The Coral Cup, which is run at the Cheltenham Festival, will be no longer – as the leading bookmaker have announced they will be ending their long-standing sponsorship at the meeting.
Coral End 74-Year Cheltenham Festival Sponsorship – Blaming Betting Tax Hikes
Entain UK consumer PR director Simon Clare has stated the company has had to make “very difficult decisions” already this year – due to the betting increases implemented back in November.
With Clare saying “It is with some sadness that we are today announcing that Coral will not be continuing with its sponsorship of the Coral Cup.
“Coral has been the longest-running sponsor at the Cheltenham Festival since 1974, but the sheer size of the government’s recent tax increase on betting operators means we are having to take very difficult decisions as we look to mitigate some of the huge impact, none more difficult or regrettable then bringing our sponsorship at Cheltenham to an end.”
At the end of 2025, chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves revealed that gaming duty for online casino-style products would go up to 40% (from 21%) – with the rise coming into play on April 1st.
With remote betting duty on sports (not horse racing) would be hiked up 25% (from 15%) – from 1st April 2027.
This has led to many top UK bookmakers reviewing costs and having to cut expenditure in certain areas – with sponsorship one of those sections coming under the spotlight.
Which is why Coral have decided to end their 74-year run of sponsoring the CORAL CUP at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Breaking: Coral are ending their sponsorship of the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival with immediate effect, blaming tax rises announced in last year’s budget. pic.twitter.com/DXAtXZfi6m
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 28, 2026
Other Big Coral-Sponsored Races Are Safe (For Now)
The Coral Cup had been the longest-running sponsored race at the meeting and was always run on the Wednesday (day two) of the Cheltenham Festival.
With the race being famously won for the last two seasons by the Dan Skelton-trained Langer Dan (watch below), who sadly died earlier this month aged 10.
At this stage, it’s not known who will take over the sponsorship reins of the Coral Cup – but Cheltenham will have to act fast with the race set to be run on Wednesday 11th March.
In 2025, the Coral Cup carried a first prize of £56,270 to the winner and was worth over £95k in total.
Coral also famously sponsor the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (run in December) and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown (run in July).
While Entain have Ladbrokes under their banner too, who are the current backers of the King George VI Stakes at Kempton on Boxing Day.
But it’s thought these races are not impacted by these Coral sponsorship cuts.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Dates, Schedule, Times and TV 🗓️
See below the full Cheltenham Festival 2026 running order – including race names and times.
With most of the action also set to be shown LIVE on the ITV Racing schedule.
Tuesday 10th March 2026
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:00pm | Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:40pm | Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 3:20pm | Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | 3m 1f | ITV / RTV |
| 4:00pm | Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 4:40pm | TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | 2m 4f | ITV / RTV |
| 5:20pm | National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Handicap) (Class 2) | 3m 6f | RTV |
Wednesday 11th March 2026
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 5f | ITV / RTV |
| 2:00pm | Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 3m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:40pm | TBC Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m 5f | ITV / RTV |
| 3:20pm | Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (A Limited Handicap) (Class 2) | 3m 6f | ITV / RTV |
| 4:00pm | BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 4:40pm | Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (Premier Handicap) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 5:20pm | Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) | 2m | RTV |
Thursday 12th March 2026
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:00pm | Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) | 2m 4f | ITV / RTV |
| 2:40pm | Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 4f | ITV / RTV |
| 3:20pm | Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) | 2m 4f | ITV / RTV |
| 4:00pm | Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | ITV / RTV |
| 4:40pm | Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m 7f | ITV / RTV |
| 5:20pm | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Class 2) | 3m 2f | RTV |
Friday 13th March 2026
| Time |
Race Name & Class |
Distance |
TV |
| 1:20pm | JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:00pm | County Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m | ITV / RTV |
| 2:40pm | Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4f | ITV / RTV |
| 3:20pm | Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | ITV / RTV |
| 4:00pm | Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) | 3m 2f | ITV / RTV |
| 4:40pm | St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase (Class 2) | 3m 2f | ITV / RTV |
| 5:20pm | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) | 2m 4f | RTV |
