Big shake-up to ITV’s Cheltenham Festival coverage with hugely popular presenter missing from screens
FRANCESCA CUMANI will be missing from this year’s ITV Cheltenham Festival coverage.
The hugely popular presenter is still on maternity leave after welcoming son Teddy with triathlete partner Max Johnson last June.
PACumani has been a mainstay of ITV’s Cheltenham coverage but she will be missing this year[/caption]
Stewart Williams – The SunNicholls will feature prominently in ITV’s Cheltenham coverage[/caption]
Little Teddy is Francesca’s second child – she is already mother to son Harry from a previous marriage.
Francesca will return to ITV coverage in April, possibly in time for the Grand National at Aintree.
Until then Meg Nicholls, daughter of 13-time champion trainer Paul, will be among the regular faces welcomed back onto terrestrial TV.
Alice Plunkett will guide viewers through the activity in the parade ring and Sally Ann Grassick will resume her reporting role in the middle of the track.
Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday, March 14 and ITV will show five races live on each of the four days.
Coverage will kick off on the main channel at 1pm and finish at 4.30-pm.
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Apart from Champion Chase day on Wednesday, when the first hour, including the Ballymore race, will be shown on ITV4.
The Opening Show (8.30-10am) has been boosted to an hour and a half and will be shown on ITV4 on the morning of each raceday.
Former jockey Meg, who dates top Flat rider Kevin Stott, will be among the star-studded panel of pundits.
Main anchor Ed Chamberlin will be joined by 20-time champion AP McCoy while Cheltenham’s winningmost jockey Ruby Walsh will provide his forthright views and analysis.
All the details on Cheltenham Festival 2023 from tickets to cost of a pint
Former Love Island star and racing fanatic Chris Hughes will be on hand to chat to punters.
While Sun Racing’s own Matt Chapman will bring you the first interviews with jockeys and trainers.
Good Morning Britain’s Charlotte Hawkins will join the team alongside Lorraine’s Mark Heyes to check out the fashion and going-ons in the crowd.
ITV’s Cheltenham Festival coverage
Tuesday March 14
1.30: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle ITV1
2.10: Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase ITV1
2.50: Ultima Handicap Chase ITV1
3.30: Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy ITV1
4.10: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle ITV1
Wednesday March 15
1.30: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle ITV4
2.10: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase ITV1
2.50: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle ITV1
3.30: Queen Mother Champion Chase ITV1
4.10: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase ITV1
Thursday March 16
1.30: Turners Novices’ Chase ITV1
2.10: Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle ITV1
2.50: Ryanair Chase ITV1
3.30: Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle ITV1
4.10: Plate Handicap Chase ITV1
Friday March 17
1.30: JCB Triumph Hurdle ITV1
2.10: McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle ITV1
2.50: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle ITV1
3.30: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase ITV1
4.10: St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase ITV1
talkSPORT coverage
talkSPORT- Races live on Hawksbee and Jacobs 1-4pm daily
talkSPORT 2 – Daily preview shows from 10am (apart from Tuesday) and then extensive live coverage every afternoon from Tuesday-Friday.
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