Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips 2025

When it comes to jumps racing, the Cheltenham Festival stands above all else. It is an annual event that takes place every March and consists of 28 races in four days. Each day, there is a feature race, with the Gold Cup on Friday being the highlight of the whole tournament. As you can imagine, horse bookmakers cover the meeting closely.

Bettors are lured by the possibility of winning big in these races. The events are held at the maximum field size for each category, making things slightly more challenging.  To help you avoid confusion, we have done thorough research on all horses, trainers, and jockeys.

Read on to examine the best Cheltenham Festival betting tips for each day. Is it worth looking at the ante-post market, or should you wait to place your wagers? Are there any betting trends that can help you make informed decisions? Let’s get right to it.

Latest Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips

A common mistake is to bet on every race. In a sport like horse racing, the losses can accumulate in a flash, which is why it is better to pick your spots. Our latest Cheltenham Festival tips focus on the races we have more information. In addition, you should note that online bookmakers have released the odds way ahead of time. This means that the ante-post also hides enormous value.

⏩ Galopin Des Champs to Win the Gold Cup @1.50

After the great performances in the last years, Galopin Des Champs remains the huge favorite to do it back-to-back. Only this year, the payout dropped from 9.00 to 1.40. With enhanced odds, some bookies offer this bet at 1.50. The horse has been dominating this race, and bookmakers agree that it will likely win again.

⏩ Burdett Road to Finish in Top 2 of Championship Hurdle @ 8.50

While Constitution Hill is the absolute favorite, there are doubts about Nicky Henderson's horse gaining weight. We usually like to back an underdog for the hurdle, and in this case, we would have chosen either Brighterdaysahead or Burdett Road. However, given the odds on the second horse to Finish in the top 2, this bet might be the most valuable in this category. 

⏩ Marine Nationale to Win E/W in the Queen Mother Champion Chase @6.00

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is traditionally one of the most hard-fought races of the whole Festival. No matter the odds, we always suggest backing your horse each way. The hurdles can cause unexpected problems. After thorough research, the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale seems to be an excellent choice for each-way betting. 

Where Can I Engage in Cheltenham Festival Betting

Whether you already have an idea which horses to back or you feel confident following our Cheltenham Festival tips, choosing the right sportsbook is critical. Underneath, you can find the top Cheltenham bookmakers online. We picked them by evaluating several criteria such as odds, market coverage, and whether they offer promotions and Live Streaming services.

What Are the Best Bets for Cheltenham Festival

Besides the winner or each-way market, bookmakers offer several other specials at the event. Among the best Cheltenham Festival bets, you can wager on the ante-post, top jockey or trainer, forecasts, tricasts, and pools.

Top Trainer & Jockey

This is one of the most popular Cheltenham Festival special bets since it keeps your interest alive during the whole four days. Essentially, you bet on which jockey and trainer will have the most winners. The odds are calculated based on the number of races they will be part of, coupled with the probability of the horse winning.

Betting-wise, there is little chance of anyone other than Paul Townend and Willie Mullins walking away with both trophies, which means the payout on both bets is low. On 1xbet, you can find these stakes without the two most likely winners, opening up a new set of possibilities where the odds become more interesting. Still, for the jockey, we think Nico de Boinvile has a good chance to win this year. Here are our predictions:

✔️ Top Jockey ⏩ Nico de Boinvile @5.00

✔️ Top Trainer (without Willie Mullins) ⏩ Nicky Henderson Win @2.62

Antepost

Most bookmakers will release odds on the horses months before the event starts. Antepost Cheltenham Festival betting is a double-edged sword, though. On the one hand, you can get higher odds when the market opens if you already have a feel for which horses will be favorites.

Prices are bound to decrease as the days go by. On the other, there is no guarantee that your picks will actually run. This is why you should look for sites that will give you your money back if this happens.

Match Betting

This wager is otherwise known as head-to-head. You pick between two horses, which one you think will end up ahead. It doesn’t matter if it’s the 1st and 2nd or the 13th and 16th. All you need is your horse to finish in a better place than the other. When so many horses run, picking the winner is very tough.

The bet narrows the field, and theoretically, you have a 50% chance of winning. This is not something you come across in horse racing often. However, you should note that very few bookies offer odds on that market and that the horses in every race are pre-determined.

Forecast & Tricast

This has become one of the best bets for Cheltenham not because it’s easy to hit but rather due to the high profits it can bring you. In a forecast, you pick two horses to finish first and second, while in tricast three runners to finish first, second, and third. The order of the finish must be exactly what you bet.

Otherwise, you lose. As you can imagine, the more selections you add, the higher the risk of losing but so are the returns. In any case, we recommend only placing small stakes on this particular wager. Click here if you want to learn more about forecast and tricast bets.

Placepot & Pools

The Tote pools are unique Cheltenham Festival special bets you can find. Instead of the traditional fixed odds, you place bets in a pool with all other players, and if you win, you earn a share of the total prize. There are several different types, like the Placepot Bet or the Scoop 6 Jackpot.

These pool bets ask you to find the top horses in a series of races throughout the Festival and offer excellent profits. To give you some perspective, in 2021, someone hit the Jackpot after Minella Indo finished first in the Gold Cup (last race) and won £112,854 off a £2 wager.

Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide

Besides the predictions and the special wagers you can come across, several other aspects can influence your final picks. Our Cheltenham Festival betting guide would not be complete without examining the schedule, how the racecourse affects the horses, and the top stats from the previous tournaments that can lead you to bet on winners.

What is the Schedule for the Event in 2025?

Knowing the exact schedule is critical. You can check conditions like the distance, the Grade, or the prize money and immediately understand which races should be avoided during Cheltenham Festival betting. We suggest staying away from Novice races (Grade 3) since the data on each horse are limited. Let’s take a look at the complete schedule.

*The races are shown in UK time.

Champion Day - Day 1

Style Wednesday - Day 2

St Patrick's Thursday - Day 3

Gold Cup Day - Day 4

Does the Racecourse Affect our Tips?

The racecourse and the turf condition are two of the most important things you should inspect before placing any bets. Horses run better on certain terrains, while weather conditions make the soil harder or softer. Our Cheltenham Festival betting tips have taken into consideration that the track is unique.

This is because two separate tracks are used, the Old Course and the New Course. Both are left-handed testing circuits. The Old Course is a mile and a half long, while the New one is half a furlong longer. The Old is used during the first two days, and the New during the last two days. The jumps also differ: the New Course only has two hurdles in the last seven furlongs.

This makes the races a test of stamina rather than jumping over fences. So, during the final two days of the event, you should look for horses with great stamina that finish strong. In addition, before each race, you have to examine the turf.

Generally, the ground is normally ‘good,’ so the next step of your Cheltenham Festival betting is to look at the form. It is not uncommon for runners performing below par during the winter to come around and find their rhythm in the springtime. This can hide some dark horses on high odds.

Are there any Cheltenham Festival Betting Trends?

Historically, some jockeys and trainers perform exceptionally well in the tournament and always get our attention. In addition, the age and experience of a horse can hint at how good or bad they are going to run. Underneath, you can find a few helpful Cheltenham Festival betting trends that can assist you in backing the right contestants.

⏩ Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson, and Gordon Elliot are the highest-winning trainers in the last decade, with 65,  23, and 37 wins, respectively.

⏩ Note that trainers Charlie Longsdon (61), Fergal O’Brien (39), Evan Williams (37), and Richard Newland (37) have not recorded a win.

⏩ During the last ten years, Paul Townend, Davy Russell, Rachael Blackmore, and Nico de Boinville are the only jockeys with double-figure wins.

⏩ On the contrary, jockey Paddy Brennan does not have a win in the last decade.

⏩ Since 2003, only 9 out of the 174 previously fallen horses managed to win a race.

⏩ Compared to the youngest in a race, horses that are 5+ years older have only won 10 out of 226 races since 2003.

⏩ On the other hand, 7yo horses have accumulated the most wins, with 28% going their way in the last decade.

Our Cheltenham betting tips do not only take into account stats from previous years. Some races right before are considered trials, and, usually, runners that perform well go on to do the same at the Festival.

⏩ Cotswold Chase: It takes place in the New Course and is a Grade 2, 3.2-mile-long race. It is a steeplechase that features 21 hurdles and is thought to be the final proving ground for the horses. This year's winner, L'Homme Presse, will not be participating in the Gold Cup. Trainer Venetia Williams will run the least favorite horse instead, and that Royale Pagaille @81.00.  

⏩ Cleeve Hurdle: This is also a Grade 2 race run on the New Course, and it is open to horses aged five or older. It is almost 3 miles long and contains 12 fences. Gowel Road took the award this year and is appearing for the Stayers' Hurdle with 17.00 odds to win.

⏩ SSS Super Alloys Handicap Hurdle: Another Grade 2 race, it is 2 miles 179 yards long. Jango Baie claimed it in 2024, and bookies are giving the horse 8.50 to win the Novice Chase.

Can I Claim any Cheltenham Sign Up Offers?

As you can imagine, horse racing bookmakers pay a lot of attention to the event. Sportsbooks provide a wide range of promotions to motivate you to engage in Cheltenham Festival betting. These include Welcome Offers, Free Bets on the main races, Faller Insurance, Enhanced Odds, and more. You can find the best ones right below.

$25 Horse Free Play

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Expires at: 23:59 Dec 31, 2025

The $25 Free Bet is only good on the first bet placed on SportsBetting's Racebook. Place a real-money bet in the Racebook. If your bet loses get your stake back as a Free Bet up to $25. Email required. Bets placed over the phone do not count for this promotion. There is a 6x time rollover requirement associated with the Free Bet. Free Bets expire after 30 days of release. Bets on the Breeders’ Cup, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes are not eligible for this promotion. Bets on Horse match-ups, futures and props are not eligible for this promotion.

T&Cs apply, see more details

The $25 Free Bet is only good on the first bet placed on SportsBetting's Racebook. Place a real-money bet in the Racebook. If your bet loses get your stake back as a Free Bet up to $25. Email required. Bets placed over the phone do not count for this promotion. There is a 6x time rollover requirement associated with the Free Bet. Free Bets expire after 30 days of release. Bets on the Breeders’ Cup, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes are not eligible for this promotion. Bets on Horse match-ups, futures and props are not eligible for this promotion.

Expires at: 23:59 Dec 31, 2025

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Cheltenham 200% Loss-Back

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Expires at: 23:59 Dec 31, 2025

Did you miss this year's Cheltenham offers? Highbet gives you the chance to be the earliest bird for the next race as this promotion has no determined end date. Bet £10 and get £20 back if your bet loses, no conditions attached. With the other guarantees offered by Highbet, you do not need to worry about horses not making the race. Terms and Conditions apply.

T&Cs apply, see more details

Did you miss this year's Cheltenham offers? Highbet gives you the chance to be the earliest bird for the next race as this promotion has no determined end date. Bet £10 and get £20 back if your bet loses, no conditions attached. With the other guarantees offered by Highbet, you do not need to worry about horses not making the race. Terms and Conditions apply.

Expires at: 23:59 Dec 31, 2025

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Other Key UK Horse Events

The Cheltenham Festival is not the only event in the United Kingdom that draws considerable attention from players. The Royal Ascot and the Grand National are also very high-profile. Our team of experts publishes tips on the top races every year. Feel free to find them below: 

⏩ Best Royal Ascot Betting Tips

⏩ Grand National Tips and Predictions

Should I follow the Cheltenham Festival betting tips?

Our strong team of horse racing experts has examined all the latest news, the horses and jockeys form, as well as statistics that have resulted in several Cheltenham Festival betting tips. Wagering in the tournament can prove very profitable but can also lead you to lose big amounts of money. This is why the first thing you have to avoid is playing every race.

You are better off only betting on Grade 1 races because it will be easier to collect valuable information. Following our Cheltenham Festival betting guide, you can go one step further than just gambling on the winner of each race. Trying your luck on special bets like Forecasts or the Scoop 6 or reading about the racetrack can all become part of your strategy.