Cheltenham Festival Tips & Guide

Here at BetUK, you'll find a wide range of options surrounding the greatest show on turf, from betting odds to Cheltenham tips.

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious UK horse racing events in the calendar.

The festival is held annually in March and features four days of racing, culminating in the world-famous Cheltenham Gold Cup. In addition to that feature race, other Group One races happen each day, including the Champion Hurdle and the Champion Chase, which have also been won by racing legends.

Cheltenham Festival is the biggest horse racing meeting on the planet – and BetUK is here to take you through all the action. If you’re new to horse racing betting, then Cheltenham is the place to develop your understanding and become the next top tipster.

This four-day festival marks the start of spring and culminates in the historic Cheltenham Gold Cup, where winners are immortalised in the history books of horse racing betting.

Horses jump over fences and hurdles across the centuries-old racecourse at Cheltenham, while 70,000 punters watch on from the grandstands.

You can bet on Cheltenham at BetUK across all four days of the festival, as well as in the pre-race markets (known as ante-post markets). What’s more, bettors can livestream Cheltenham races from the BetUK app.

This guide has everything you need to know about Cheltenham betting – from research into each race to the best horse racing tips for beginners.

What is Cheltenham Festival?

It’s important to know what you’re betting on before you get started!

Cheltenham Festival is a four-day horse racing meeting that takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse each spring, usually in mid-March. It’s pretty much the World Cup or Super Bowl of horse racing.

Cheltenham marks the crowning point of the National Hunt season that runs across the winter months. It features 28 races, with all but one being run over either fences or hurdles.

The soft ground from months of winter weather makes jumping and landing much easier for the horses.

Millions of pounds are bet onthe Cheltenham Festival each year thanks to the elite-level races that unfold on the racecourse. There are seven Grade 1 races – the best in the business – including the iconic Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers' Hurdle and the Gold Cup.

What makes the Cheltenham Festival so popular?

Cheltenham Festival is popular among horse racing betting fans and wider sports enthusiasts because it’s the gold standard of horse racing. Most races are Grade 1, Grade 2, or Premier Handicaps. If you’re a trainer and have a lightning-fast stayer in your stable, you make sure they run at Cheltenham.

Another reason it’s the highlight of the horse racing calendar is because it welcomes spring. It marks the end of a gruelling winter for jockeys, horses, trainers, owners and punters alike. There is a true festival atmosphere at Cheltenham during Festival Week.

The Racecourses at Cheltenham

Cheltenham has two courses that both feature heavily during the Festival. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Cheltenham Old Course

• Featured on Tuesday and Wednesday of the Festival
• Best for speed races like Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase

The Old Course at Cheltenham is designed for lightning-fast horses. It’s a left-leaning course with a lot of tight bends and undulating ground. The charge to the home straight is more direct than the New Course, and often results in horses being bunched up. This creates exciting, close finishes over hurdles.

For bettors, it’s a good tip to back strong finishers for races taking place on the Old Course; those who can stay the distance and then kick up the hill to the post.

Cheltenham New Course

• Featured on Thursday and Friday of the Festival
• Best for slower, stamina-focused races like Stayers’ Hurdle and Gold Cup

The New Course at Cheltenham runs parallel to the Old Course for much of the way but features a very different finish. It’s a much wider course with fewer sharp turns, while horses are channelled into the home straight much earlier. The fourth-last fence is particularly testing, as it comes after the peak of the hill as horses, already tired, charge back towards the grandstands.

Bettors should keep an eye on calm horses that won’t look to bolt too early. The New Course needs smart management from jockeys to see their rides over the line and reserve enough energy in the tank for a gruelling last two jumps.

Cheltenham Festival Race Schedule

The Cheltenham Festival 2025 is scheduled from Tuesday, March 11, to Friday, March 14, featuring a series of prestigious National Hunt races. Below is a day-by-day breakdown of each race, including its official name (excluding sponsor names), distance, grade, number of hurdles or fences, and the winners from the past three years.

Race times are subject to change

Tuesday – Champion Day

Supreme Novices' Hurdle at 13:20

Distance: 2 miles (2m)

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 8 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Slade Steel
• 2023: Marine Nationale
• 2022: Constitution Hill

The Supreme Novices' Hurdle features the famous Cheltenham Roar and kicks off four days of scintillating horse racing action. Use this race to judge the going and course conditions over the coming days.

Arkle Novices' Chase at 14:00

Distance: 2m

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 13 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Gaelic Warrior
• 2023: El Fabiolo
• 2022: Edwardstone

Festival Trophy Handicap Chase at 14:40

Distance: 3m 1f

Grade: Premier Handicap

Obstacles: 20 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Chianti Classico
• 2023: Corach Rambler
• 2022: Corach Rambler

Mares' Hurdle at 15:20

Distance: 2m 4f

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 10 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Lossiemouth
• 2023: Honeysuckle
• 2022: Marie's Rock

Champion Hurdle at 16:00

Distance: 2m

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 8 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: State Man
• 2023: Constitution Hill
• 2022: Honeysuckle

The Champion Hurdle is the big race on Day One of Cheltenham Festival. Millions of punters will structure their multiple bets around the Champion Hurdle – it’s a two-mile bolt to the post designed for elite sprinters.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at 16:40

Distance: 2m

Grade: Premier Handicap

Obstacles: 8 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Lark In The Mornin
• 2023: Jazzy Matty
• 2022: Brazil

Juvenile races feature horses aged just three years old. They’re inexperienced but could become the Cheltenham stars of the future.

National Hunt Novices' Chase at 17:20

Distance: 3m 6f

Grade: Novices' Handicap

Obstacles: 23 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Corbetts Cross
• 2023: Gaillard Du Mesnil
• 2022: Stattler

You won’t be able to catch the final race of the day at Cheltenham on TV, so make sure you livestream the action with BetUK instead!

Wednesday – Style Wednesday

Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle at 13:20

Distance: 2m 5f

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 10 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Ballyburn
• 2023: Impaire Et Passe
• 2022: Sir Gerhard

Broadway Novices' Chase at 14:00

Distance: 3m

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 20 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Fact To File
• 2023: The Real Whacker
• 2022: L'Homme Presse

Coral Cup at 14:40

Distance: 2 miles 5 furlongs (2m 5f)

Grade: Premier Handicap

Obstacles: 10 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Langer Dan
• 2023: Langer Dan
• 2022: Commander Of Fleet

Cross Country Chase at 15:20

Distance: 3 miles 6 furlongs (3m 6f)

Grade: Cross Country

Obstacles: 32 mixed obstacles

Past Winners:

• 2024: No race due to waterlogged course
• 2023: Delta Work
• 2022: Delta Work

Queen Mother Champion Chase at 16:00

Distance: 2 miles (2m)

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 12 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Captain Guinness
• 2023: Energumene
• 2022: Energumene

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is one of the world’s most famous horse races. It’s run over a minimum distance (two miles) but also over fences. Successful horses need a mix of jumping ability and fast reflexes to push away on landing and steal ahead of their competitors.

Grand Annual Handicap Chase at 16:40

Distance: 2 miles (2m)

Grade: Premier Handicap

Obstacles: 14 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Unexpected Party
• 2023: Maskada
• 2022: Global Citizen

Champion Bumper at 17:20

Distance: 2 miles (2m)

Grade: 1

Obstacles: None (Flat race)

Past Winners:

• 2024: Jasmin De Vaux
• 2023: A Dream To Share
• 2022: Facile Vega

All but one race at Cheltenham takes place over jumps. The Champion Bumper is a rare flat race during the National Hunt calendar and is a great stage for horses that will soon start jumping. It acts like a transitional race, so any winners here could thrive in another race next year.

Thursday – St. Patrick's Thursday

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at 13:20

Distance: 2 miles 1 furlong (2m 1f)

Grade: 2

Obstacles: 8 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Golden Ace
• 2023: You Wear It Well
• 2022: Love Envoi

Thursday at Cheltenham is a party atmosphere with the Irish in town for St Patrick’s Day celebrations. It kicks off with the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, which is usually a dice roll. You can pick an outsider here and stand a good chance of an upset.

Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at 14:00

Distance: 2 miles 4 furlongs (2m 4f)

Grade: Premier Handicap

Obstacles: 16 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Grey Dawning
• 2023: Stage Star
• 2022: Bob Olinger

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at 14:40

Distance: 3 miles (3m)

Grade: Premier Handicap

Obstacles: 12 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Monmiral
• 2023: Good Time Jonny
• 2022: Third Wind

Festival Trophy at 15:20

Distance: 2 miles 4 furlongs (2m 4f)

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 17 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Protektorat
• 2023: Envoi Allen
• 2022: Allaho

Stayers’ Hurdle at 16:00

Distance: 3 miles (3m)

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 12 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Teahupoo
• 2023: Sire Du Berlais
• 2022: Flooring Porter

The Stayers' Hurdle is the leading long-distance hurdle race in the National Hunt calendar, with horses tasked with bolting over short hurdles at a blistering pace over 2m 7f. On rainy days the New Course can already be chopped up by this stage, making it a tough challenge for horses that need speed and stamina to get over the line.

Plate Handicap Chase at 16:40

Distance: 2 miles 4 furlongs (2m 4f)

Grade: Premier Handicap

Obstacles: 17 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Shakem Up'Arry
• 2023: Seddon
• 2022: Coole Cody

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at 17:20

Distance: 3 miles 2 furlongs (3m 2f)

Grade: Amateur Riders' Handicap

Obstacles: 21 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Inothewayurthinkin
• 2023: Angels Dawn
• 2022: Chambard

Friday – Gold Cup Day

Triumph Hurdle at 13:20

Distance: 2 miles (2m)

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 8 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Majborough
• 2023: Lossiemouth
• 2022: Vauban

Friday is all about the Gold Cup, but placepot bettors have their eyes on the Triumph Hurdle. A win here sets up your day nicely. If the weather and conditions are dry then this can be a super-quick race over just eight hurdles.

County Handicap Hurdle at 14:00

Distance: 2 miles 1 furlong (2m 1f)

Grade: Premier Handicap

Obstacles: 8 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Absurde
• 2023: Faivoir
• 2022: State Man

Mares' Chase at 14:40

Distance: 2 miles 4 furlongs (2m 4f)

Grade: 2

Obstacles: 17 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Limerick Lace
• 2023: Impervious
• 2022: Elimay

Novices' Hurdle at 15:20

Distance: 3 miles (3m)

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 12 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Stellar Story
• 2023: Stay Away Fay
• 2022: The Nice Guy

By this stage of the day, everyone’s attention is drawn to the Gold Cup, but the Novices’ Hurdle is a great race to prepare for the big one.

Cheltenham Gold Cup at 16:00

Distance: 3 miles 2½ furlongs (3m 2½f)

Grade: 1

Obstacles: 22 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Galopin Des Champs
• 2023: Galopin Des Champs
• 2022: A Plus Tard

This is the big one! Cheltenham betting goes into hyperdrive for the Gold Cup and you’re advised to get your bets in early. It is a long, gruelling race that only the best stayers can compete in. There’s £625,000 up for grabs, and an estimated £500m is bet on the race. Look out for BetUK Cheltenham offers ahead of the Festival and extra places for the Gold Cup.

Foxhunter Chase at 16:40

Distance: 3 miles 2½ furlongs (3m 2½f)

Grade: Hunter Chase

Obstacles: 22 fences

Past Winners:

• 2024: Sine Nomine
• 2023: Premier Magic
• 2022: Billaway

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at 17:20

Distance: 2 miles 4½ furlongs (2m 4½f)

Grade: Conditional Jockeys' Handicap

Obstacles: 10 hurdles

Past Winners:

• 2024: Better Days Ahead
• 2023: Iroko
• 2022: Banbridge

How to Bet on the Cheltenham Festival

The best way to bet on the Cheltenham Festival is to download the BetUK app or join BetUK via our website. New players can access a great welcome offer and bet on every race of the festival alongside live streams. What’s more, you get the best odds guaranteed.

So, how do you bet on Cheltenham? Here’s the process of placing a bet and a little insight into the types of Cheltenham bets available.

Betting on Cheltenham

To place a Cheltenham bet, log into your BetUK account online or via the app and make a deposit. New players need to sign up and provide some personal details before triggering their welcome offer upon their first deposit.

Once you’ve logged in, head to our Horse Racing tab on the BetUK homepage and find the Cheltenham page. You’ll see a list of all of the day’s races. Click on a race to open the race card, where you’ll see details of each horse. See their number, silks, jockey, trainer, form, age and weight.

Once you like the look of a horse, hit their odds to open the bet slip. Enter your bet in the box and check you’re happy with the potential return. If it looks good to you, hit ‘Place Bet’.

Types of Cheltenham bets

We just explained how you place a winning bet at Cheltenham. However, there are way more options than just backing a race winner across this four-day extravaganza. Here are some different Cheltenham bets to consider:

Each Way bets – Bet on a horse to finish in one of the top positions in a race. An each way bet splits your stake in two, with half backing your horse to win and the other half backing it to ‘place’. The number of places that payout depends on the size of the race.

Forecast – Bet on the two horses that will finish first and second in a race. You can bet on a reverse forecast, which means your two horses can finish first and second in either combination.

Tricast – Bet on the three horses that will finish first, second and third in a race. You can bet on a reverse tricast, which means your three horses can finish first, second and third in any combination.

Double – Bet on two horses to win their respective races. You can also bet Each Way here, meaning you'll still win if your horses place.

Treble – Bet on three horses to win their respective races. Again, you can also bet Each Way, so you'll still win if your horses place.

Fourfold – Like a double or treble, but with four horses across four races.

Match bet – Bet on one horse to finish ahead of another. This is a great way to bet without sweating over who will win the overall race.

Ante-post – BetUK offers odds on horses to win at Cheltenham way before the festival begins. This is ante-post betting, where you back a horse to win even though it’s not been confirmed to run. You get higher odds, but you don’t get your money back if the horse doesn’t race.

Tips for Betting on the Cheltenham Festival

If you’re betting on Cheltenham for the first time then it’s important you take a step back and plan your bets. There’s no worse feeling than going too big, too fast. Remember, there are 28 races to bet on here and you might have a BetUK welcome offer to aid your first bet. So, take your time and consider these Cheltenham tips before getting started.

Cheltenham Tip: Do your research

This is crucial. BetUK offers race cards for every race at Cheltenham, where you can study the form of each horse. Dig a little deeper, read BetUK’s Cheltenham tips, and get to know those horses inside out. You might identify a runner that looks perfect for a short sprint in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, or one that can handle heavy ground during the Gold Cup.

Cheltenham Tip: Look for value

That odds aren’t always right. Horses can see their price rise if punters steer clear of them or plunge if a flurry of bets back them to win. Part of betting is to find value in the odds. If you see a horse’s price rise and rise, then perhaps it’s a good time to back it before those odds fall in again.

Cheltenham Tip: Follow the race conditions

Cheltenham takes place in March, which means it can be hot and dry – like in 2014 – which results in firm ground for running. Or it could be horrible weather – gales flattened hospitality tents in 2008 and temperatures were just above freezing in 2013. The weather affects the course and therefore the horses. Those that have stamina fare better in wet conditions, while sprinters usually shine when the sun’s out.

Cheltenham Tip: Look at the trainers

Racehorse trainers spent their entire year planning runners for the Cheltenham Festival. The likes of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, and Paul Nicholls have their eyes on the biggest prizes. They have a lot of choice when it comes to selecting which horses run at Cheltenham. So, if you’re stuck for a pick, look at the trainers and see how well they’ve fared so far in the festival.

How to Livestream Each Race

There’s no better place to watch Cheltenham live than BetUK! Not only can you live stream Cheltenham online via our website and app, but you can place bets without skipping a beat.

Only punters who bet on a race have access to BetUK’s live streams. You also get lighting-fast results as soon as they come in.