Cheltenham Festival 2026 free bets: Best betting offers and tips TODAY

Mar 10, 2026 - 09:00

A definitive list of the best Cheltenham free bets has been put together by talkSPORT’s team of horse racing experts.

Decades of industry experience are brought to our Festival coverage by lead writers Joe Norris and Nick Seddon.

Because every race is analyzed inside and out by our editorial crew, we know exactly what makes a genuinely valuable promotion.

Hundreds of bookmaker bonuses are rigorously tested by us to filter out the noise.

Only the most lucrative, trustworthy offers are hand-picked by our experts.

This ensures your betting bankroll and potential returns are maximized during the biggest week in jump racing.

We also cover Day 1 Cheltenham tips and ante-post betting odds to help you make informed decisions throughout the Festival.

Best Cheltenham Festival free bets in 2026

Almost all of the Cheltenham betting sites offer free bets, and they are quite similar, but here I will point out the sites that offer the biggest amount and the best free bet offers. The only criterion is the biggest and best free bet you can claim.

Cheltenham is widely regarded as the most prestigious meeting in the National Hunt calendar, with world‑class horses, jockeys and trainers competing over four days in March.

The event features 28 races and includes championship contests such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, which are among the most coveted prizes in jump racing.

For punters, the Cheltenham Festival represents the biggest opportunity of the year to capitalise on free bets, generous offers and rewards from UK bookmakers.

Across the four days, many operators launch their best Cheltenham free bet offers and racing promotions to attract new and even existing customers who might not have tried their hand at betting on the horses yet. These promotions often combine enhanced odds, bonus credits and special rewards that add real value to a betting account when wagering on key races throughout the festival.

1. Tote Cheltenham offer

Offer type: New customer free bet welcome bonus
Offer value: Bet £10, receive £20 Tote Credit + £10 Free Sports Bet
Min odds: Evens (2.0) or greater on qualifying bet (if each‑way then £10 Win + £10 Place)
Maximum payout: £30 in bonus funds
Expiration date/offer length: Bonus funds expire 7 days after being credited
Min deposit: £10
Min stake to claim the bonus: £10 qualifying bet

Tote’s welcome offer gives new customers a combined bonus package worth £30, split into £20 in Tote Credit and a £10 Free Sports Bet, which can be used across both horse racing and other sportsbook markets.

This type of bonus adds strategic value for Cheltenham punters because Tote Credit can be applied to pool betting markets such as Scoop6, Placepot or Win/Place bets, while the free sports bet can be used on fixed‑odds racing selections at the Festival. Receiving both types of bonus funds ups your ability to explore different betting styles within the event.

To claim, you need to register a new Tote account online, make a deposit of at least £10, and then place your first qualifying wager of £10 or more at odds of Evens (2.0) or higher within 7 days of registration. It’s important that your qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet you place.

Once that bet has reached settlement, your £20 Tote Credit and £10 Free Sports Bet will be added to your account, usually within 48 hours, but these must be used within 7 days to avoid expiry. Tote Credit is separate from your cash balance and free bet tokens; the stake on these bonus funds is not included in any winnings.

This offer is again one of those calculated choices for punters who are seeking added value during Cheltenham. Tote Credit can enhance returns in pool betting markets that behave differently to traditional fixed odds, while the free sports bet gives you an extra shot at value on Cheltenham favourites and key races.

Always review the full terms and conditions before placing your qualifying wager to ensure eligibility and that you understand the expiry windows so you don’t lose the benefit of the offer.

2. SBK Cheltenham offer

Offer type: New customer free bet welcome bonus
Offer value: Bet £5, get £30 in free bets
Min odds: Evens (2.0) min odds required on qualifying bet
Maximum payout: £30 in free bet tokens
Expiration date/offer length: Free bets must be used within ~7 days of credit
Min deposit: £5
Min stake to claim the bonus: £5

This SBK promotion gives new UK customers a welcome bonus value that can be deployed across key Cheltenham races, including handicaps and feature contests such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle.

The offer enhances a new account balance with free bets worth £30 once a £5 qualifying wager settles at min odds of Evens or greater, which in turn protects your initial stake while you explore racing markets. SBK’s strength lies in competitive odds and a simple structure that fits horse racing selections across the entire Festival.

To claim the offer, customers should register a new SBK account and make a qualifying first deposit of at least £5 using accepted payment methods such as debit card or bank transfer.

You need to avoid excluded methods like Skrill or Neteller to ensure eligibility and that you don’t accidentally miss out on the offer. Next, place a £5 wager at odds of 2.0 (Evens) or above, and once that bet reaches settlement, the £30 free bets will be credited to your account within 48 hours.

Typically, free bet stakes are separate from winnings, and they must be used before expiry.

3. 247Bet Cheltenham offer

Offer type: 100% matched deposit bonus
Offer value: 100% up to £50 in bonus funds
Min odds: Min odds of 3/4 (1.75) required for using bonus funds on sports bets
Maximum payout: £50 in bonus funds
Expiration date/offer length: Bonus funds must be used within 30 days of credit
Min deposit: £20
Min stake to claim the bonus: £20 deposit and an opt‑in to the offer

247Bet’s welcome bonus gives new UK customers a matched deposit boost of up to £50 on their first deposit. This can be a strategic choice for Cheltenham punters who want extra bankroll to explore multiple races and markets, including outrights and each‑way bets. With the matched funds, you can place real money sports bets on races where odds are at least 1.75 (3/4).

Because the Cheltenham bonus is separate to your cash funds, it increases your available wagering power without immediately stretching your personal stake, helping you to manage the bets across your selections.

To claim the offer, register a new account at 247Bet and opt in to the promotion before you make your first deposit.

Deposit at least £20 using accepted payment methods, again debit cards or bank transfer are usually safest, as some e‑wallets (again like Neteller/Skrill) may be excluded. Once your deposit is matched with bonus funds, these can be used on eligible markets at the required odds.

The Cheltenham bonus carries a 5× wagering requirement on the bonus amount before any winnings can be withdrawn, and only bonus funds count toward this rollover. You also need to make sure that free bets or bonus funds are used within the 30‑day window to avoid forfeiture.

This matched deposit bonus suits punters who favour spreading wagers across several Cheltenham races, because the extra funds help extend your betting strategy with minimal effort involved.

Always check the full terms on 247Bet’s promotions page to understand eligibility restrictions and wagering contributions before placing bets on the festival!

4. talkSPORT BET Cheltenham offer

Offer type: Money‑back safety net (real cash refund)
Offer value: Cash refund up to £100 if your horse loses all chance at the start of a race
Min odds: Applies to UK & Irish racing only (no minimum odds specified)
Maximum payout: £100 per single bet (multiples max £1,000)
Expiration date/offer length: Ongoing during offer period; check current T&Cs
Min deposit: N/A (offer for funded bets)
Min stake to claim the bonus: N/A (refund applies to any losing bet that meets criteria)

talkSPORT BET’s Cheltenham promotion stands out because it offers real cash refunds rather than free bet tokens. If your horse “loses all chance” at the start of a race, for example, failing to leave the stalls or taking no competitive part, your losing stake is refunded up to £100 in real money.

This strategic feature is valuable for Festival punters who are backing favourites or big‑priced selections, especially in events like the Champion Hurdle or Gold Cup where unpredictable starts can affect outcomes. Refunds in cash mean the money can be withdrawn or used on your next selection, giving you a lot of flexibility and an easier way to plan your bets.

To benefit from this offer, register a talkSPORT BET account and fund it with an eligible payment method such as debit card or Apple Pay (credit cards are not accepted), but check the bookmaker’s site for any exclusions like Neteller/Skrill etc. If your qualifying bet loses under the “No Horsing Around” criteria, talkSPORT BET will issue a cash refund up to the capped amount.

Unlike free bets, these refunds are credited as real cash upon settlement and are not tied up in bonus wagering requirements, making this an appealing choice for punters who are seeking additional protection on key Cheltenham races.

5. BOYLE Sports Cheltenham offer

Offer type: New customer free bet
Offer value: Bet £10, Get £40 in free bets
Min odds: Evens (2.0) or greater
Expiration date/offer length: Free bets expire 7 days from issue; 30 days to place a qualifying bet
Min deposit: £10
Min stake to claim the bonus: £10

BoyleSports offers one of the strongest welcome bonuses of any bookmaker for Cheltenham in the market right now, giving new customers a single £50 free bet after placing a £10 qualifying bet.

Unlike some promotions that split the value across multiple smaller tokens, the entire £50 is credited as one free bet balance, meaning you have the full amount available to deploy on whichever race or market takes your fancy across the Festival!

On top of that, both new and existing customers can participate in the Bank Builder Jackpot, placing bets on designated daily sports to earn up to £60 in additional Cheltenham free bets plus a share of the massive £10,000 Cheltenham Bank Builder weekly jackpot.

BoyleSports also stacks several additional promotions on top of the welcome offer that are available every day of the Festival from 10th to 13th March:

First, there’s a money-back offer as a free bet (up to £10) if your horse loses the first race of each day, with this applying to win singles and win part of each-way singles that are placed from 2pm, 48 hours before each race.
Second, there’s a separate money-back offer if your selection finishes second to the starting price favourite in any Cheltenham race, again refunding your stake up to £10 as a free bet. This is a genuinely useful safety net on competitive handicaps and novice chases where the favourite often dominates the finish.

To claim the welcome offer, you just need to register a new BoyleSports account via mobile, deposit a minimum of £10 (note that Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe and prepaid cards are not eligible), and place a qualifying bet of £10 or more at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater.

For multiple bets, the combined odds must meet the Evens threshold. The £50 free bet is credited within 5 minutes of your qualifying bet settling and must be used within 7 days, but bear in mind that free bet stakes are not returned as part of any winnings, and the free bet cannot be combined with other special offers such as Cash Back Specials, Best Price Guaranteed or Extra Places.

6. bet365 Cheltenham offer

Offer type: New customer free bet welcome bonus
Offer value: Bet £10, get £30 in free bets (Bet Credits)
Min odds: Qualifying bets must include at least one selection at odds of 1.20 (1/5) or greater for settlement purposes
Maximum payout: £30 in Bet Credits
Expiration date/offer length: Bet Credits typically expire 7 days after being added to your account
Min deposit: £5-£10 (a qualifying deposit of £10 is standard to unlock the full £30)
Min stake to claim the bonus: £10 qualifying bet required to release full Bet Credits

bet365’s Bet £10 Get £30 welcome bonus provides some strong value for Cheltenham punters who are eyeing major races such as the Gold Cup or Queen Mother Champion Chase. Once you have registered and made your first deposit of at least £5 or £10 on an eligible payment method, your qualifying £10 sports bet will trigger £30 in Bet Credits once it settles.

These Bet Credits can then be used across horse racing and other markets, helping you spread your wagering strategy without additional cash outlay.

To claim this offer, create a new bet365 account, complete any required identity checks, and place your first bet of £10 with at least one selection qualifying at minimum odds of 1.20. Avoid excluded payment methods like PayPal or paysafecard unless your identity has been verified with accepted documents, as these may void eligibility.

After your qualifying bet has settled, the £30 in Bet Credits will appear in your account. Bet Credits are non‑withdrawable; however, any winnings from bets placed with them are added to your withdrawable balance. Be sure to use the credits before they expire after roughly 7 days, and remember that the stake of Bet Credits is not included in your returns.

This promotion is again a calculated choice for punters who are looking to balance early Festival bets, allowing you the chance to explore multiple races and markets while managing your initial stake in a careful manner. It also pairs well with Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) race promos that bet365 often runs separately on UK and Irish racing.

7. Betfred Cheltenham offer

Offer type: New customer free bets welcome bonus
Offer value: Bet £10, get £50 in free bets (3 × £10 sports free bets + 2 × £10 acca free bets)
Min odds: Evens (2.0) or greater on qualifying bet
Maximum payout: £50 in free bet tokens
Expiration date/offer length: Free bets must be used within 7 days of credit
Min deposit: £10 via Debit Card
Min stake to claim the bonus: £10

Betfred’s welcome offer provides excellent value for Cheltenham punters looking to expand their wagering potential with minimal initial investment. By placing a £10 qualifying bet at minimum odds of Evens (2.0) within 7 days of opening an account, new customers earn £50 in free bets credited within 10 hours of settlement.

The mix of sports free bets and acca free bets can be used strategically across big races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup or Stayers’ Hurdle, giving you flexibility in how you deploy your Cheltenham bonus funds and overall enhancing your return potential.

To claim the offer, you must register a new Betfred account, deposit at least £10 with a debit card, and place your first £10 wager at the required odds. Be sure to opt in if prompted, as this ensures eligibility. Avoid using payment methods that are excluded from the promotion (such as e‑wallets) to make sure your qualifying bet counts.

After your qualifying wager has settled, the free bets will be credited to your account, which you can then use on various horse racing and sports markets during the Cheltenham Festival.

Note that free bet stakes are separate from winnings (they are not returned with your profit) and must be used before they expire after 7 days. Always check the full terms and conditions on Betfred’s site before wagering to confirm precise eligibility requirements and restrictions, because you don’t want to get caught out.

This offer is a calculated choice for punters who are seeking to protect their initial stake while spreading bets across different Cheltenham races. This is particularly useful when combining outright selections and accumulator bets across some of the Festival’s marquee events.

8. BetMGM Cheltenham offer

Offer type: New customer free bets welcome bonus
Offer value: Bet £10, get £40 in free bets (4 × £10 tokens)
Min odds: Evens (2.0) or greater on your qualifying bet
Maximum payout: £40 in free bet tokens
Expiration date/offer length: Free bets are valid for 7 days after being credited
Min deposit: £10
Min stake to claim the bonus: £10 qualifying bet within 7 days of account registration

BetMGM’s welcome offer provides excellent bonus value for Cheltenham Festival punters, giving you £40 in free bets after placing a £10 qualifying wager at min odds of Evens or greater. This bonus is split into 2 × £10 Sports free bets and 2 × £10 Bet Builder free bets, allowing you to spread your bonus credits across multiple racing and sports markets.

The combination of sports and bet builder tokens adds some strategic flexibility. For example, you may use sports free bets on straightforward Cheltenham race selections and bet builder credits for multi‑leg accumulator plays.

To claim this offer, register a new BetMGM account in the UK, deposit at least £10, and ensure you place your first qualifying bet at odds of 2.0 or above within seven days of signing up. Qualifying bets must settle before the free bets are released. Once the qualifying bet reaches settlement, the four £10 free bets will be credited to your account, typically within a short period.

These free bets are non‑withdrawable, and stakes are not included in any returns, so be sure to account for that in your betting strategy. The free bets must be used within 7 days of issuance.

This offer is really solid for punters who are looking to maximise their Festival wagering power without increasing their initial cash exposure. By spreading your free bets across key races like the Championship contests or festival handicaps, you can get more value for your horse racing selections.

Always check the full BetMGM terms and conditions in your account before placing qualifying bets in case anything has changed between now and the Festival starting.

9. Ladbrokes Cheltenham Offer

Offer type: New customer enhanced odds special
Offer value: Bet £1, Get 33/1 on Dan Skelton to train a Cheltenham winner + 6 × £5 free bets
Min odds: N/A (fixed market – Dan Skelton to train a winner at Cheltenham Festival 2026)
Expiration date/offer length: 9am 13/02/26 – 1:20pm 10/03/26
Min deposit: £10
Min stake to claim the bonus: £1 (max/min single on the Dan Skelton market)

Ladbrokes’ Cheltenham offer takes a different angle to most of the promotions on this list, leading with a boosted odds special rather than a traditional deposit-and-bet free bet.

New customers can back trainer Dan Skelton to have trained at least one winner across the four-day Festival at the heavily enhanced price of 33/1, up from the original odds of Evens, for a maximum stake of just £1.

It’s a low-risk, high-reward entry point into the Festival, especially given Skelton heads into Cheltenham 2026 with arguably the strongest squad of his career, boasting leading contenders in all four championship races including The New Lion in the Champion Hurdle, L’Eau du Sud in the Champion Chase, Kabral Du Mathan in the Stayers’ Hurdle, and Grey Dawning in the Gold Cup.

The payout structure is worth understanding clearly before you claim, though. If Skelton trains a winner, your £1 stake and the winnings at the original Evens odds are returned to you as cash on settlement, so you get your £1 back plus £1 in cash profit.

The boosted element of the winnings (the difference between Evens and 33/1) is then paid out as 6 × £5 free bets, credited within 24 hours of the market settling post-Festival and valid for four days. That gives you £30 in free bets to deploy across any sport, on top of your cash return.

To claim this offer, you need to register a new Ladbrokes account, deposit a minimum of £10 (again note that Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill and prepaid cards are excluded payment methods), and place your £1 single on the Dan Skelton market before the hard deadline of 1:20pm on 10th March 2026 (which is the start of the Festival’s opening day. It’s also worth noting that Cashed-out bets do not qualify, and the free bets cannot be used on Exchange, Tote or Pools markets.

10. Betway Cheltenham Offer

Offer type: New customer free bet + existing customer Cheltenham Pot
Offer value: Bet £10, Get £40 in free bets (4 × £10)
Min odds: 2/1 (3.0) or greater
Expiration date/offer length: 7 days from date of issue
Min deposit: £10 (debit card only)
Min stake to claim the bonus: £10

Betway’s Cheltenham promotion delivers £40 in free bets for new customers and remains one of the stronger value offers for the Festival, especially given the four-token structure that lets you spread your free bets across different races and days.

The higher minimum odds requirement of 2/1 (3.0) on the qualifying bet is worth planning around, because it rules out most short-priced favourites, so you will need to identify a selection at a slightly longer price to actually unlock the offer properly.

The four separate £10 tokens give you genuine tactical flexibility for the event. A natural approach for Cheltenham would be to deploy one token on a key race from each of the four days, for example, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday, the Champion Chase on Wednesday, the Ryanair on Thursday, and the Gold Cup on Friday.

This would effectively give you a free stake on each of the Festival’s headline events, so it’s worth a go if you are going to bet on the big ones anyway!

Existing Betway customers are not left out either, which isn’t always the case with some of these offers out on the market. The Free Bet Club and weekly Bet and Get promotions allow existing account holders to build a Cheltenham Pot ahead of the Festival, making Betway worth considering even if you already hold an account.

If you want to claim the new customer offer, just register a Betway account, deposit at least £10 via debit card only (just like Ladbrokes e-wallet payments do not qualify), and place a £10 qualifying bet at odds of 2/1 or greater. It’s really worth bearing in mind that the offer must be claimed within 7 days of registration, and that the free bets you get will expire 7 days after being credited.

So once again, make sure you use them while you still actually can!

11. Star Sports Cheltenham offer

Offer type: New customer free bet welcome bonus
Offer value: Bet £100, get a £50 free bet
Min odds: Evens (2.0) or greater on the race winner market only
Maximum payout: £50 in free bets
Expiration date/offer length: Expires at 17:20 on the same day
Min deposit: £100
Min stake to claim the bonus: £100 qualifying bet on the 13:20 race at Cheltenham

Star Sports gives new customers a £50 free bet when a £100 qualifying wager is placed on the opening 13:20 race at Cheltenham.

This offer is a highly targeted daily promotion. It creates a direct bridge between the first race of the day and the finale, as the £50 free bet is specifically designated for the 17:20 race at Cheltenham on that exact same day.

To claim this offer, a new Star Sports account must be registered using the specific promo code provided for that day. A deposit of at least £100 needs to be made, and your first bet must be £100 or more on the 13:20 Cheltenham race winner market at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater.

Once the qualifying criteria are met, the 1 x £50 free bet is credited automatically. It is vital to remember that this free bet can only be used on the 17:20 race that afternoon, and it will expire right at 17:20.

While this requires a higher initial stake than standard Bet & Get offers, it delivers a substantial £50 reward for punters focusing heavily on a specific day of the Festival. Always review the full T&Cs on the Star Sports site before opting in, and remember to gamble responsibly (GambleAware.org).

12. Sky Bet Cheltenham offer

Offer type: New customer free bet welcome bonus
Offer value: Get £40 in free bets (4 × £10 bet tokens)
Min odds: Odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater required for qualifying bet
Maximum payout: £30 in non‑withdrawable free bets
Expiration date/offer length: Free bets expire 30 days after being credited
Min deposit: £5 minimum deposit required
Min stake to claim the bonus: First qualifying bet of £0.05 or more at required odds

Sky Bet’s welcome offer gives new UK customers another straightforward way to boost their Cheltenham Festival betting funds. After you register a new account and make a small deposit (as low as £5), placing your first bet of £0.05 or more at odds of Evens (2.0) or higher will earn you four £10 free bet tokens.

These tokens can be used on single or each‑way selections across horse racing markets during the Festival, giving you extra wagering power without additional personal stake. The tokens must be used within 30 days, offering flexibility across multiple days of Cheltenham racing.

To qualify for this offer, ensure you sign up via the promotional link, deposit at least £5 using eligible methods (avoid Neteller and Skrill, as again, these will not qualify), and place your first single or each‑way bet on any market with odds of 1/1 or greater.

Only this first bet counts toward the offer. Once that qualifying wager is placed and settled, the £40 in free bets will be credited to your Sky Bet account.

These free bets are non‑withdrawable, and the stake is not returned with any winnings, so plan your usage strategically. For instance, on longer price each‑way selections in major Cheltenham races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup or Champion Hurdle to maximise potential returns.

Always review Sky Bet’s full terms and conditions before wagering to confirm eligibility restrictions and any updates that may have happened after this guide was written!

Cheltenham bonuses variety

Cheltenham offers range from Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) to money back as cash and enhanced odds, all types that add extra value when betting on the Festival’s biggest races.

Some offers apply to new customers only, while others are available to existing account holders.

Most of these customer offers hinge on placing a qualifying stake (commonly £10) at minimum odds such as Evens (2.0) or better. Once that stake settles, free bets or Cheltenham bonus credits are credited to your account.

These can be used via each bookmaker’s app or online platform and often come with expiry windows (for example, 30 days). Look out for race‑specific promotions such as extra places on favourites or enhanced odds that add further value to your Cheltenham wagering to make sure that you don’t miss out on a potential banger!

Cheltenham 2026 schedule

Champion Day kicks the Festival off with a mix of top Grade 1 races and key handicaps. Punters often target the Champion Hurdle and Arkle for early betting value.

Tuesday, March 10 – Champion Day

TIME	RACE	DISTANCE	TYPE
13:20	Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)	2m	Hurdle
14:00	Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)	2m	Hurdle
14:40	Juvenile Handicap Hurdle	2m 4f	Chase
15:20	Ultima Handicap Chase	3m	Hurdle
16:00	Champion Hurdle	3m 2f	Chase
16:40	Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase	3m 2f	Chase
17:20	National Hunt Novices Chase	2m 4f	Hurdle

Each day has special betting tips tailored for each race, so look for Cheltenham Day 1 tips if you plan to learn who’s the real winner before placing any bets.

Wednesday, March 11 – Ladies day Wednesday

TIME	RACE	DISTANCE	TYPE
13:20	Turners Novices’ Hurdle	2m 5f	Hurdle
14:00	Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase	3m 110y	Chase
14:40	BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle	2m 5f	Hurdle
15:20	Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase	2m 6f	Chase
16:00	Queen Mother Champion Chase	1m 7f	Chase
16:40	Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase	2m 110y	Chase
17:20	Champion Bumper (Weatherbys)	2m 87y	Bumper

Thursday, March 12 – St Patrick’s Thursday

TIME	RACE	DISTANCE	TYPE
13:20	Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle	2m 1f	Hurdle
14:00	Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase	2m 4f 127y	Chase
14:40	The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle	2m 4f	Hurdle
15:20	Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle	3m	Hurdle
16:00	Ryanair Chase	2m 4.5f	Chase
16:40	Pertemps Network Final	3m	Hurdle
17:20	Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase	3m 2f	Chase

Friday, March 13 – Gold Cup Day

TIME	RACE	DISTANCE	TYPE
13:20	Triumph Hurdle	2m 1f	Hurdle
14:00	County Handicap Hurdle	2m 1f	Hurdle
14:40	Mares’ Steeple Chase (Mrs Paddy Power)	2m 4f 127y	Chase
15:20	Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle	3m	Hurdle
16:00	Cheltenham Gold Cup (Boodles)	3m 2.5f	Chase
16:40	Festival Hunter Chase	3m 2f 70y	Chase
17:20	Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle	2m 4f 56yds	Hurdle

The biggest races to bet on at Cheltenham 2026

The Cheltenham Festival features 28 races over four days and includes several championship contests that attract the most betting interest and commercial offers from bookies, especially one some of the best betting sites. These races are important because they carry high prestige, strong fields, and often generous markets that respond well to free bets and featured promotions.

Tuesday, 10 March – Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1): The opening day’s premier race at about 2 m, traditionally one of the most watched and bet on events.
Wednesday, 11 March – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1): A top 2 m chase that draws heavy betting interest because of its speed and star horses.
Thursday, 12 March – Ryanair Steeple Chase (Grade 1): One of the festival’s mid‑week highlights, known for strong fields and big odds movement.
Thursday, 12 March – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1): Major long‑distance hurdle offering value for each‑way bets.
Friday, 13 March – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1): The most prestigious race of the festival and often considered the biggest race of the jumps season.

These races are focal points for betting markets and often trigger enhanced odds, Best Odds Guaranteed, and extra place promotions from UK bookies. Punters tend to target them with free bets and accumulator strategies to maximise potential returns across the Festival’s biggest events.

How we chose the best Cheltenham betting bonuses

We rank Cheltenham betting offers based on value, ease of claiming, and bookmaker reliability. A strict review process is conducted by our team to ensure only the top promotions make it to our final list. Every site is tested so you can bet on the Festival with confidence.

Our horse racing expertise

Our team is widely recognized as horse racing experts within the betting industry. Decades of combined experience are brought to our Cheltenham Festival coverage by the talkSPORT editorial crew. Every single race is thoroughly analyzed by our lead racing writers, Joe Norris and Nick Seddon, who know the exact ins and outs of the event. Deep insights are shared daily so you know exactly how the week unfolds and which horses are backed by the professionals.

Cheltenham bonus value

The overall value of the reward is assessed first. We look closely at the return on your initial stake. For example, a generous £50 Cheltenham free bet unlocked by a £10 deposit is ranked much higher than a standard £10 match. Maximum payouts and ongoing Festival boosts are also factored into our final scores.

Ease of claiming and fair terms

Fair and transparent terms are expected from every bookmaker we review. The ease of claiming the bonus is evaluated carefully. We check the minimum odds, specific race restrictions, and expiry dates. Offers wrapped in complicated wagering requirements are penalized. Straightforward “bet and get” promotions are prioritized for our readers.

Bookmaker reliability

Only fully licensed and regulated betting sites are recommended. The performance of the sportsbook app is tested to ensure it can handle the heavy traffic of Cheltenham week. Customer support is checked to guarantee that help is easily reached if you run into any account issues. Finally, fast payouts are prioritized so your Festival winnings can be withdrawn smoothly.

Types of Cheltenham betting offers and free bets

Now I will give you a run-through of some of the most popular Cheltenham free bets and offers for the Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham odds on favourites

Betting on odds on favourites at the Cheltenham Festival is not the most appealing bet for an everyday punter. But the likes of Paddy Power, SBK, bet365, talkSPORT BET, Betfred, and Sky Bet all offer you an alternative with the ‘Betting Without’ market.

This option gives you the chance to bet on a race without the favourite or chosen horse but at reduced odds. If the odds-on favourite wins, but you come 2nd and have backed in the betting without market, then your bet is a winner.

Money back Cheltenham offer

Each year you will find bookmakers offer Money Back special on Cheltenham races, and this year should be no different. Paddy Power, Tote, and Betfred from my toplist of bookmakers have previously offered Cheltenham money-back offers.

Check out my toplist for all the money-back Cheltenham offers.

Best odds guaranteed for Cheltenham

For many punters, the best odds guaranteed is a must for the Cheltenham Festival. When you are parting with your hard-earned cash, you want to ensure that you will get the best for your buck, and with BOG, you will always get paid at the best odds.

You would be forgiven to think that all bookmakers offer the best odds guaranteed, but unfortunately, that is not the case.

But I have some of the top bookmakers on my toplist that offer best odds guaranteed for Cheltenham – Paddy Power, Sky Bet, bet365, SBK, Betfred and talkSPORT BET all offer best odds guaranteed for the Cheltenham Festival.

Cheltenham extra each-way places

Extra each-way place or enhanced place specials are a massive plus when it comes to the Cheltenham Festival handicap, giving you extra places to play within these competitive handicaps.

I will not know what races will have extra each-way places on the day before/day of, so be sure to check with my top list of bookmakers for more information.

Non-Runner No Bet special for Cheltenham

The most popular bet when it comes to Cheltenham Festival ante-post betting, the Non-Runner No Bet gives you the security of backing a horse in any of the Cheltenham Festival races under ante-post rules, and if your selection does not run in that race, then you will get you money back, no questions asked.

Bookmakers who offer this from my list are Paddy Power, Tote, bet365, SBK, talkSPORT BET, and Sky Bet.

Bet-through-the-card offers

A bet-through-the-card promotion is a popular sign up offer, especially during the big spring racing festivals. They generally require you to place a small bet on the opening race on the card and you will then receive a free bet to use one every subsequent race that day.

During the Cheltenham Festival, you may find that some bookies will give you a free bet for every race that week (27 races) just for betting on the opener! Like with all promotions and offers, eligibility restrictions apply.

Ambassador-related offers and promotions

There are a whole host of ambassadors who promote horse racing betting to bettors. You’ll find that practically every high-profile jockey, trainer and presenter is tied to a bookmaker and lots of operators will offer promotions around their ambassadors.

For example, Paddy Power may offer enhanced prices on the rides of their ambassador Harry Cobden during Cheltenham.

Cheltenham betting offers for existing customers

The Cheltenham Festival is a massive time for bookmakers and they are keen to ensure that they are engaging their existing customers just as much as potential new clients. With that in mind, it is a great time to take advantage of Cheltenham betting offers, with plenty available.

Each bookmaker will offer something different, but you will find things like free bets, enhanced prices, specials and bet boosts to all customers during the week. It’s definitely worth keeping an eye on the promotions page of your operator.

Cheltenham new customer offers

Cheltenham week is one of the biggest sports betting events of the year and it’s very common for bookmakers to tailor their offers around it. This can be in the form of free bets on feature races, or perhaps by enhancing the price of one of the big favourites of the week.

For example, bookmakers may enhance the price of Jonbon to win the Champion Chase to a much bigger price (currently 10/11) to tempt in new customers. Eligibility restrictions and time limits may apply to all offers.

Trifecta bet offers

A trifecta bet is a bet type that involves selecting three horses to finish in the first three places in a race. It is essentially the same as a tricast bet, in that the first, second and third placed horses have to be in the right order for it to be a winner, except a trifecta is only available on the Tote. The bet forms part of a pool and as such it’s unlikely that you will find any trifecta bet offers on the market.

Maximise winnings with Cheltenham Festival strategy

Before you dive deep into Cheltenham free bets and bookie offers, knowing that a winning strategy goes beyond just claiming Cehltenham bonuses is absolutely key. Start with form and track conditions, horses with strong recent performances and a history of running well on similar ground often deliver more consistently.

Weather can change the going (track condition), and a horse that excels on soft ground may underperform if the turf turns firm, while others thrive when conditions are testing. Paying attention to these shifts helps refine your selections.

Place your qualifying bet at odds of Evens (2.0) or higher to unlock the best bookmaker bonuses. This ensures you satisfy minimum odds requirements and get your free bets or Bet Credits credited quickly.

Consider pool betting as an alternative to fixed‑odds wagers or looking at some offers at reputable new betting sites. Tote betting pays dividends based on the amount in the pool, which can be especially rewarding in wide handicap fields where crowd sentiment influences payouts.

Finally, manage your cash and bonuses wisely. Keep a healthy balance in your account, plan your stakes around offer expiries, and track when credit must be used before it lapses. Knowing expiry dates on free bets prevents losing promotional value and ensures you get the most out of your Cheltenham Festival betting!

Where to bet on Cheltenham

There a host of different options for betting on the Cheltenham Festival, depending on whether you’re at home or at the track. You can find an extensive list of recommended sites for betting on horse racing in this article, with Betfred coming out on top as our best Cheltenham offer in 2026.

Cheltenham free bets

Lastly, I come the the king of kings when I am talking about amazing Cheltenham betting offers. For existing customers, this will all depend on who you have a betting account with as not all bookmakers will be offering free bets for the Cheltenham Festival.

You can check out my top list above as well as my previous 2026 Cheltenham Betting Offer to find the best free bets for new and existing customers.

What is a Cheltenham free bet offer?

A Cheltenham free bet is a bonus that you as a punter can use to bet on the Cheltenham festival races in the period of 10th to 13th of March 2026. It is an exclusive bonus that works only for Cheltenham races. In its form it is very similar to any other free bet offer, however it is valid only during these 4 days.

Same terms and conditions apply as for other free bets, meaning no withdrawing free bets as cash and same wagering requirements apply, but as always please check the terms and conditions for each free bet you use to check if you are eligible.

How does a Cheltenham free bet work?

A Cheltenham free bet offer is a promotion that I really like, because it is essentially very easy to play. I’ll explain why:

Decide on which Cheltenham betting site you would like to play
Choose the Cheltenham betting offer you like
Check eligibility, wagering requirement and Terms and Conditions
Claim your Cheltenham free bets
Identify the horse you would like to place the bet on
Have fun!

If you need help with identifying the winning horse you can take my pick as a place to start. My personal favourite which I’ll be cheering for is definitely Inothewayurthinkin – not the most original choice, but it’s hard not to admire a horse that’s becoming a living legend before our eyes!

*steps may vary from bookmaker to bookmaker and some require players to enter a bonus code

Read this in-depth guide on how to bet on Cheltenham

How I use my Cheltenham free bets

The Cheltenham Festival offers great value and two of the best bookmakers to use from my experience have to be Sky Bet and bet365. Sky Bet usually go money back on the Supreme (which is the first race of the Festival) and also money back if 2nd or 3rd in the first
race on every day of the Festival. This gives you the opportunity to start on a high or recover some losses if it doesn’t go to plan.

bet365 are also always worth using across the four days as they will have a daily Super Boost and have some of the best odds on offer throughout the week. Couple that with extra place races too there is plenty in the punters’ favour.

Most popular Cheltenham bets

At Cheltenham festival races amidst the thundering hooves and thunderous cheers, betting takes center stage, with a myriad of options tantalizing bettors seeking fortune and glory. From the classic thrill of picking a winner to the intricate strategies of forecasting exacta and trifecta finishes, Cheltenham offers a diverse array of betting opportunities.

Whether you’re all seasoned bettors or newcomers to the sport, join me as I explore the most popular bets at Cheltenham, where every wager carries the promise of adrenaline-fueled moments and the chance to bask in the glory of victory.

Accumulator bet – Bettors can select multiple horses to win their respective races, with each wager’s possible earnings carrying over to the following choice. You have to win all bets, even if only 1 of the bets is wrong, all your selections are counted as losses.
Ante-post betting – Bettors who bet in advance can earn a lot as the odds are better. However, they run the risk of having non-runners or changes of horses occuring.
Each way bet – Players place two bets, one win bet and one place bet. The odds usually aren’t very high.
Forecast/Exacta bet – This involves bettors predicting the first two horses to finish in a race, in the exact order.
Lucky 15/31/63 – Players place bets involving multiple selections across different races.
Place bet – Players bet on a horse to finish in one of the predetermined place positions.
Racing pool bet – Horse racing pool bet is also known as parimutuel betting or tote betting, where all bets are placed together in a pool, and after deductions (taxes, fees, and house take) the remaining winnings are shared and divided among the players. Racing pool bet is quite popular because its large payouts and and accurate odds representation.
Tricast/Trifecta bet – Similar to the forecast bet, but you’re predicting the first three horses to finish in the correct order.
Win bet – Pretty straightforward, bettors can place a bet on who wins

Cheltenham free bet calculator

Understanding how much profit is generated from a free bet is crucial for Festival punters. We’ll explain everything but you can use a bet calculator to remove the hassle of doing all that math.

Unlike regular cash bets, the free bet stake is not returned with your winnings. Only the pure profit is credited to your account.

Because the initial stake is removed from the final payout, backing heavier favorites with a free bet often yields much smaller returns than you might expect.

To calculate your exact profit, the free bet stake is multiplied by the decimal odds, and then the original free bet stake is subtracted from that total.

Here is exactly how much profit is generated from a standard £10 free bet depending on the odds:

Odds of 2.0 (Evens): A £10 cash bet returns £20. A £10 free bet returns £10.
Odds of 4.0 (3/1): A £10 cash bet returns £40. A £10 free bet returns £30.
Odds of 6.0 (5/1): A £10 cash bet returns £60. A £10 free bet returns £50.
Odds of 11.0 (10/1): A £10 cash bet returns £110. A £10 free bet returns £100.

How to maximize your free bets

Because the stake is not returned, free bets are often used on selections with slightly higher odds to maximize the potential returns. Backing an odds-on favorite (e.g., 1/2) with a £10 free bet will only generate £5 in profit. Therefore, longer-odds horses or each-way markets are frequently targeted by bettors when Cheltenham bonus funds are deployed.

Note: If an each-way bet is placed, your free bet stake is split in half (e.g., £5 to win, £5 to place).

Q&A session about Cheltenham betting offers & free bets

1. What is a Cheltenham free bet, and how can I use it?

A free bet is pretty much what it says on the tin, a bet that doesn’t require you to put any money down. Bookmakers tend to offer free bets to new members to entice them to sign up, but you can also earn free bets by staking a certain amount of money either in a period or on a certain market. Bookmakers also hand out free bets to their members occasionally, particularly during busy periods for sports betting such as during the Cheltenham Festival. Online casinos often offer free bets to their customers, particularly during busy periods such as the Cheltenham Festival, as a way to entice them to try their luck in the casino and potentially win big. This is sometimes accompanied by a casino bonus, funds refund, bonus credit, game tokens, or a variety of exclusive money bet options for various events.

Each bookie site has a different layout, but you should be able to see any free bets in the corner of the screen where your balance is located – or by heading to the balance section of the site once you’re logged in. You may have to activate the free bet there, but once it’s ready to use, you navigate to the market of your choosing and pick out a selection.

Let’s say you have a £10 free bet for the Champion Hurdle and want to place it on Constitution Hill. If you head to that market and click on the horse, the free bet should appear as a tickable box in your bet slip. Simply activate your free bet, add your stake and press place. Good luck!

2. Where can I get bonuses like free bets for Cheltenham?

If you are new to horse racing betting, Cheltenham week is the perfect time to bag yourself some free bets! Bookmakers are keener than ever to attract your customers during the week, which means that there are some juicy bonuses to be had. Keep your eyes peeled on things like social media for some of the best Cheltenham betting offers, while you can also find some on this very page.

Meanwhile, existing customers won’t miss out either, as bookmakers give out plenty of free bets and enticing bonuses during the week. Keep an eye on the promotions section of your bookies’ website to keep up with the very latest offers.

3. What is the Cheltenham Racing Festival?

The Cheltenham Festival is the biggest Jumps (or National Hunt) meeting of the season in both the UK and Ireland, for which the biggest names in the sport descend on the Cotswolds. There are 28 races across the four days, with the vast majority of those shown on ITV Racing. This event is one of the few that puts horseracing into the mainstream and you can expect around 250,000 racegoers at Prestbury Park across the four days.

The feature race of the entire week is the Grade One Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is run over slightly further than three and a quarter miles and is seen as one of the ultimate tests of a racehorse. To win it, a horse must be able to both jump and stay to the highest of standards, while also being able to run at a ‘Championship’ pace. The winner of the Gold Cup will bag themselves a cool quarter of a million pounds in prize money and immortality to boot!

4. When is the Cheltenham festival?

The Cheltenham Festival is a four-day meeting, which runs from Tuesday 10^th March – Friday 13^th March 2026. Each of the four days is headlined by a different race and they are as follows.

Tuesday 10^th March – Champion Day (Headlined by the Champion Hurdle)
Wednesday 11^th March – Festival Wednesday (Headlined by the Queen Mother Champion Chase)
Thursday 12^th March – St Patrick’s Day (Headlined by both the Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase)
Friday 13^th March – Gold Cup Day (Headlined by the Cheltenham Gold Cup)

5. What is the most profitable bet to make at Cheltenham?

There is no simple way of answering this question, as the price of a horse can reflect the return on all bet types, from singles to multiples. For example, having a £5 treble on three short-priced horses requires more horses to win for it to land, but you will find yourself winning more money with a successful £5 single bet on a 50/1 outsider.

Calculate your single bets with the single bet calculator!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, in that every winning bet is special! Backing the favourite will see you win more often, but carefully following a staking plan is a good way of upping your chances of a return in the long term.

If you’re looking for big profit at the Cheltenham Festival, putting several of the horses that you fancy most – ‘bankers’ – into one accumulator can add up quickly.

6. What is meant by a favourite horse?

The favourite is the horse which is offered at the shortest odds for each race by the bookmakers. That essentially means that the favourite is the horse which is believed to have the best chance of winning the race – and the shorter price means that the market thinks the horse has a better chance.

For example, a 1/4 favourite would be seen as a horse with a stronger chance of winning than a 4/1 favourite. Meanwhile, if two horses are at the top of the market they are known as ‘joint favourites’ and any more than that they are ‘co-favourites’.

7. What betting offers can existing customers get during Cheltenham?

Cheltenham Festival week is like Christmas for bettors, as bookmakers try everything in their power to try and secure your custom. Of course, they are going to save things like crazy prices on odds-on favourites and free bets for new customers, but existing customers can often take advantage of offers like boosted odds, price promises, and run-for-your-money offers.

Lots of high street bookmakers will offer free bets throughout the week on certain races, as well as price boosts and the opportunity to earn free bets by staking a certain amount of money.

There will also be lots of things like extra place races, money-back offers and even justice refunds. The best thing to do is keep an eye on the ‘promotions’ and ‘offers’ pages of your bookmakers of choice, as well as keep tabs on their social media pages too. It can also be helpful to have a look at the ’horse racing’ section as well, as that’s where their headline price boosts and offers for the day will live during Cheltenham week. The results of these price boosts and offers will be visible on the homepage of the bookmaker’s website, as well as in the dedicated Cheltenham section, allowing customers to quickly and easily view the results of their bets.

8. Do UK bookmakers offer live streaming for Cheltenham?

Yes, most bookmakers will offer live streaming for Cheltenham.

9. Are bet365 giving free bets for Cheltenham?

Yes! bet365 is offering bet £10 and get £30 in free bets for new customers for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

10. Can you withdraw Cheltenham Free Bets?

No. Cheltenham free bets, or rather all free bets are categorized as promotional credits or Cheltenham bonus tokens that are provided by the bookies are made for betting purposes, and can not be withdrawn. However, winnings made with the free bets are withdrawable. As always there are circumstances for each free bet, so be sure to read the Terms and Conditions.

Quick Cheltenham Bonuses

Bet MORE with our Cheltenham tips

Cheltenham expertise: Learn more

About the author

Nick Seddon

A sports journalist with more than a decade of experience, Nick has covered some of the biggest events in sport, from the Grand National and the Epsom Derby in horse racing to Walsall against Wigan Athletic in League One.

Follow Nick on X: @nickseddon_

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

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