Gaillard Du Mesnil, Gerri Colombe and Thyme Hill square off in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. Wednesday's viewers will also enjoy the Champion Bumper, Coral Cup, Grand Annual and the unique Cross Country Chase, where Gordon Elliott's Delta Work will return to defend his crown, having upset Tiger Roll to win the race 12 months ago.

Flooring Porter will attempt to join the exclusive club of three-time Stayers' Hurdle winners when he returns to Prestbury Park in March. Gavin Cromwell's star has, however, been usurped at the head of the staying ranks by Joseph O'Brien's Home By The Lee, who claimed a convincing victory in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December.

Allaho has made mincemeat of his rivals in the last two editions of the Ryanair Chase. Willie Mullins' star suffered a set-back at the start of the season and remains a doubt for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, which could open the door for the likes of Fakir D'Oudairies, Blue Lord or two-time Festival winner, Shishkin to claim the Ryanair Crown.

Irish fans will be hoping to see Gordon Elliott's Mighty Potter win the opener on St Patrick's day. Thursday's card also features the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, the Pertemps Final and two handicaps for chasers, the Kim Muir and the Paddy Power Plate.

The betting for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup is currently dominated by Galopin Des Champs. Last year, Willie Mullins' star fell at the last when victory in the Turner's Novices' Chase was guaranteed. That, however, remains the only blot on Galopin Des Champ's form book and the Gold Cup favourite looked better than ever when winning the John Durkan Memorial Chase on his reappearance.

Galopin Des Champs could be joined in the Gold Cup by defending champion A Plus Tard, who's struggled for form and fitness this season. Betfair Chase winner Protektorat, Savills Chase victor, Conflated and King George VI Chase hero, Bravemansgame are pencilled in to run. As is Grand National winner Noble Yeats, who currently sits second in the Gold Cup betting.

Willie Mullins won six of the seven races on Gold Cup day 12 months ago and Ireland's Champion Trainer could be set for a similarly spectacular final day at the 2023 meeting. Willie will saddle the top two in the Triumph Hurdle market, Lossiemouth and Blood Destiny, before throwing Allegorie De Vassy and defending champion, Elimay into the Mares' Chase.

Friday's viewers will take in the Hunter's Chase, known as the Amateurs Gold Cup. The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle also features on day four, along with the County Hurdle and Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle.