Beginners Guide to Cheltenham Festival Betting

The Cheltenham Festival is the highlight of the National Hunt season. It takes place every March at Cheltenham Racecourse and attracts the best jump horses from Britain and Ireland. For four days, the focus of the racing world turns to the Cotswolds.

For horse racing betting enthusiasts, this is the biggest betting week of the year. The Festival now features 28 races, including multiple Grade 1 contests and ultra-competitive handicaps. Betting turnover peaks during this week, and most major bookmakers offer enhanced odds, extra places, and full cash out functionality.

This is also the place where owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff and breeders dream of having winners. The racing is exhilarating, the atmosphere is electric and every day has something different. In this Beginners Guide to Cheltenham Festival we’ll tell you everything you’ll ever need to know in order to pick those winning Cheltenham bets.

You don’t have to be an expert to get involved, even new and novice racing fans can get involved. So If you want to bet on Cheltenham with confidence, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What Is the Cheltenham Festival?

The Cheltenham Festival is a four-day jump racing meeting held annually at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire. The festival features several National Hunt race types, including hurdles, chases and bumpers, and marks the climax of the hunt season.

The meeting features:

• Championship races
• Novice contests
• Competitive handicaps
• The famous Cheltenham hill finish

The rivalry between British and Irish trainers adds another layer of interest. In recent years, Irish yards have enjoyed increasing success, which has influenced betting markets and ante-post positioning.

If you are new to racing, start with our Horse Racing Betting Guide to understand the fundamentals before placing Festival bets.

Cheltenham Festival 2026 Dates & Schedule

The Cheltenham Festival 2026 takes place in March, running from Tuesday 10th March to Friday 13th March at Cheltenham Racecourse. The meeting spans four consecutive days, with seven races each day, building towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday afternoon.

Each day follows a structured pattern: an opening roar from the crowd before the first race, a championship feature in mid-afternoon, and competitive handicaps that attract strong betting interest.

Below is a deeper breakdown of what each day typically delivers from a betting perspective.

Tuesday 10th March – Champion Hurdle Day

Tuesday sets the tone for the entire Festival. Markets are highly active, and bookmakers often release enhanced odds and promotional offers.

Key races include:

• Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
• Arkle Challenge Trophy
• Champion Hurdle

Betting characteristics:

• Strong favourite performance in championship races historically
• Significant Irish representation
• Early-week market volatility

The opening Supreme often produces a sharp market move in the final 30 minutes before the off. Watching price shifts can provide insight into stable confidence.

The Champion Hurdle attracts heavy turnover and often sees well-backed favourites trading very short in-running, which creates potential cash out opportunities.

Wednesday 11th March – Champion Chase Day

Wednesday blends speed and competitive handicaps.

Feature race:

• Queen Mother Champion Chase

Other major betting races often include:

• Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
• Coral Cup (large-field handicap)

Betting characteristics:

• Fast-run two-mile races
• Strong in-running price swings
• Handicaps with 20+ runners

The Coral Cup regularly features compressed handicap ratings, making it one of the toughest puzzles of the week. Extra place terms can add value here.

The Champion Chase, run at a relentless pace, often produces dramatic in-play market movements if a leader makes a jumping error.

Thursday 12th March – Stayers’ & Ryanair Day

Thursday focuses on stamina and tactical positioning.

Feature races:

• Stayers’ Hurdle
• Ryanair Chase

Betting characteristics:

• Longer-distance contests
• Emphasis on proven stamina
• Fewer surprise winners compared to big handicaps

The Stayers’ Hurdle often rewards horses with strong form at three miles or beyond. Market leaders tend to have solid profiles.

The Ryanair Chase attracts horses stepping back from Gold Cup trips or stepping up from two miles, making race analysis more nuanced.

Friday 13th March – Cheltenham Gold Cup Day

Friday is the peak of the Festival. Public interest and betting volume reach their highest levels.

Key races:

• Triumph Hurdle
• County Hurdle
• Cheltenham Gold Cup

Betting characteristics:

• Large handicap fields earlier in the card
• Increased recreational betting activity
• Heavy liquidity in the Gold Cup market

The Gold Cup is run over 3m 2½f and tests stamina, jumping, and composure under pressure. Horses that travel strongly turning for home often trade at very short odds in-running, even though the Cheltenham hill can dramatically change outcomes.

Because of the emotional weight of the final day, disciplined staking is particularly important. Many punters increase stakes on the Gold Cup, which increases volatility across the market.

Daily Race Timing Structure

Each day typically follows this format:

• First race: around 1:30pm
• Feature race: mid-afternoon
• Final race: around 5:30pm

Seven races per day create continuous betting opportunities, so pacing your approach is crucial.

Strategic Approach to the Four-Day Schedule

The structure of the week allows for different betting styles:

• Early week: sharper markets, more professional money
• Midweek: competitive handicaps with each-way value
• Final day: high public participation and emotional betting

Planning your bets across the full schedule, rather than focusing on one headline race, gives you a more balanced position across the Festival.

Feature Races Explained

The Cheltenham Festival is defined by its championship races. These Grade 1 contests attract the strongest fields, the highest prize money, and the largest betting turnover of the week.

Understanding the profile of each feature race helps you identify value, avoid common traps, and apply the right betting strategy.

Cheltenham Gold Cup

• Distance: 3m 2½f
• Type: Grade 1 Chase
• Age Range of Typical Winners: 7–9 years

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the ultimate test of a staying chaser. It demands stamina, fluent jumping, tactical awareness, and the ability to handle the uphill finish.

Key Trends

• Winners are usually in their prime (rarely younger than 7 or older than 10).
• Proven stamina over three miles or further is essential.
• Most winners have already run at Cheltenham.
• Favourites perform solidly but do not dominate every renewal.

Repeat winners are rare but possible. Horses that stay the distance strongly often return the following year.

Betting Angles

• Look for horses that finish strongly at the end of 3-mile Grade 1 races.
• Avoid runners stepping up in distance without proven stamina.
• Course form is a major positive.

Because of the prestige of the race, the Gold Cup market is highly competitive. Strong-travelling contenders often trade very short in-running.

Champion Hurdle

• Distance: 2m
• Type: Grade 1 Hurdle
• Profile: Speed-focused hurdlers

The Champion Hurdle tests pace, precision, and acceleration. It is often run at a relentless tempo.

Key Trends

• Winners are typically aged 5–7.
• Previous Grade 1 hurdle form is almost essential.
• Tactical speed matters more than stamina.

Short-priced favourites have historically performed well in this race compared to Festival handicaps. However, shock results still occur when pace collapses.

Betting Angles

• Prioritise horses with strong two-mile form.
• Examine sectional pace in previous races.
• Watch for market confidence on race day.

The pace can create dramatic in-running swings. A leader who jumps the final hurdle cleanly often trades very short.

Queen Mother Champion Chase

• Distance: 2m
• Type: Grade 1 Chase
• Focus: High-speed jumping

The Champion Chase is one of the fastest races of the week. Small errors can end a contender’s chance instantly.

Key Trends

• Previous Grade 1 chase success is common among winners.
• Strong front-runners often shape the outcome.
• Experience over two miles is crucial.

The race can turn chaotic if multiple front-runners contest the pace.

Betting Angles

• Prioritise accurate jumpers.
• Avoid horses stepping up sharply in class.
• Monitor ground preferences carefully.

Because of the speed and jumping pressure, the in-play market is volatile. Prices can double or halve within seconds after a single mistake.

Stayers’ Hurdle

• Distance: 3m
• Type: Grade 1 Hurdle
• Profile: Proven stamina performers

The Stayers’ Hurdle rewards horses that conserve energy and finish strongly.

Key Trends

• Winners are typically aged 6–9.
• Three-mile hurdle form is essential.
• Experience at Cheltenham is a strong positive.

The race often features fewer runners than handicaps, making markets slightly more predictable.

Betting Angles

• Look for horses that hit the line strongly over similar trips.
• Assess whether the pace will be strong or tactical.
• Consider each-way value if bookmakers extend places.

Unlike the Champion Hurdle, this race rewards stamina over speed.

Ryanair Chase

• Distance: 2m 4f
• Type: Grade 1 Chase
• Profile: Intermediate-distance specialists

The Ryanair often attracts horses that do not quite stay the Gold Cup trip or lack the pace for the Champion Chase.

Key Trends

• Winners usually have solid Grade 1 chase form.
• Strong jumping under pressure is key.
• Experience at 2m 4f is a positive.

Because the race suits a specific type of horse, market leaders tend to have consistent profiles.

Betting Angles

• Identify horses dropping back from longer trips.
• Look for strong finishing sectionals at intermediate distances.
• Watch for tactical pace advantages.

The race can favour horses that travel comfortably behind the leaders before striking late.

Arkle Challenge Trophy

• Distance: 2m
• Type: Grade 1 Novice Chase

The Arkle showcases top novice chasers stepping into open-class territory in future seasons.

Key Trends

• Strong novice hurdle background often translates well.
• Slick jumping is critical at this pace.
• Irish-trained novices frequently feature prominently.

Novice races can be harder to assess because horses are still improving rapidly.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

• Distance: 2m
• Type: Grade 1 Novice Hurdle

The Supreme opens the Festival and often sets the tone for the week.

Key Trends

• Strong bumper form can be a positive indicator.
• Market strength late on race day is common.
• Irish challengers regularly dominate.

Because it is the opening race, betting volumes surge just before the off.

Triumph Hurdle

• Distance: 2m 1f
• Type: Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle

Restricted to four-year-olds, the Triumph can produce unpredictable results due to limited form lines.

Betting Angles

• Examine flat racing background.
• Look at improvement curves rather than raw ratings.
• Be cautious with short-priced favourites lacking experience.

How Feature Races Differ from Handicaps

Championship races tend to:

• Have smaller fields
• Contain well-exposed Grade 1 form
• Be easier to model statistically

Handicaps:

• Have larger fields
• Offer stronger each-way potential
• Produce more market surprises

Balancing bets between championship races and handicaps can help manage risk across the week.

Classification of Cheltenham Festival Races

Novices

These races are for young horses who have not won over hurdles/fences at the beginning of the current season. Usually a horse’s first season racing

Juvenile

These races are for Novices but the horse must have been 3 years old at the beginning of the current season who will be 4 years old come the start of the Festival

Handicaps

These races are for all horses that have either won a race or raced 3 times in Maiden company. Horses are allotted a rating, based on their form. This rating is then used to provide a weight to be carried in the horses’ saddles, to give the horse the same chance of winning as the others (in theory). These races are usually very competitive and big fields, therefore are the toughest races to predict, unless you have some “inside” information.

Championship

These races are the most valuable and carry the biggest prize winnings. They are contested by the best horses in Europe and the races that carry the biggest interest among racegoers.

Cross Country

This is the longest race at the Festival with 3.7 miles to travel and 32 fences to jump. The fences are very different to the normal course and the race is contested largely on a different part of the track. Each fence has its’ own character and although grueling these races are usually intriguing betting heats.

Bumper

This race is for young horses that are yet to jump a hurdle/fence. These can also be very competitive affairs and tough to predict.

You can also find a full list of races and race info further down the page, this will also help you with your selections.

How to Bet on Cheltenham Festival

Betting on the Cheltenham Festival is straightforward in principle, but the volume of races and markets can overwhelm new punters. There are 28 races across four days, multiple betting types, and constant market movement.

A structured approach improves both decision-making and long-term results, especially for those who are new to betting on horse racing.

Step 1: Choose the Right Race

Not every race suits every betting style, and Cheltenham racecourse has every variety of race format for you to choose from.

Ask yourself:

• Is this a Grade 1 championship race or a large-field handicap?
• Is the field small (8–10 runners) or large (20+ runners)?
• Do I prefer predictable form races or value-driven handicaps?

For example:

• The Cheltenham Gold Cup usually features elite, well-exposed chasers.
• The Coral Cup often has 20+ runners and compressed handicap ratings.

If you prefer lower volatility, focus on championship races. If you prefer bigger prices and each-way value, target handicaps.

Step 2: Select Your Betting Market

This is another area where Cheltenham fans get to test their betting skill, as the festival offers more than simple win bets.

Win Bet

You back a horse to finish first. This suits shorter-priced runners in championship races.

Each-Way Bet

You split your stake between:

• Win
• Place

This works best in large fields, especially as bookmakers tend to extend their extra places on each way bets for cheltenham.

Forecast & Tricast

You predict the first two (forecast) or first three (tricast) finishers in exact order. These markets offer higher returns but carry higher risk.

Without the Favourite

You bet on a horse to finish best excluding the market leader. Useful when one runner dominates betting.

Festival Specials

Markets may include:

• Top trainer
• Top jockey
• Winning distance
• Head-to-head match bets

Understanding the right market for the race type is key. In a 24-runner handicap, an each-way bet often makes more sense than a straight win bet on a 10/1 shot. For more detailed information on betting options, take a look at our complete guide to different types of bets.

Step 3: Analyse Key Factors

Before placing your bet, assess:

• Trainer form in the weeks before the Festival
• Course form at Cheltenham
• Ground conditions (going)
• Distance suitability
• Recent race preparation

The Cheltenham hill places extra emphasis on stamina. Horses that finish strongly at similar tracks often adapt well.

Avoid placing bets based purely on reputation or hype. Study recent form guides carefully.

Step 4: Compare Bookmakers

During the Festival, bookmakers compete aggressively.

Look for:

• Extra place terms in handicaps
• Best Odds Guaranteed offers
• Price boosts on feature races
• Enhanced multiples

Margins are tighter during the Festival, but promotional offers can increase value significantly. If cash out flexibility matters to you, ensure the bookmaker provides reliable in-running functionality. To help you get started we have put together a list of the top bookmakers for horse racing.

Step 5: Decide on Bet Amounts

Cheltenham’s four-day structure increases the temptation to increase stakes. For that reason it’s important to set:

• A total Festival budget
• A maximum per race bet
• A clear plan for singles vs multiples

Avoid increasing bets after losses. The volume of races provides enough opportunity without forcing recovery bets. For more tips on managing your budget or avoiding gambling issues, check out our responsible gambling guide.

Step 6: Consider Ante-Post Betting

Ante-post betting allows you to back horses weeks or months before the Festival, and definitely has it’s advantages. We tend to place a handful of ante-post bets for strong contenders months in advance, but make sure they qualify for non runner no bet.

Advantages:

• Bigger prices
• Early market positions

Risks:

• No refund if the horse does not run (unless non-runner no bet applies)
• Injury or alternative race entries

Many experienced punters combine ante-post positions with race-day bets.

Step 7: Plan Across the Four Days

The Cheltenham Festival is a marathon, not a sprint. So make sure you structure your betting in a way that suits your betting style:

• Focus on one or two key races per day
• Target handicaps for each-way value
• Concentrate only on championship races
• Spread small stakes across multiple markets

Avoid concentrating your entire budget on the Cheltenham Gold Cup alone.

Example Cheltenham Betting Approach

A balanced strategy might look like:

• One win bet in a championship race
• One each-way bet in a handicap
• A small accumulator across a few short-priced favourites
• Conservative staking across all four days

This approach spreads exposure and reduces reliance on one result.

Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips and Stategy

So, now we know what races are contested and how to place your Cheltenham bet. but what do we look out for when picking a potential winner?

In this beginners guide to Cheltenham Festival we take things a step further, by providing tips on how you can improve your selections. There are hundreds of varieties of theory’s to picking a winner, some good, some bad, some indifferent. However, there are certain things at the Cheltenham Festival that will help you overall.

Regardless as to whether you are placings singles, doubles, accumulators, a Yankee bet or a Lucky 31 bet, the information below should help you improve your chances.

Trainers in Form

All trainers aim to bring their horses to the racecourse in peak form; however some trainers are unable to do this no matter how hard they try.

There are certain trainers that hit form at the right time, and may have been badly out of form in the months before the festival. You may find that their horses are slightly higher in price than others, as they may not have won this season. But their performance could have been whilst the trainer was out of form.

It is certainly worthwhile siding with trainers in good form in the weeks prior to the Festival

Course Form

Cheltenham is a unique course with large fences and a huge hill to climb at the finish. Therefore horses that have won or come close already at Cheltenham are worth keeping a close eye on.

Some of the best horses in the Country can struggle to get up the hill at the finish. So if they’ve struggled at Cheltenham before the likelihood is that they will struggle again at the Festival.

This is a tip well worth taking note of, especially in the Handicap races.

Market Vibes

The market can speak wonders for how a horse will perform. Some trainers/owners are not 100% on how a horse will perform until the day, as they may need certain ground or be unfit. So if a horse gets backed in significantly on the day of racing, it’s worth taking in to account.

Going

The ground at Cheltenham is predominantly good in comparison to what the ground has been over the winter, horses thrive under certain conditions so although a horse may not have performed this season so far, if he/she has raced on soft ground all winter then he/she gets the ground that they thrive on, a big priced winner could be found.

It is worth keeping an eye on how a horse travels through a race. If they travel on the bridle for the majority of a race on heavy ground but then don’t kick on, it can mean that they tire on that going, they may well thrive on good ground.

Handicap Plots

One of my favourite theories that I have found to be quite profitable, is a first time handicap form with 3 pieces of poor maiden form that is 5/1 or below. You can usually follow the market when these types of horses are out also as they will be backed in at some stage during the day.

Cheltenham Festival Race List

Please see below a list of races contested over the Festival with Grade, name, fences to jump, distance and age allowance;

Day	Race	Grade/Class	Distance	Type
Tuesday	Supreme Novices’ Hurdle	Grade 1	2m	Novice Hurdle
Tuesday	Arkle Challenge Trophy	Grade 1	2m	Novice Chase
Tuesday	Ultima Handicap Chase	Premier H’cap	3m 1f	Handicap Chase
Tuesday	Champion Hurdle	Grade 1	2m	Championship Hurdle
Tuesday	Mares’ Hurdle	Grade 1	2m 4f	Hurdle
Tuesday	Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle	Premier H’cap	2m	Juvenile H’cap
Tuesday	National Hunt Chase	Grade 2	3m 6f	Novice Chase
Wednesday	Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle	Grade 1	2m 5f	Novice Hurdle
Wednesday	Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase	Grade 1	3m	Novice Chase
Wednesday	Coral Cup	Premier H’cap	2m 5f	Handicap Hurdle
Wednesday	Queen Mother Champion Chase	Grade 1	2m	Championship Chase
Wednesday	Cross Country Chase	Premier H’cap	3m 6f	Cross Country
Wednesday	Grand Annual Chase	Premier H’cap	2m	Handicap Chase
Wednesday	Champion Bumper	Grade 1	2m ½f	NH Flat
Thursday	Turners Novices’ Chase	Grade 1	2m 4f	Novice Chase
Thursday	Pertemps Network Final	Premier H’cap	3m	Handicap Hurdle
Thursday	Ryanair Chase	Grade 1	2m 4f	Chase
Thursday	Stayers’ Hurdle	Grade 1	3m	Championship Hurdle
Thursday	Plate Handicap Chase	Premier H’cap	2m 4f	Handicap Chase
Thursday	Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle	Grade 2	2m 1f	Novice Hurdle
Thursday	Kim Muir Challenge Cup	Class 2 H’cap	3m 2f	Amateur Handicap Chase
Friday	Triumph Hurdle	Grade 1	2m 1f	Juvenile Hurdle
Friday	County Handicap Hurdle	Premier H’cap	2m 1f	Handicap Hurdle
Friday	Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle	Grade 1	3m	Novice Hurdle
Friday	Cheltenham Gold Cup	Grade 1	3m 2½f	Championship Chase
Friday	St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase	Class 2	3m 2½f	Hunters’ Chase
Friday	Mares’ Chase	Grade 2	2m 4f	Chase
Friday	Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle	Premier H’cap	2m 4f	Handicap Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival FAQs

When is the Cheltenham Festival?

It takes place annually in March over four consecutive days.

How many races are there?

There are currently 28 races across the Festival.

What is the biggest race?

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is widely regarded as the most prestigious race of the week.

Is Cheltenham good for each-way betting?

Yes. Large handicaps offer strong place value, especially when bookmakers offer extra places.

Can you cash out Cheltenham bets?

Most major bookmakers provide cash out before and during races.

Which trainers perform best?

Recent years have seen strong performances from leading Irish trainers, alongside established British yards.

Is Cheltenham the Best Betting Week of the Year?

For many UK punters, the Cheltenham Festival stands above every other meeting in the National Hunt calendar. No other week combines elite Grade 1 races, large-field handicaps, intense Irish–British rivalry, and consistent betting liquidity in the same way. From the roar before the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to the drama of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, every race carries significance.

From a betting perspective, the depth of markets creates opportunity. You have championship contests where class usually rises to the top, alongside competitive handicaps that reward careful each-way strategy. Add in enhanced odds, extra place offers, and full in-running cash out across most major bookmakers, and it becomes clear why turnover peaks in March.

That said, Cheltenham is not automatically profitable. The volume of racing, media hype, and emotional weight of the week can push punters into impulsive decisions. The Festival rewards structure, preparation, and disciplined staking more than bold guesses. For all the latest news from the festival, we recommend you visit the Jockey Club.

If you approach the week with a clear plan — analysing race types, monitoring trainer form, managing your bankroll, and using cash out selectively — Cheltenham can offer both excitement and genuine betting value. For many, that balance is exactly what makes it the best betting week of the year.