ITV Racing to show Grand National, Derby and Cheltenham Festival live in 2017

Ed Chamberlin is ITV's main racing presenter. Credit: ITV

ITV will show 41 days of horse racing coverage live on its main channel, beginning on New Year's Day 2017 at Cheltenham.

The 41 days of exclusive coverage includes racing's most celebrated events: the Grand National, The Epsom Derby, all the major festivals including Cheltenham and Royal Ascot, the Five Classics, plus other highlights of the racing calendar such as Future Champions Day at Newmarket and Champions Day at Ascot.

In addition, ITV4's racing coverage will see a re-introduction of free-to-air broadcasts of the Craven Meeting at Newmarket in April. ITV will show two days including the Nell Gwyn and Craven Stakes, key trials for the 1000 and 2000 Guineas.

ITV’s overall racing coverage, produced by ITV Sport, will encompass live broadcasts of almost 100 days of racing each year, in addition to a magazine preview programme broadcast each Saturday morning on ITV4.

Ed Chamberlin is the main presenter, bringing a lifelong passion for racing to the job as well as his considerable broadcasting experience. Ed's co-presenter for the Flat season will be Francesca Cumani, with the dynamic Matt Chapman as betting presenter and reporter.

Oli Bell will present the morning magazine show, with Richard Hoiles as lead commentator, alongside Mark Johnson.

Experts along for the ride include legendary jockey AP McCoy, plus Hayley Turner, Mick Fitzgerald, Jason Weaver, Luke Harvey, Brian Gleeson and Brough Scott.

The unique figure of Frankie Dettori will also appear and Victoria Pendleton will bring her special perspective to the channel’s coverage.

Rishi Persad, Sally-Ann Grassick and Alice Plunkett all have reporting roles, while Lucy Verasamy will provide reports on one of the key elements of any race meeting – the weather.

Former top jockey Hayley Turner is part of ITV Racing's brand new team. Credit: ITV
ITV weather expert Lucy Verasamy with ITV Racing reporter Matt Chapman. Credit: ITV

Race meetings to be shown live on ITV (main channel) in 2017:

January

Sun 1 - Cheltenham and Musselburgh

March

Tue 14 - Cheltenham Festival

Wed 15 - Cheltenham Festival

Thu 16 - Cheltenham Festival

Fri 17 - Cheltenham Festival

April

Thu 6 - Aintree Grand National Meeting

Fri 7 - Aintree Grand National Meeting

Sat 8 - Aintree Grand National Meeting

Sat 22 - Ayr & Newbury (Scottish Grand National)

Sat 29 - Sandown and Haydock (jumps finale)

May

Sat 6 - Newmarket and Goodwood (2,000 Guineas)

Sun 7 - Newmarket and Hamilton (1,000 Guineas)

Sat 20 - Newbury and Newmarket (Lockinge)

June

Fri 2 - Epsom Derby Meeting

Sat 3 - Epsom Derby Meeting

Tue 20 - Royal Ascot

Wed 21 - Royal Ascot

Thu 22 - Royal Ascot

Fri 23 - Royal Ascot

Sat 24 - Royal Ascot

July

Sat 1 - Newcastle and Newmarket (Northumberland Plate)

Sat 8 - Sandown and Haydock (Eclipse)

Sat 15 - ‘Super Saturday’ (Newmarket, Ascot, York)

Sat 29 - Ascot and York (King George)

August

Tue 1 - Glorious Goodwood

Wed 2 - Glorious Goodwood

Thu 3 - Glorious Goodwood

Fri 4 - Glorious Goodwood

Sat 5 - Glorious Goodwood

Wed 23 - York Ebor

Thu 24 - York Ebor

Fri 25 - York Ebor

Sat 26 - York Ebor

September

Sat 9 - Haydock, Ascot and Kempton (Sprint Cup)

Sat 16 - Doncaster and Chester (St Leger)

October

Sat 14 - Newmarket and York (Dewhurst)

Sat 21 - Ascot (British Champions Day)

November

Sat 18 - Cheltenham and Lingfield (Open Meeting, Middle Day)

Sat 25 - Haydock and Ascot (Betfair Chase)

December

Sat 2 - Newbury & Newcastle (Hennessy/Fighting Fifth)

Tue 26 - Kempton and Wetherby (King George)

ITV Racing is the new home of horse racing. Credit: ITV

The deal further enhances ITV’s portfolio of world-class sports rights, which includes the Tour de France, 6 Nations Rugby, French Open tennis and exclusive live coverage of the England football team’s qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup.