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 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 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.

Betway

First on our list is Betway. Betway is a great betting site for a vast number of reasons, including great payment options, various helpful customer support services, and a large number of sports betting markets. But the site is particularly great for betting on Cheltenham Festival because of the range of betting options available, which allow users to bet on a huge number of outcomes in a range of ways, including each-way bets, forecast, tricast, and in-play, which means users can place wagers while a race is underway.

Betway is also top of our list of the best bookmakers offering free bets for Cheltenham Festival! Head over to our page here to find out more.

bet365

The first bookmaker on our list is a household name in the UK, so it’s likely no surprise that it is one of the best online betting sites for betting on The Cheltenham Festival. bet365 is great for betting on Cheltenham or any other sports market for a host of reasons, starting with the top-notch competitive odds that put most other online bookmakers to shame. In addition to this, bet365 is known for offering a range of promotions for top sporting events, including the Cheltenham Festival, which are available to new and existing customers alike. 

Copybet

Copybet holds the third spot among the top 5 online bookmakers for betting on the Cheltenham Festival. However, this isn’t the only market Copybet stands out in; the site is also great for the Premier League, American Football, and Greyhound Racing. But why is it so great for users who want to place a bet on Cheltenham? This is for a number of reasons, but most notable is the great bonuses and promotions it offers for the event. At the site, users can typically find free bets, cashback, and bonus funds for the Cheltenham Festival.

Spreadex

Up next, we have Spreadex, which is also a great site for not only users who want to place a bet on Cheltenham but also various other sports betting markets, including football, NBA, Virtual Sports, NBA, Tennis, and more. However, one feature offered at the Spreadex site which makes it stand out as a top site for betting on Cheltenham Festival is the Bet AI feature. This AI feature will help bettors make more educated bets as they can obtain more information about odds, stats, promotions, predictions, tips, and more.

William Hill

Last but certainly not least is William Hill. This site offers a wide range of betting markets and options to players, including the Cheltenham Festival. Within these markets, users can find various ways to bet, top competitive odds, and many generous promotions. These are just a few of the reasons why William Hill is so great for betting on Cheltenham. Another great reason is the Lucky Dip feature, which will offer players a random selection of bets on their chosen market. The odds offered as a part of the Lucky Dip are top-notch.

Not only that, William Hill is a great place to go if you like Cheltenham Live Streaming! You can take advantage of betting live as the races unfold at William Hill.

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:

• 1:20 - Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

• 2:00 - My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

• 2:40 - Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

• 3:20 - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

• 4:00 - Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

• 4:40 - Boodles Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

• 5:20 - National Hunt Chase (Grade 2)

Wednesday:

• 1:20 - Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

• 2:00 - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

• 2:40 - Coral Cup (Grade 3)

• 3:20 - Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Listed)

• 4:00 - Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

• 4:40 - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

• 5:20 - Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

Thursday:

• 1:20 - Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

• 2:00 - Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase (Grade 2)

• 2:40 - Pertemps Final (Grade 3)

• 3:20 - Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)

• 4:00 - Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

• 4:40 - TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

• 5:20 - JRL Kim Muir Challenge Cup (Listed)

Friday:

• 1:20 - JBC Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

• 2:00 - BetMGM County Hurdle (Grade 3)

• 2:40 - Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)

• 3:20 - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

• 4:00 - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)

• 4:40 - St James’s Place Hunter Class (Listed)

• 5:20 - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

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/