Home » Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips 2023

Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips 2023

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 a four-day span. 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. However, the lure of the possibility to win big coupled with the maximum field on almost all races makes gambling on the event extremely challenging even for the most experienced players.

This is where we step in. To help you avoid confusion, we have done thorough research on all horses, trainers, and jockeys and have concluded on the ones with the most value. 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 Tips

A common mistake that many bettors make is to bet on every race. In a sport like horse racing, the losses can amount in a flash, which is why 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.

Bravemansgame to Win the Gold Cup @13/2 (7.50)

After winning the Ladbrokes King George VI Stake in December, Bravemansgame now seems to be in great form. He has managed to prevail in 9 out of 15 hurdle races while placing in 4 others. The combination of Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls aims at nothing less than victory in the Blue Riband event of the Festival.

Pied Piper to Win the Champion Hurdle e/w @66/1 (67.00)

There is no denying that Pied Piper is a long shot for the race. However, it has shown an excellent track record in hurdle racing in particular. Elliot, the trainer of the horse, also has an impressive record in steeplechase races. If you feel that the risk is too high, you should consider backing Pied Piper each way.

Nube Negra to Place the Queen Mother Champion Chase @20/1 (21.00)

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, Nube Negra 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 if they offer promotions and Live Streaming services.

What are the best bets for Cheltenham Festival

Besides the winner or each-way market, there are several other specials that bookmakers offer at the event. Among the Cheltenham Festival best 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, we will go with the combination of Paul Townend and Gordon Elliott. Townend can take advantage of the fact that Rachel Blackmore comes back from injury and prevail. On the other hand, trainer Willie Mullins has dominated the past decade with 78 total wins.

✔️ Top Jockey ⏩ Paul Townend to Win @1/2 (1.50)

✔️ Top Trainer ⏩ Gordon Elliott to Win @8/1 (9.00)

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 favourites. 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. Just 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, as well as the top stats from the previous tournaments that can lead you to bet on winners.

What is the schedule for the event in 2023?

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.

Champion Day - Day 1

Time	Race	Grade	Distance	Prize
13.30	Supreme Novices’ Hurdle	1	2m 87f	£93,750
14.10	Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase	1	1m 7f 199y	£131,250
14.50	Ultima Handicap Chase	3	3m 1f	£82,500
15.30	Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy	1	2m 87y	£337,500
16.10	David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle	1	2m 3f 200y	£90,000
16.50	National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase	3	2m 4f 44y	£60,000
17.30	Close Brothers Novices Handicap Chase	2	3m 7f 147y	£93,750

Ladies Day - Day 2

Time	Race	Grade	Distance	Prize
13.30	Ballymore Novices' Hurdle	1	2m 5f	£93,750
14.10	RSA Insurance Novices Steeple Chase	1	3m 80y	£131,250
14.50	Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle	3	2m 5f	£75,000
15.30	Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase	1	1m 7f 99y	£300,000
16.10	Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase	-	3m 6f 37y	£48,750
16.50	Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race	3	1m 7f 199y	£82,500
17.30	Weatherbys Champion Bumper	1	2m 87y	£56,250

St Patrick's Day - Day 3

Time	Race	Grade	Distance	Prize
13.30	JLT Novices Chase	1	2m 3f 166y	£131,250
14.10	The Pertemps Network Final	3	2m 7f 213y	£75,000
14.50	Ryanair Chase	1	2m 4f 127y	£265,000
15.30	Sun Racing Stayers Hurdle	1	2m 7f 213y	£240,000
16.10	Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate	3	2m 4f 127y	£82,500
16.50	Trull House Stud Mares Novices’ Hurdle	2	2m 179y	£67,500
17.30	Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Chase	0-145	3m 2f	£52,500

Gold Cup Day - Day 4

Time	Race	Grade	Distance	Prize
13.30	JCB Triumph Hurdle	1	2m 179y	£93,750
14.10	Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle	3	2m 179y	£75,000
14.50	Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle	1	2m 7f 213y	£97,969
15.30	Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase	1	3m 2f 70y	£468,750
16.10	St. James’s Place Foxhunter Steeple Chase	-	3m 2f 70y	£33,750
16.50	Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase	2	2m 4f 127y	£90,000
17.30	Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle	0-145	2m 4f 56y	£52,500

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 a 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 57, 31, and 30 wins, respectively.

⏩ Note that trainers Charlie Longsdon (60), Fergal O’Brien (38), Evan Williams (36), and Richard Newland (33) have not recorded a win.

⏩ During the last ten years, Paul Townend (17), Davy Russell (17), and Nico de Boinville (13) are the only jockeys with double-figure wins.

⏩ On the contrary, jockeys Paddy Brennan (64) and Tom O’Brien (52), do not have a win in the last decade.

⏩ Since 2003, only 8 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 26% 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 as 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, Chantry House won win. The horse pays @19/1 to win the Gold Cup.

⏩ 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. This year, the winner was Paisley Park, which is 6/1 to win the Stayers’ Hurdle on Day 3.

⏩ SSS Super Alloys Handicap Hurdle: Another Grade 2 race, it is 2 miles 179 yards long. This year’s winner, Cormier, will not participate in the Cheltenham Festival.

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, and more. You can find the best ones right below.

Money-Back if your horse finishes 2nd

Claim

Expires at: 21:59 Dec 31, 2023

Horse racing punters can grab the Money-back freebet. If your horse finishes second to the favourite, Quinnbet will refund your stake up to £10 per race. The minimum number of runners is six and min odds to qualify is 6/4 (2.50).

18+ | T&Cs apply | begambleaware.org

Expires at: 21:59 Dec 31, 2023

Claim

Get Promo