Cheltenham Odds
How to Bet on the Cheltenham Festival
Held annually in mid-March at Prestbury Park, the Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of National Hunt racing.
This four-day event features 28 races and no less than 14 Grade 1 contests, including the iconic Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle.
Cheltenham is the biggest betting event of the year in the UK, with an estimated £1 billion wagered domestically across four days of the festival.
Whether you are a high roller or a small-stakes bettor, it’s vital to understand and monitor the Cheltenham odds in order to maximise your potential returns.
Future Betting
Futures betting, or ante-post betting, gives bettors an opportunity to bet on Cheltenham Festival races weeks or months in advance.
Top betting sites offer early Cheltenham odds, often with better value than race-day prices.
However, while a bettor can secure the top value Cheltenham Festival odds by wagering ante-post, prices can go the other way too, so there are no guarantees of getting the best of the number.
Some sportsbooks offer Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) in the months leading up to Cheltenham, refunding your stake if your horse doesn’t run.
Win
A win bet is backing a horse to finish first in a Cheltenham race. If it wins, you get a payout; any other result means you lose your stake.
Place
A place bet pays out if your horse finishes in one of a handful of positions, usually the top two or three, depending on the race and bookmaker. Look out for horse racing betting sites offering extra places at Cheltenham, particularly in large field races.
Each-Way
An each-way bet splits your stake between a win bet and a place bet. If your horse wins, both parts of the bet pay out; if it places, you get a return on the place portion, typically at 1/4 or 1/5 of the original Cheltenham odds.
Each way bets are popular for big-field races at Cheltenham, like the Coral Cup.
How to Read Cheltenham Odds
Cheltenham betting odds are displayed in three formats, with most horse racing betting sites allowing bettors to switch between them.
Common in the UK and Ireland, fractional odds (e.g., 5/1) show profit per unit staked. A £10 bet at 5/1 returns £50 profit plus your £10 stake (£60 total).
Three Tips for Betting on Cheltenham
- Study Form and Conditions: Check recent form, trainer and jockey stats, and how horses perform on similar ground (soft or good). Horses that have run at Cheltenham before and still have the right profile are worth keeping an eye on.
- Shop for the Best Odds: Cheltenham odds can vary drastically, depending on which bookie you prefer. Use Gambling.com’s horse racing odds comparison tools to find the best prices, especially for ante-post bets or each-way wagers. Small differences in Cheltenham odds can significantly boost returns.
- Leverage Promotions: Many betting sites offer Cheltenham-specific bonuses, such as enhanced odds, money-back specials, or extra place terms. Remember to read the terms and conditions of the offer before putting any money down.
Cheltenham Festival Facts
- First held in 1860, Cheltenham is one of the oldest and most prestigious racing festivals.
- Features 28 races, including 14 Grade 1 contests like the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle.
- Held at Cheltenham Racecourse, known for its challenging left-handed track and iconic hill.
- Draws over 250,000 spectators annually,
- Cheltenham offers the most prize money of any jumps festival worldwide with a combined total of over £4,590,000 on offer.
Cheltenham Festival Schedule
- Day 1 (Champion Day): Features the Champion Hurdle, a premier two-mile hurdle race, and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, a thrilling opener for emerging talent.
- Day 2 (Ladies Day): Headlined by the Queen Mother Champion Chase, a top steeplechase, and the Cross Country Chase, a unique test over varied terrain.
- Day 3 (St Patrick’s Thursday): Includes the Ryanair Chase, a high-class intermediate chase, and the Stayers’ Hurdle, a gruelling three-mile hurdle contest.
- Day 4 (Gold Cup Day): Showcases the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the festival’s flagship race, and the Triumph Hurdle, a key juvenile hurdle event.
Comparing Cheltenham Odds
For the best value, compare Cheltenham odds across trusted betting sites.
Whether you’re backing a favourite in the Champion Hurdle, an each-way pick in the Coral Cup, or an ante-post bet on the Gold Cup, Gambling.com's real-time odds comparison tools help secure top prices.
Regularly checking Cheltenham odds and following expert tips can improve your chances of identifying the potential winners and maximising your profit on any successful bets.
Stay tuned to Gambling.com for expert insights on the Cheltenham Festival.
