The much-anticipated 2004 Cheltenham Festival (March 16 – 18) will receive increased exposure on Channel 4 with over 16 hours of dedicated coverage.
Coverage kicks off on the weekend prior to the Festival with a first ever Sunday Morning Line (March 14) at 8.30am. The half-hour show will be broadcast live from the stable of Best Mate, the 2 times Gold Cup winner, who is being prepared for a historic hat-trick of wins in the big race.
Trainer Henrietta Knight and her husband Terry Biddlecombe will share their thoughts on Best Mate’s chances and there will be the latest betting news on the Festival races.
Later that evening Channel 4 broadcasts a Cheltenham Festival Preview, where John Francome selects his favourite Festival horses and jumps into the saddle to assess their chances. Racing’s major players will also
disclose their Festival fancies, while John McCririck previews the betting market.
As before, there will be Morning Lines on every day of the Festival, but this year they will be extended to one hour. Coverage of the racing itself starts at 1.00pm daily and is presented by Alastair Down together with Mike Cattermole, John Francome, Lesley Graham, Simon Hole, John McCririck, Jim McGrath, Alice Plunkett, Tanya Stevenson, Derek Thompson and Ted Walsh.
Cheltenham Festival Highlights will be screened each evening and there will be a an extra show at 7.40pm on the Thursday, looking back on Best Mate’s bid to join racing’s immortals and win that third consecutive Gold Cup.
Dave Kerr, Head of Sport for Channel 4, commented: ‘The Cheltenham Festival is an occasion that transcends racing and has become a great national event. Our expanded schedule gives it the range and scale of coverage it deserves, and we are proud to offer the most comprehensive coverage of the Festival ever seen on terrestrial television.’
Cheltenham Festival Live on Channel 4:
Sunday 14 March
8.30 – 9.00am Sunday Morning Line
00.20 – 00.50am Cheltenham Festival Preview
Tuesday 16 March
8.30 – 9.30am Festival Morning Line
1.00 – 4.30pm Cheltenham Festival
Race Details:
2.00 Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2m ½f)
2.40 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (2m)
3.20 Smurfit Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (2m ½f)
4.00 William Hill National Hunt H’cap Chase (3m ½f)
00.40 – 1.10am Cheltenham Festival Evening Highlights
Wednesday 17 March
8.30 – 9.30am Festival Morning Line
1.00 – 4.30pm Cheltenham Festival
Race Details:
2.00 Royal & Sunalliance Novices’ Hurdle (2m 5f)
2.35 Royal & Sunalliance Chase (3m ½f)
3.20 Queen Mother Champion Chase (2m)
4.00 Coral Cup (H’cap Hurdle) (2m 5f)
00.45 – 1.15am Cheltenham Festival Evening Highlights
Thursday 18 March
8.30 – 9.30am Festival Morning Line
1.00 – 4.30pm Cheltenham Festival
Race Details: 2.00 JCB Triumph Hurdle (2m 1f)
2.35 Bonusprint.com Stayers’ Hurdle (3m)
3.15 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (3m 2½f)
4.00 Christie’s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup (3m 2½f)
7.40 – 7.55pm Cheltenham Gold Cup Highlights
1.10 – 1.40am Cheltenham Festival Evening Highlights
Press contact: Hannah Walker, Channel 4 on 01522 722811 or 07971 598287