How to Bet on Cheltenham Festival: Guide from our Experts

Understanding the Basics of Cheltenham Festival

As we mentioned above, the Cheltenham Festival has become one of the most popular sporting events to bet on in the UK. However, we did not mention that the ways in which users can bet on this event differ from those of other sporting and horse racing events. The way in which betting options differ between Cheltenham and other racing events is that there tend to be many more options; this is because the Cheltenham Festival, alongside The Grand National, is the most bet-on event in the horse racing calendar.

Popular Cheltenham Festival betting options:

• Win-Bet: This is when you wager on which horse you think will win. This is the most simple type of bet.

• Place Bet: Users wager on which horse they believe will place in the race. This can be 2nd, 3rd, and sometimes 4th, depending on the bookmaker.

• Each-Way Bet: A combination of a win and a place bet as a part of this bet, you will get paid out if your chosen horse places or wins. If the horse places, you will get paid for the place bet; if it wins, you get paid out from the place and win the bet.

• Exotic Bets: These are more complicated as they involve predicting the outcome of more than one horse - examples are listed below:

  • Exacta: Pick the first-place and second-place horse in the correct order.

  • Trifecta: Choosing which horses will come 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the right order.

  • Superfecta: Picking the horses which will place in the top 4 in order.

  • Quinella: Selecting the 1st place and 2nd place horse in any order.

• Ante-Post: This is a wager that is placed way in advance of an event taking place.

How To Bet on Cheltenham

If you are interested in betting on the Cheltenham Festival, it is important to understand the ways to bet that are available to you. As such, we have listed the different ways in which you can place wagers on this event.

Online Betting

Placing wagers at online betting sites is easily the most popular way to place wagers on sporting events, including Cheltenham. This is for a huge host of reasons. Advantages of betting online include having access to a range of betting options; for example, the Cheltenham Festival alone has over 10 ways to wager. In addition to this, online sportsbooks offer a range of promotions as well as most of the sports betting markets you could possibly want, and often better odds. Signing up for one of these sites is easy; just follow the steps below:

1. Find a site that appeals to you; we have various top sites listed later in this guide.

2. Head to the site and click Sign Up (or a similar variation).

3. Create your account, ensuring you fill out all required fields correctly.

4. Verify your details, then make a deposit. 

5. Head to the horse racing section, then to Cheltenham Festival. Place your wager.

Betting Apps

Often considered the most convenient way to wager on the Cheltenham Festival, or any sporting event for that matter, betting apps have become a widely popular way of betting. To get started at a betting app, you must first sign up to an online betting site (detailed above). Then head to the app store on your device, search for it, and then download it. Once downloaded, log in and head to the horse racing section, then to Cheltenham Festival and deposit and place your bet.

Betting apps have many advantages. Some of these include the fact that users can bet whenever and wherever they wish, provided they are connected to the internet. In addition, betting apps tend to have additional features and promotions.

In-Person Betting

The final way users can bet on the Cheltenham Festival is via high-street bookmakers or bookmaker stands at the festival. This is commonly referred to as in-person betting. To bet at these locations, simply approach your chosen bookmaker. If you are at a high-street bookmaker, you will need to say you want to bet on the Cheltenham Festival. 

Now tell the bookmaker the race you want to bet on, the horse you have chosen, and what type of bet you want to place (e.g. win bet or each-way bet), and then hand them your bet amount. The bookmaker will then give you a ticket. If your wager is successful, simply head back to Bookie, and they will give you your winnings.

Best Online Bookmakers for Cheltenham Betting

There are many online horse racing bookmakers offering betting options for the Cheltenham Festival. To help bettors pick the best site, we have listed our favourite sites and explained what makes them great for betting on Cheltenham.

Bet365

bet365 is one of the world's favourite bookies, and you know it's got a stellar experience lined up for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. With the racing value, high-quality live streaming application, and top-of-the-range mobile options, few betting sites match bet365's standard. 

💰 The Welcome Offer Explained

You can claim up to £30 in free bets when you make your first deposit at bet365. Sign up and make your first deposit using an approved payment, and place your first bet between £5 and £10. bet365 will then give you three free bets at the same value as your qualifying wager, up to a maximum of £30.

🐎 Cheltenham-Specific Strengths

Any horse racing fan will be in heaven playing at bet365. As a standard, you'll receive the bet365 Racing Value as well as Best Odds Guaranteed for any race aired on ITV. You'll also find extra places and insurance bets in the run-up to the festival, so be sure to keep an eye out. And when the day hits, you can watch your favourite races on the bet365 website, which streams in HD even at peak times. 

📲 Platform & App Experience

The bet365 website has always been user-friendly and a dream to navigate. And this carries over to the high-quality mobile app, which perfectly adapts the UI to a smaller screen. 

💁‍♀️ Existing Customer Value

The racing value, best odds guaranteed, and other Cheltenham-specific deals can be enjoyed by all players, regardless of how old your account is. Log back in if it's been a while and see what's waiting for you. 

🤔 Our Verdict

It isn't hard to see why bet365 has stayed at the top of the industry for so long, and it's promising one hell of an experience for this year's Cheltenham Festival. Make sure to log in and make full use of the excellent promotions and live streaming. 

✅ Why We Recommend It

• High-quality live streaming

• Racing Value is premium support for horse racing fans

• Reliable and trustworthy betting site

• Competitive odds and early Cheltenham prices

📋 Pros and Cons

Betfred

Betfred is back with its excellent selection of promotional offers and has so much to offer for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. You'll find exclusive deals all week, competitive odds on all races, and live streaming available for the festival. 

💰 The Welcome Offer Explained

Betfred's offering £40 in free bets when you wager just £10 on a brand new account. First, you need to sign up and deposit using a debit card or bank transfer. Then you make your qualifying bet of at least £10 at even odds or greater, and do it in a single wager. Once that wager has settled, you can claim your free bets to use across the site, including on festival races!

🐎 Cheltenham-Specific Strengths

Betfred isn't just offering a generous sign-up offer, but anyone who logs in during the Festival can benefit from odds boosts, best odds guaranteed, non-runner no bet, extra places and more. And don't forget, if you log in on the day, you can watch all of the races live from your computer or mobile device. 

📲 Platform & App Experience

Betfred has undergone a transformation in the last couple of years, and it's now a super modern, attractive sportsbook! And it all translates perfectly to the mobile app, which you can download on iOS or Android devices. 

💁‍♀️ Existing Customer Value

Of course, all the Cheltenham racing offers will be available to all existing customers, so you can bet in style all week long. If it's been a while, log back in and make the most of what's available. 

🤔 Our Verdict

Betfred's a solid and well-trusted online sportsbook and has a plethora of incredible deals and features to keep you sated throughout the Cheltenham Festival. You can use it from home or on the go, and it'll have your back even during peak traffic times.

✅ Why We Recommend It

• Reliable live streaming options

• Competitive odds

• Incredible offer line-up

• Top-tier mobile experience

📋 Pros and Cons

Jeffbet

Jeffbet's a more recent addition to the world of UK sportsbooks, but it proves to be one of the best choices for beginner gamblers you can find. It has a simple UI, competitive odds and a host of safe payment options.

💰 The Welcome Offer Explained

Jeffbet is offering new players a £30 free bet when they sign up and wager at least £10. You just need to deposit with an accepted payment option and wager a total of £10 within 7 days of registration. Once you've met the threshold, you can claim your bonus, which is a single £30 free bet, which can be used anywhere on the sportsbook. 

🐎 Cheltenham-Specific Strengths

Jeffbet is offering early prices in the lead-up to Cheltenham, as well as competitive odds throughout the festival. The icing on top is that Jeffbet is offering exclusive Cheltenham deals every single day of the festival, including a completely free bet on Friday, just for logging in! And make sure to log in during the races to watch them live via the Jeffbet sportsbook. 

📲 Platform & App Experience

Jeffbet's user interface is super simple to navigate, and making your favourite bets is a cinch! You have fewer options for horse racing, but that also streamlines the betting experience. Unfortunately, Jeffbet doesn't offer a dedicated mobile app, but the website works perfectly in a mobile browser for easy, on-the-go betting. Not only that, Jeffbet is a great place to go if you like Cheltenham Live Streaming!

💁‍♀️ Existing Customer Value

And don't worry, if you've already got an account with Jeffbet, you can hop on and enjoy all the Cheltenham exclusives like any other player. There are great odds, generous offers and live streaming to enjoy. 

🤔 Our Verdict

While in some ways Jeffbet shows its lack of experience, that doesn't hamper the overall quality of this site. There's something to be said about a site that anyone can hop onto — regardless of experience — and have bets made confidently in minutes. We're sure that no matter who you are, Jeffbet will offer a reliable and fun betting experience over the Cheltenham Festival. 

✅ Why We Recommend It

• Reliable live streaming

• Simple betting interface

• Excellent Cheltenham Festival deals

• Many payment options are available

📋 Pros and Cons

Betfair

Betfair's been a top-tier choice for years thanks to its betting exchange, but the dedicated sportsbook also has so much to offer. Generous deals, competitive odds, a wide range of betting options and live streaming are just some of the features available if you choose to bet here during the Cheltenham Festival. 

💰 The Welcome Offer Explained

Sign up with Betfair today, and you can claim £30 in free bets for wagering only £10! Just register, deposit using a debit card, and make your qualifying wager at even odds or greater within 7 days. Once the bet has settled, you can claim your free bets, which can be used freely across the sportsbook. 

🐎 Cheltenham-Specific Strengths

Betfair's already got its early prices listed, and the site's promising extra places, NRNB and, of course, competitive odds. The site does well with heavy traffic, too, so you can bet live and catch the race streams throughout the week without worrying about lag. 

📲 Platform & App Experience

Betfair has a fantastic website that makes it simple to place bets, including the bigger multibets we love across racing festivals. And if you prefer the mobile experience, the Betfair app translates the website perfectly, so you can take your bets on the go. This can also help bettors make more educated bets as they can obtain more information about odds, stats, promotions, Cheltenham Festival predictions, tips, and more.

💁‍♀️ Existing Customer Value

None of the excellent Cheltenham features are gatekept to new players, so existing customers have a bounty of betting excellence awaiting them when they log back into their old accounts. Make sure to log in and make use of the exclusive deals!

🤔 Our Verdict

Betfair's always been a top pick. The sportsbook has excellent support for horse racing events, and if you can't find a bet you want on the sportsbook, the exchange is always waiting for you. With its fantastic live streaming, live betting systems and reliable foundation, Betfair will provide a seamless experience across this Cheltenham Festival. 

✅ Why We Recommend It

• Competitive odds

• Fantastic Cheltenham deals

• Reliable live streaming application

• Mobile app

📋 Pros and Cons

Paddy Power

Paddy Power is an excellent choice for betting on this year's Cheltenham Festival. The default Cheltenham tab makes finding Cheltenham bets easy, and there are plenty of betting options to choose from. From deposit to cashout, making racing bets at Netbet couldn't be easier. 

💰 The Welcome Offer Explained

When you sign up for Netbet, you can claim £60 in free bets when you register a new account! You just need to make a £10 wager at even odds or greater within 7 days of signing up, and you'll receive six £10 bonus vouchers once the bet settles. 

🐎 Cheltenham-Specific Strengths

You won't have any issues making bets at Paddy Power. Just add your selections to your betting slip, and if you want to combine them into a multi-bet, just switch tabs and link your chosen wagers. And don't forget to take advantage of Paddy Power's Cheltenham offers, like extra places and NRNB.

📲 Platform & App Experience

Paddy Power is a robust site that withstands high traffic and keeps working well no matter when you log in. And if you want to take your gambling on the go, you can download the NetBet app for a seamless mobile betting experience. 

💁‍♀️ Existing Customer Value

Everything on offer during the Cheltenham Festival will be available to new and existing customers alike. The simple UI, extra places, insurance offers, and more are all waiting for you if you haven't logged in for a while. 

🤔 Our Verdict

NetBet is a fantastic choice for those complicated multi-bets, taking the system and simplifying it to just a few clicks. Customers can take advantage of competitive odds, an intuitive betting system, and even live streams to keep up with races as they happen. Sign up today and check it out for yourself. 

✅ Why We Recommend It

• Intuitive Sportsbook website

• Competitive racing odds

• Mobile accessible

• Plenty of payment options

📋 Pros and Cons

How to Find the Best Cheltenham Betting Odds

Locating the best odds for betting at Cheltenham Festival or online can be long and time-consuming, but it is vital to make sure you get the most out of your bet. Finding the best Cheltenham odds involves comparing a vast range of sports betting sites and comparing what they have on offer. At the very least, we recommend comparing the top 5 sports betting sites in the UK (the bookmakers listed above); remember to specifically look for the odds on the bet(s) you want to place. Also, note that there is nothing stopping you from signing up for more than one bookie or heading to more than one stand. For additional help and information, you can also use odds comparison tools or check out articles dedicated to Cheltenham betting odds.

Cheltenham Festival 2025 Race Schedule

Below, we have detailed the schedule for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival; it is important to understand this schedule to get the most enjoyment out of your betting experience and to make more informed bets.

Tuesday 10th March 2026

1️⃣ Race 1: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

• Start Time: 13:20

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 2m 87y

2️⃣ Race 2: The Singer Arkle Novices’ Chase

• Start Time: 14:00

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 1m 7f 199y

3️⃣ Race 3: The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

• Start Time: 14:40

• Class: Premier Handicap

• Distance: 2m 87y

4️⃣ Race 4: The Ultima Handicap Chase

• Start Time: 15:20

• Class: Premier Handicap

• Distance: 3m 1f

🌟 Feature Race: Unibet Champion Hurdle

• Start Time: 16:00

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 2m 87y

6️⃣ Race 6: The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase

• Start Time: 16:40

• Class: Premier Handicap

• Distance: 2m 4f 44y

7️⃣ Race 7: The Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase

• Start Time: 17:20

• Class: NA

• Distance: 3m 5f

Wednesday 11th March 2026 - Day 2 (Cheltenham Ladies Day)

1️⃣ Race 1: The Turners Novices’ Hurdle

• Start Time: 13:20

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 2m 5f

2️⃣ Race 2: The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

• Start Time: 14:00

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 3m 80y

3️⃣ Race 3: The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

• Start Time: 14:40

• Class: Premier Handicap

• Distance: 2m 5f

4️⃣ Race 4: The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase

• Start Time: 15:20

• Class: NA

• Distance: 3m 6f 37y

🌟 Feature Race: The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase

• Start Time: 16:00

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 1m 7f 199y

6️⃣ Race 6: The Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase

• Start Time: 16:40

• Class: Premier Handicap

• Distance: 1m 7f 199y

7️⃣ Race 7: Weatherbys Champion Bumper

• Start Time: 17:20

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 2m 87y

Thursday 12th March 2026 - Day 3 (Cheltenham St. Patrick’s Thursday)

1️⃣ Race 1: The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

• Start Time: 13:20

• Class: Grade 2

• Distance: 2m 179y

2️⃣ Race 2: The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase

• Start Time: 14:00

• Class: Grade 2

• Distance: 2m 4f 127y

3️⃣ Race 3: The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

• Start Time: 14:40

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 2m 4f 56y

🌟 Feature Race: The Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle

• Start Time: 15:20

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 2m 7f 213y

🌟 Feature Race: The Ryanair Chase

• Start Time: 16:00

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 2m 4f 127y

6️⃣ Race 6: The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle

• Start Time: 16:40

• Class: Premier Handicap

• Distance: 2m 7f 113y

7️⃣ Race 7: The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase

• Start Time: 17:20

• Class: NA

• Distance: 3m 2f

Friday 13th March 2026 - Day 4 (Cheltenham Gold Cup Day)

1️⃣ Race 1: The JCB Triumph Hurdle

• Start Time: 13:20

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 2m 179y

2️⃣ Race 2: The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle

• Start Time: 14:00

• Class: Premier Handicap

• Distance: 2m 179y

3️⃣ Race 3: The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase

• Start Time: 14:40

• Class: Grade 2

• Distance: 2m 4f 127y

4️⃣ Race 4: The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

• Start Time: 15:20

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 2m 7f 213y

🌟 Feature Race: The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup

• Start Time: 16:00

• Class: Grade 1

• Distance: 3m 2f 70y

6️⃣ Race 6: The Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase

• Start Time: 16:40

• Class: NA

• Distance: 3m 2f 70y

7️⃣ Race 7: The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

• Start Time: 17:20

• Class: NA

• Distance: 2m 4f 56y

Key Races to Bet On

Across the four days of the Cheltenham Festival, seven races take place per day. Each day, there is a standout race that is both watched and bet on by most horse racing fans. Below, we have listed the key races.

Champion Hurdle: Day 1

During the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, horse racing lovers can watch and bet on the Champion Hurdle race. This is one of the most prestigious hurdle races, first run in 1927. It is 2 miles and 87 yards long.

Queen Mother Champion Chase: Day 2

Since being established in 1959 as the National Hunut Two-Mile Champion Chase, it has become widely popular. This race is for horses aged 5 and up and is run over 1m, 7f, and 199 yards. 

Stayers’ Hurdle: Day 3

As the most prestigious long-distance hurdle race, it's no surprise that the Stayers’ Hurdle is the most popular race on day 3. The race is 2m, 7f, and 213y long and can have up to 30 horses weighed at 11st 10lb racing.

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Day 4

Easily the most popular race at the Cheltenham Festival, the Gold Cup has a long and interesting history since its first running in 1819. The race is run over 3 miles; previous winners include Galopin Des Champs, A Plus Tard, Minella Indo, and Al Boum Photo.

Cheltenham Betting Strategies

If you are planning to place a bet on Cheltenham, we recommend using the following tips and strategies. These should help you make more informed and, hopefully, more successful bets.

Tip 1: Study Form 🏇

The first tip is to research the horse’s, trainer’s, and jockey’s performance and recent results. This should give you an accurate picture of which horse in the race will be successful. You should do this for every horse and jockey competing in your chosen race. Information users should take into account are injuries, wins, and losses, as well as the factors that contribute to these outcomes (track type, weather conditions, other horses, etc.).

Tip 2: Check the Weather 🌦️

Surprisingly, the weather doesn’t only affect the mood of your race day; it will also affect the outcome of your chosen race. The weather will have a large impact on the track conditions as well as a horse’s performance. For example, hot weather will dry out the track and can often cause horses not used to the weather to tire more easily. On the other hand, cold and wet conditions will soak the track, which can cause injuries and adverse effects on horses that are not trained in this weather. 

Tip 3: Watch for Market Movers 📈

During any racing or sporting event the odds will change regularly to best reflect the most likely outcome of the event; as such, it is important to keep an eye on these. Although odds will not give you the answer, especially as horse racing is so unpredictable, it can give you an idea as to whether your bet is probable. 

Tip 4: Set a Budget 💰

Now that you have discovered how to bet on Cheltenham races, it is important that you stay in control of your gambling habits. One of the best ways to do this is to set yourself a budget for every race and/or festival; this will help you ensure that you are only spending what you can. It is vital to always gamble responsibly; more details can be found later in this article.

Tip 5: Follow Expert Tips 💡

If you are a bettor who is not particularly interested in doing a vast amount of research before placing bets, then we recommend making the most of tipsters. Tipsters are experts in the industry who make recommendations based on accurate and carefully sourced information. Available sources in which you can find Cheltenham Festival tips include racing pundits, newspapers, and online analyses. 

Responsible Gambling

Betting at Cheltenham or betting online for the Cheltenham Festival can be fun and exciting, but it is vital that users keep track of their gambling habits. As such, we recommend that users set themselves a budget for this event or any event for that matter. Other ways to control gambling habits can include time outs, deposit limits, and self-exclusions; all of these can be enforced personally or at online bookmakers. For more immediate help, users should contact responsible gambling bodies, including the following:

• National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133

• GamCare: https://www.gamcare.org.uk

• GambleAware:https://gambleaware.org/