The hotly anticipated 2026 Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday 10 March 2026. The four-day meeting ranks as the biggest event in National Hunt racing and attracts the top horses, trainers, and jockeys from Britain and Ireland. Each day features several high-profile races, including the climactic Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday. In this preview, we cover schedules, expert tips, and useful betting offers that will help improve your horse racing Cheltenham Festival 2026 experience.
Cheltenham Festival Betting Offers & Free Bets
As the Festival attracts so much attention, even among casual punters, most bookmakers roll out some Cheltenham Festival betting promotions. We have highlighted some of the top offers available right now, several of which are open to new & existing customers.
Betfred Bet £10 & Get £10 in Free Bets
With this superb deal, if you place a win or each way bet worth £10+ on the first race each day at Cheltenham, Betfred will give you a £10 free bet to use the same day. This promotion covers all four days of the festival, meaning you can claim £40 in free bets.
Opt in req. £10 Win/EW single on 13:20 Cheltenham 10-13/03/26. £5 E/W will count. Free Bets on settlement. Restricted to bets on Cheltenham. Removed 17:30 on same day. 18+ | T&Cs apply | gambleaware.org | Play Responsibly | #AdBetfred Cheltenham 2026 NRNB
Betfred are giving punters peace of mind early by offering NRNB coverage on every single Cheltenham Festival race. No matter if you pick a non-runner or your selected horse is not declared, you will get your full stake back as cash.
Applies to bets placed on Cheltenham Festival 2026 races in the Outright NRNB market after 09:00 04/02/26. No Free Bets. No specials/boosts. 18+ | T&Cs apply | gambleaware.org | Play Responsibly | #AdBetano Bet £20 Get £40 in Free Bets
With this welcome offer, new customers must place a first bet of £20 or more on any horse racing market (odds of evens or greater). Once settled, Betano will release four x £10 free bets, two for horse racing and two for football.
Opt in, deposit and bet £20 on any Horse Racing market (Odds 1/1+) within 7 days of sign up. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets for set markets. Free Bets expire in 7 days. 18+ | T&Cs apply | gambleaware.org | Play Responsibly | #Ad2x Epic Boosts Every Day on the Cheltenham Festival
Throughout the Cheltenham Festival, William Hill will offer two markets each day with seriously inflated odds. ‘Any Favourite to Win’ has been named as one of the Day 1 picks, so these markets are well worth checking out.
Online & In-Shop. First live from 08:00 (or shop opening if later), second from 13:30 each day (10-13 March). Singles only. Stake limits apply. Odds may fluctuate. In Shop Plus customers only, 1 of each Epic Boost per customer. 18+ | T&Cs apply | gambleaware.org | Play Responsibly | #AdBetVictor £20 in Free Bets
This new customer offer enables first-time BetVictor players to scoop £20 in free bets from just an initial £10 bet. The first bet needs to be on horse racing at odds of at least 1/1. Doing this will unlock a £5 free bet for each day of the festival.
Opt in, deposit & bet £10+ on any Horse Racing market at minimum odds of 1/1. No cash out. Get 4x£5 in selected Cheltenham Bets. Free bets expiry following day at set time. Offer valid until 11:59 UK Time on 09.03.2026. 18+ | T&Cs apply | gambleaware.org | Play Responsibly | #AdCheltenham Odds & Predictions
The Cheltenham Festival attracts huge betting interest, and odds can change quickly as money comes in on leading contenders. Comparing prices across bookmakers often helps punters find better value before the race starts.
The best price often depends on the race, as odds reflect the bets each bookmaker has already taken. Differences remain fairly small in most cases, but even a slight price boost will increase your potential payout, especially with larger stakes. Generally speaking, though, bookmakers such as Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, and Ladbrokes often provide the most competitive Cheltenham Festival odds.
Gold Cup – Back Galopin Des Champs
This year’s renewal of the Gold Cup is wide open with little separating the front-runners in the betting. The four most favoured candidates stand as Fact To File (4/1), Jango Baie (5/1), The Jukebox Man (5/1) and Gaelic Warrior (11/2). Willie Mullins has indicated he will only run one of Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior in the event, so ensure you have NRNB protection if backing either. However, it is another Mullins runner that captures our attention though. Two-time former champion Galopin Des Champs (7/1), is our tip, a class act who still has the ability to claim a third win.
Champion Chase – Watch for Il Etait Temps
This minimum distance chase has a prolific honours roll list with some true greats having won it over the years. The favourite to be our next champion is Majborough (4/5) but he has tasted defeat in two of his three starts this season. Consequently, some will be tempted to chance L’Eau du Sud at 4/1, but we most like the look of Il Etait Temps (9/2). Ignoring a fall last time out, his record is extremely impressive, and he is normally reliable over the fences.
Champion Hurdle – The New Lion to Win
The most prestigious hurdling event in the British racing calendar is the source of much pre-festival discussion, such is the state of the field. Lossiemouth (5/2) may be involved but the Mares’ Hurdle is also an option for her. Should the Mullins’ mare compete, expected good/soft going may allow her to repeat December’s win over Brighterdaysahead (3/1). However, we cannot see her toppling The New Lion (7/4). While not the most reliable jumper, if the seven-year-old can stay upright he will be the horse to beat here.
Stayers’ Hurdle – Back Kabral Du Mathan
We have two former champions in the mix for this renewal of the Stayer’s Hurdle, last year’s winner Bob Olinger (6/1) and 2023 Victor Teahupoo (7/4). Helpfully, the pair competed together in December and it was Teahupoo who triumphed comfortably. While former winners always command respect, we can’t help but be more persuaded by Kabral Du Mathan (5/1). The six-year-old has been transformed by wind surgery and a change of stables. Moreover, further improvements look set to come on this course.
Ryanair Chase – Back Fact To File
Willie Mullins has stated that only one of Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior will run in the Gold Cup, with the other entering the Ryanair Chase. While the Ryanair is still a top-level race, with a £375,000 purse, it does not carry the same prestige as the Gold Cup. Whichever horse runs here, we would back for the win, even if the price is odds-on. As things stand, both Fact To File (4/7) and Gaelic Warrior (evens) sit well ahead of Jonbon (5/1) and Banbridge (5/1) in the market.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Schedule
Each day of the festival features seven races at Cheltenham Racecourse, starting at 1:20pm and finishing with the last race at 5:20pm. There is a great balance of quality too, with each day having at least a trio of Grade 1 events. If you are asking “when is the Cheltenham Festival 2026”, here are the key Cheltenham Festival dates:
Tuesday 10 March – Champion Day
| Time | Race |
|---|---|
| 1:20pm | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle |
| 2:00pm | Arkle Novices’ Chase |
| 2:40pm | Juvenile Handicap Hurdle |
| 3:20pm | Ultima Handicap Chase |
| 4:00pm | Champion Hurdle |
| 4:40pm | Plate Handicap Chase |
| 5:20pm | National Hunt Chase |
Wednesday 11 March – Ladies’ Day
| Time | Race |
|---|---|
| 1:20pm | Turners Novices’ Hurdle |
| 2:00pm | Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase |
| 2:40pm | BetMGM Cup |
| 3:20pm | Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase |
| 4:00pm | Queen Mother Champion Chase |
| 4:40pm | Grand Annual Chase |
| 5:20pm | Champion Bumper |
Thursday 12 March – St Patrick’s Thursday
| Time | Race |
|---|---|
| 1:20pm | Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle |
| 2:00pm | Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase |
| 2:40pm | Mares’ Hurdle |
| 3:20pm | Stayers’ Hurdle |
| 4:00pm | Ryanair Chase |
| 4:40pm | Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle |
| 5:20pm | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup |
Friday 13 March – Gold Cup Day
| Time | Race |
|---|---|
| 1:20pm | Triumph Hurdle |
| 2:00pm | County Handicap Hurdle |
| 2:40pm | Mares’ Chase |
| 3:20pm | Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle |
| 4:00pm | Cheltenham Gold Cup |
| 4:40pm | Princess Royal Challenge Cup |
| 5:20pm | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle |
Non Runner No Bet at Cheltenham & Why You Should Use It
Non Runner No Bet (NRNB) is a key form of insurance for punters. It protects your stake if your chosen horse fails to run. Because horses are often entered for multiple events, but can only feature in one, this is particularly useful at the Cheltenham Festival. Normally, NRNB only applies to bets placed after the final declarations, but Cheltenham sees heavy ante-post betting in the run-up. Many bookmakers extend NRNB protection to these earlier bets, giving punters peace of mind when backing horses before the final field is confirmed.
If a bookmaker offers early NRNB for the Cheltenham Festival (or selected festival races), you can usually qualify just by placing a standard win or each-way bet. In the event your horse does not feature in the selected race, the bet will be voided, and you will get your money back. This flexibility allows you to safely place bets in advance, knowing your stake is protected if your horse does not run, whatever the reason.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Tips
Whether you are a casual or experienced bettor, here are some Cheltenham Festival tips that will help you maximise your bankroll. Firstly, be sure that any ante-post bets placed use NRNB offers. If they do not, you risk losing money on a horse that does not even take part.
Another essential feature a bookmaker should offer you is Best Odds Guaranteed. Through this, you can back a horse at a fixed-price. However, if the official starting price is higher, the bookie will pay you at the starting price. This ensures you get good value on any successful win or each-way bet.
Speaking of each-way bets, you can find a lot of ‘extra place’ races during the Cheltenham Festival, as this is a popular promotion. These races see additional places added to the standard each-way terms. For example, if an each-way bet would usually cover the top three runners, an extra place promotion may see the top four or five covered instead.
Punters can also get value by seeking out ‘price boosts’. This simple offer type sees a bookmaker enhance the odds of a horse to win, or other popular markets across Cheltenham races. Through such deals, you can get market-leading value on a particular bet.
Throughout the festival, do not be afraid to mix up your bets, rather than always backing a horse to win. Consider each-way bets or other markets like ‘to place’ or ‘win without the favourite’. By splitting your money across markets, you can help lower your risk.
Where Can You Watch Cheltenham Festival 2026 Live?
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 will be shown on ITV Racing in the UK across all four days. Coverage runs from 12:45pm to 5pm each day, broadcasting the first six races on the card.
Alternatively, most bookmakers stream every race live on their website and mobile app. Major UK brands such as William Hill, Betfred, Sky Bet, Coral, and Bet365 all offer this service. However, to access a stream, you may need some money in your account or to have placed a recent bet.
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