Entry, scratchings and weights dates for Cheltenham and Aintree
The Cheltenham Festival in 2026 – entry, scratchings and weights dates
The Cheltenham Festival takes place between Tuesday 10th March and Friday 13th March in 2026
Tuesday 6th January
Entries – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, Ryanair Chase
Tuesday 13th January
Entries – Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, Unibet Champion Hurdle
Tuesday 20th January
Entries – Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, Arkle Novices’ Chase, Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, JCB Triumph Hurdle, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Turners Novices' Hurdle
Tuesday 3rd February
Scratchings Deadline – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, Ryanair Chase
Tuesday 10th February
Entries - Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase, Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle
Scratchings Deadline – Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, Arkle Novices' Chase, Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, JCB Triumph Hurdle, Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Unibet Champion Hurdle, Turners Novices' Hurdle
Tuesday 17th February
Entries – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Glenfarclas Cross Country Limited Handicap Chase, Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, Princess Royal National Hunt Novices' Handicap Chase, Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase, Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase, Ultima Handicap Chase, William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
Tuesday 24th February
Entries – Festival Hunters' Chase, Weatherbys Champion Bumper,
Weights – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Glenfarclas Cross Country Limited Handicap Chase, Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, Princess Royal National Hunt Novices' Handicap Chase, Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase, Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase, Ultima Handicap Chase, William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
The Randox Grand National in 2026 – entry, scratchings and weights dates
The Randox Grand National Festival takes place at Aintree Racecourse between Thursday 9th April and Saturday 11th April in 2026
Tuesday 3rd February
Entries – Randox Grand National
Tuesday 17th February
Weights - Randox Grand National
Tuesday 3rd March
First scratchings deadline - Randox Grand National
Tuesday 17th March
Entries – Randox Foxhunters Chase
Tuesday 24th March
Entries – Randox Topham Handicap Chase
Second scratchings deadline - Randox Grand National
Tuesday 31st March
Weights – Randox Topham Handicap Chase