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Cheltenham Festival Free Bets & Betting Offers

This page compares the Cheltenham betting offers currently available to new customers, focusing on the details that affect how useful an offer really is in practice: the qualifying stake (for example £5, £10 or £20), the odds requirement (such as Evens or 2/1), the bonus format (for example free-bet tokens or stake refunds), and how long the reward remains valid (for example 24 hours or 7 days).

Offer terms, availability and expiry windows can change quickly during Festival week, so always check bookmaker T&Cs before placing a qualifying bet.

Best Cheltenham Festival Free Bet Offers Available

BookmakerCheltenham OfferKey TermsBest For
Bet St GeorgeBet £20 Get £20 Free BetNew customers, code B20G20; £20+ first sports bet from main balance, pre‑match, min odds 1/2 (1.50); no bet builders, specials or cashed‑out bets; £20 free bet, 7‑day expiry, winnings paid in cash, no wagering. Simple “bet once, get once” value on Cheltenham with low qualifying odds.
BestOddsBet £20 Get 5 × £5 Free BetsNew UK customers, code bop20x5fb; deposit and place £20+ first bet at min odds Evens (2.00); no SP, cashed‑out or void bets; 5 × £5 tokens over 5 days, each valid 24 hours, stake not returned on winnings. Spreading £25 of free bets over multiple Cheltenham races and days.
Fairplay SportsBet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets (Code GG20)New customers; register with GG20 and place £20 qualifying bet at min odds Evens (2.0); qualifying bet cannot be on a price boost; £20 free bet credited within 24 hours, stake not returned, 30‑day expiry. One £20 token with long expiry for more casual, less frequent betting.
BetTom50% Back as Free Bet on First Day Losses (Up to £25)New sportsbook customers; first‑day net losses (stakes minus returns before 23:59) refunded 50% as a single free bet up to £25; must place at least 3 × £10+ bets on separate events at odds Evens (2.0) or bigger; free bet valid 7 days, stake not returned. Those wanting a “safety‑net” cashback‑style first day rather than a straight bet‑and‑get.
BOYLE SportsBet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets + Money Back First Race Every DayNew UK customers (exc. NI); min £10 deposit and £10 first bet at odds Evens (2.0) or bigger; £40 in free bets credited after settlement, 7‑day expiry; plus Festival promo: money back as free bet (max £/€10) if your horse loses the first race each day. Smaller initial stake unlocking £40 in free bets plus daily first‑race refunds.
Bally SportsBet £10 Get £30 in Free BetsNew members who opt in to sports Free Bets; first deposit £10+, then £10+ qualifying bet at min odds 1/2 (1.5) on sportsbook (no boosts, second‑chance, or free‑bet stakes); on settlement get 3 × £10 tokens, 30‑day expiry, stake not returned. Low £10 entry for £30 split into three flexible £10 tokens with long 30‑day window.
StakemateBet £10 Get £30 in Free BetsNew customers; place £10 qualifying bet at min odds 2.0; must settle (no cash‑outs); within 24 hours get £30 split as 2 × £5 and 2 × £10 free bets; free bets must be used on accas with at least 3 selections at min combined odds 3.0; stake not returned; expiry applies. Acca‑focused punters happy to use multi‑leg bets to unlock value from the £30 package.
Bet365Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets (Bet Credits)New customers using code GG365; deposit at least £10 and place qualifying bets equal to your deposit with min odds requirement; on settlement receive up to £30 in bet credits; bet credits not withdrawable, returns exclude stake, 30‑day limits and payment exclusions apply. Big‑brand option with flexible bet credits usable across Cheltenham and other markets.
Paddy PowerBet £10 on Cheltenham Get £40 in Free BetsNew customers; open account with promo code YHRCHV; deposit via Pay by Bank, debit card or Apple Pay; place £10+ fixed‑odds bet at min odds Evens (2.0) on any Cheltenham market; on settlement receive 4 × £10 in Free Bet Builder/acca/multiples tokens, valid 30 days, stake not returned. Multiples and bet‑builder fans wanting £40 in tokens from just a £10 Cheltenham bet.
AK BetsUp to £100 Winnings Boost on First Lucky 15New customers via partner sites with code AKLUCKY100; first bet must be a Lucky 15 (racing or any sport); if it wins, returns boosted by 25% as a free bet up to £100; free bet usable at any price, valid 7 days, stake not returned; cashed‑out/void bets excluded. More serious Lucky 15 punters looking for a 25% winnings boost up to £100.

How to compare Cheltenham offers properly

  • Look past the headline number and check the qualifying stake you need to risk (for example £5, £10, £20 or £40).
  • Note the minimum odds you must take to trigger the offer, such as 1/2, Evens or 2/1, as this controls whether you can stick to shorter‑priced favourites.
  • Check the reward type you actually receive — standard free bets, acca tokens, Bet Builder chips or Tote credit all behave differently when you use them.
  • Look at how the bonus is split in practice, for example 3 x £10, 4 x £5 or 2 x £10 plus 2 x £5, and whether that fits your normal staking pattern.
  • Pay attention to the expiry period — 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days
  • Read the usage restrictions carefully: singles only, horse‑racing only, multiples only or selected markets only can all limit how you deploy your bets on the Gold Cup and supporting races.
  • Check payment restrictions, such as debit card–only deposits, card or Apple Pay only, and any excluded e‑wallets, before you sign up.
  • Remember that a lower‑entry offer can be better for a beginner who wants to risk a small stake, while a racing‑only or Tote‑focused bonus may suit a Festival specialist who plans to play multiple Cheltenham markets.

Review of the Best Cheltenham Festival Betting Offers and Free Bets

Below is a closer look at the leading bookmakers listed in the Cheltenham free‑bet comparison table.

1. Bet St George – Straightforward £20 Boost

Bet St George keeps things simple and suits punters who just want a clean “bet and get” deal on the final day. You stake £20 pre‑match at minimum odds of 1/2, avoid builders and specials, and they hand you a £20 free bet that you can use within a week. Winnings from the free bet land in cash with no extra wagering, which feels fair and easy to work with. This works well if you already have one main fancy in the Gold Cup and want an extra swing at one of the supporting races.

2. BestOdds – £25 Split Across Five Cheltenham Bets

BestOdds spreads your bonus across the card, which fits nicely on a busy day You place a £20 qualifying bet at Evens or bigger and receive five separate £5 free bets, one per day, each lasting 24 hours. You cannot use SP bets or cash‑outs to qualify, so you need to commit to your selections properly. This offer works best if you like firing several smaller darts at big‑field handicaps and the festival finales, rather than going all in on one race.

3. Fairplay Sports – £20 Free Bet with a Long Shelf Life

Fairplay Sports offers a simple £20 in free bets once you stake £20 at Evens or above using the GG20 code. You can’t use price boosts for the qualifier, but the crucial advantage is the 30‑day expiry on the free bet, which is very generous around Cheltenham.

4. BetTom – Safety Net up to £25

BetTom approaches things differently, focusing on giving you a safety net on your very first day rather than a fixed free‑bet bundle. If you place at least three £10+ bets on separate events at Evens or bigger, they refund 50% of your net losses for that day as a free bet, capped at £25. The free bet lasts seven days and the stake is not returned, so you still need to choose your follow‑up carefully. At Cheltenham, BetTom suits someone who plans a full afternoon of betting and wants protection if the Gold Cup and the big handicaps all go the wrong way.

5. BOYLE Sports – £10 Qualifier for £40 in Free Bets plus Daily Refunds

BOYLE Sports combines a generous welcome package with ongoing festival value. A £10 qualifying bet at Evens or higher unlocks £40 in free bets, while their Cheltenham promotion pays money back as a free bet up to £10 if your horse loses the first race each day. The free bets expire after a week, so you have to use them quickly but you get a lot of firepower from a modest outlay. That mix is ideal if you want a bet in the opening race with a safety net, and enough free bets left to cover the late‑card races.

6. Bally Sports – Low £10 Entry for Three £10 Tokens

Bally Sports offers a tidy “Bet £10 Get £30” deal that works well for the final day. You opt in to the free‑bet promotion, deposit at least £10, and place a £10 bet at odds of 1/2 or greater that isn’t boosted or funded by bonuses. Once the bet settles, Bally credits three £10 free bet tokens, each valid for 30 days with the stake excluded from returns.

7. Stakemate – Acca‑Friendly £30 for Punters Who Like Multiples

Stakemate leans into accumulators, so it fits punters who enjoy stringing a few races together on the last day. You qualify by staking £10 at odds of 2.0 or above, then receive £30 in free bets split as two £5s and two £10s, all to be used on multiples with at least three legs at minimum combined odds of 3.0. The free‑bet stake does not come back, so you want to aim at prices that give a meaningful return if the acca lands.

8. Bet365 – Flexible Bet Credits for Gold Cup and Beyond

Bet365 supplies a familiar “Bet £10 Get £30 in Bet Credits” package and offers strong overall coverage of Cheltenham. You sign up with the GG365 code, deposit, and place qualifying bets at the required minimum odds; once those bets settle, bet credits equal to your deposit (up to £30) appear in your account. Bet credits cannot be withdrawn and their stake does not return in winnings, but you can use them across a wide range of sports and markets.

9. Paddy Power – £40 in Multiples from a £10 Cheltenham Bet

For Cheltenham, Paddy Power gives you a focused, festival‑specific welcome: stake £10 at Evens or above on any Cheltenham market with the YHRCHV code, and once that bet settles you receive four £10 free bets for bet builders, accas or other multiples. You must deposit via Pay by Bank, debit card or Apple Pay, and the tokens last 30 days, which is a comfortable window beyond the Festival itself.

10. AK Bets – 25% Winnings Boost on Your First Lucky 15

AK Bets targets more committed racing punters rather than casual free‑bet hunters. If your first bet is a Lucky 15, AK Bets boosts any profit from that bet by 25% and pays the extra as a free bet, up to £100, when you use the AKLUCKY100 promo code. The free bet then has seven days to be used, with the stake not returned and void or cashed‑out bets excluded.

Cheltenham offer types by bettor profile

Different Cheltenham promos suit different betting styles.

  • Beginners usually benefit most from low-stake, easy-to-trigger welcome offers.
  • Each-way bettors should focus more on extra places and place terms than on headline free-bet value alone.
  • Acca and Bet Builder users may get more value from bonuses structured around multiples.
  • Racing specialists are often better served by horse-racing-only offers, NRNB terms and race-specific concessions.
  • Higher-staking punters should pay closer attention to refund caps, token flexibility and repeatability across the four days.

Types of Cheltenham Free Bets

Cheltenham offers mainly include money‑back specials, extra places, enhanced odds, NRNB, BOG, acca insurance and bet‑and‑get deals. Use NRNB and BOG for early prices, extra places for big‑field each‑way bets, enhanced odds for strong single fancies, and acca insurance or boosts for Festival‑long multiples. Always check minimum odds, stake limits and how refunds or free bets are paid, so the promotion genuinely improves your expected return on the race you want to back.

Social Betting and “Bet Clubs” Becoming a Cheltenham Trend

Social betting tools and in‑app Bet Clubs let you share tips, publish slips and copy others’ Cheltenham bets instantly, which is handy when markets move quickly across the 28 races. A Bet Club works like a private tipping feed with leaderboards, copy‑bet stats and group‑only boosts, helping newer punters learn from specialists while regulars stress‑test strategies in real time. A newer twist is small “bankroll rings”, where friends pool a Festival stake, vote on daily bets and track one shared pot, spreading risk while still targeting value from NRNB, extra places and price boosts.

How to get your Cheltenham free bets?

Most Cheltenham free bets follow the same basic process: sign up with a bookmaker, meet the qualifying requirements, and then wait for the bonus to be credited after your bet settles. The exact trigger varies by bookmaker, so always check the minimum stake, minimum odds, promo code, expiry window and payment restrictions before claiming an offer.

Step 1: Request your free bet

Click on any of the links or banners around GG that advertise a Free Bet offer from one of our trusted partner bookmakers. Search the above list for the very latest Cheltenham sign up offers.

Step 2: Register with a bookmaker

Some Cheltenham Festival betting offers are simple to sign up with: purely give your details and register a card in order to make a deposit. Others will require you to enter a code upon signing up, which is always shown on the landing page once you click any of the offers on this site.

Step 3: Place your qualifying bet

After depositing the requisite funds, place a qualifying bet to earn your Free Bets. 

Step 4: Maximise your free bets during the Cheltenham Festival

You can usually claim multiple Cheltenham sign-up offers across different bookmakers, provided You can usually claim multiple Cheltenham sign-up offers across different bookmakers, provided you are genuinely a new customer with each operator and meet their eligibility rules. Before claiming, make sure the offer has credited correctly and note the expiry date of any free-bet tokens.

How to use your Cheltenham Free Bets

Use the free bet on the right market, not just the first market available. That matters because Cheltenham bonuses vary by format. Some tokens can be used on horse racing singles, others on each-way bets, and others only on accumulators, multiples or Bet Builders.

A practical way to use Cheltenham free bets is to match the bonus structure to the bet type:

  • If the bookmaker gives standard free-bet tokens, they are often better suited to win singles or each-way bets on races where you already have a strong view.
  • If the bonus is split into acca free bets or Bet Builder tokens, it makes more sense to use them on linked selections, for example two favourites in novice races, multiple placed runners, or a multi-race combination across the day’s card.
  • If the free bet expires quickly, usually within 24 hours or 7 days, it should be prioritised over longer-dated tokens with 30-day expiry.

The main question is not just “which offer is biggest?” but “which offer fits the way I actually bet on Cheltenham?” A beginner backing one horse in the Champion Hurdle has different needs from an experienced punter building multiples across handicaps, novice events and championship races.

Apply to your bet slip

We have everything you need here at GG.co.uk. Once you have planned your bets for the day and checked out the best Cheltenham free bet offers, you can place your bets quickly and easily.

Put to use across the races

There are 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival, offering something for every punter. Whether you like cheering home a big-race banker or backing an outsider each-way at a big price, make sure you choose the Cheltenham Festival free bets that are right for you with our rundown of the best Cheltenham free bets.

Cheltenham Festival Betting Advice – Learn From Past Statistics

Cheltenham statistics are most useful when they narrow the field rather than predict the winner outright. Historical data reveals the typical performance profile for winners in specific races, allowing bettors to filter runners based on measurable characteristics such as age, official rating, last-time-out result, recency of run, previous Festival experience and betting market position.

Age trends provide one of the clearest examples. In the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the majority of winners fall within the seven-to-nine-year-old bracket, with every recent winner fitting that age range and eight-year-olds producing the most victories in modern renewals. A horse like an eight-year-old Grade-1 winner arriving after a victory in a recognised trial race therefore matches the historical Gold Cup winner profile far more closely than an older rival with inconsistent recent form.

Similarly, the Queen Mother Champion Chase shows a strong age bias towards seven-to-ten-year-olds, with eight-year-olds historically the most successful group. When analysing that race, bettors often prioritise runners in their prime chasing years that already possess top-level two-mile chase form.

Other trends reinforce the same filtering process. Recent Gold Cup winners typically ran within the previous 80 days, won or placed on their last start, and started near the top of the betting market.

The most effective approach combines these historical trends with current season form, race pace, ground conditions and bookmaker concessions such as extra places. When several of those factors align, the resulting shortlist tends to produce stronger betting decisions than relying on one statistic alone.

Top Cheltenham Festival Trainers

Cheltenham has been dominated by Irish-trained runners in recent seasons, and Willie Mullins remains the key Festival trainer to follow. Mullins recorded 10 winners at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, taking his overall Festival tally to 113 winners and securing another Leading Trainer title. Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead also remain major players for the Irish challenge, while Nicky Henderson continues to lead the British home team and is still one of the most important trainers to watch in the Championship races and novice events.

Top Cheltenham Festival Jockeys

Paul Townend again heads into Cheltenham as one of the most important jockeys to follow, especially given his association with Willie Mullins runners in the Festival’s biggest races. Nico de Boinville, Jack Kennedy and other established Grade 1 jockeys are also likely to be central to the leading markets throughout the week, so it is always worth checking which riders are booked before using any Cheltenham free-bet tokens.

Daily Free Betting Offers for The Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Free Bets on Day 1

It’s Champions Day at the Festival and the first chance to look at Cheltenham Festival betting offers in action. Punters have probably done a lot of prep work, have gathered info from the top Cheltenham tips, and are ready for the big off.

The Best Odds Guaranteed and Non-Runner No Bet options are some big Cheltenham offers to have planned for as the likes of the Supreme Novices and the Champion Hurdle are coming up on Cheltenham Day 1.

Best Odds Guaranteed is a bet365 Cheltenham offer on selected races at the Cheltenham Festival, with Sky Bet going Non-Runner No Bet for all fixtures.


Cheltenham Free Bets on Day 2

The headline of Ladies Day on Cheltenham Day 2 is the Queen Mother Champion Chase – look for Cheltenham offers such as enhanced odds that a bookmaker may put out there.

Enhanced odds for Cheltenham bookie offers are generally easy to spot. Visit the home page or just the racing section of an online bookmaker, and usually, enhanced odds offers are displayed in a banner. 

Look for options like this at most bookmakers, including Paddy Power and Betway. With no additional T&Cs and the bets settled in cash, enhanced odds selections are some top Cheltenham betting offers to snap up.


Cheltenham Free Bets on Day 3

Moving deeper into Festival week, Day 3 is St Patrick’s Thursday, the official Thursday theme at Cheltenham 2026. It is traditionally one of the liveliest days of the meeting, and bookmakers often increase their racing promotions around the Ryanair Chase, the Stayers’ Hurdle and other feature races.

For the best Cheltenham bookmaker offers on Thursday, consider looking toward any Acca Boosts. 

Another way to get a little extra on your odds is through the likes of the Unibet Cheltenham offer of daily boosts on racing, something that will also come up in William Hill Cheltenham offers.


Cheltenham Free Bets on Day 4

For Cheltenham free bets, look for any Money Back Specials. These will come in different shapes and sizes, such as picking up a free bet bonus if your selection finishes second to the SP favourite in a race. 

It’s Gold Cup day on Cheltenham Day 4, and bookmakers will be keen to attract attention their way with promotions. Paddy Power also runs money back specials on selected races if your horse comes home 2nd, 3rd or 4th in a fixture.

What to Know About the Races Before Betting on Cheltenham

Day 1 – Tuesday

Supreme Novices Hurdle

  • Eight of the last 10 winners have been unbeaten that season.
  • 13 of the last 15 winners came from the first four in the Supreme betting

Champion Hurdle

  • The previous nine winners prior to the last two had been unbeaten that season
  • Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson have won 12 of the last 18 (66%) renewals of the Champion Hurdle.

Day 2 – Wednesday

Turners Novices’ Hurdle

  • 18 of the last 20 winners came from the first 4 in the betting.
  • 20 of the last 24 winners won last time out.

Champion Chase

  • Ten of the last 12 odds-on favourites have been beaten.
  • 15 of the last 15 winners had previously run at Cheltenham.

Day 3 – Thursday

Ryanair Chase

  • 15 of the last 16 winners were rated over 160.
  • 12 of the last 16 winners finished first or second last time out.

Stayers’ Hurdle

  • 19 of the last 24 winners finished 1st or 2nd over hurdles in all runs that season.
  • 18 of the last 24 winners were in the top 4 of the market.

Day 4 – Friday

Triumph Hurdle

  • 10 of the last 16 winners were 13/2 or shorter in the betting.
  • Every winner this century up to 2024 had run inside 55 days of the Festival; the last two had never run in Britain or Ireland before.

Gold Cup

  • 23 of the last 24 winners were 7-9 years old.
  • 20 of the last 23 winners were 1st or 2nd last time out.

Expert Betting Tips Before Using Your Cheltenham Free Bet Offers

There are several factors to take into account before placing you Cheltenham Festival Free Bet. Below are just some of the things to consider:

Form

It may sound obvious but the first thing to take into consideration is the form of the horse you want to bet on. Has he/she been running well this season? Have they run against any of the opponents they face at the Festival before, and if so how did they do? Have they got the all important form at Cheltenham? What are the ground conditions, and will it be in favour of the horse I want to bet on?

Jockey/Trainer

Stable patterns matter at Cheltenham because leading yards target specific races months in advance. Trainer record, race targeting, and jockey booking can all help separate closely matched contenders, especially in novice races and championship contests.

Win, each-way or multiples

Choose the bet type that matches both the race shape and the offer terms.

  • Win bets suit strong, clear opinions where the horse looks well placed to beat the field.
  • Each-way bets are more useful in larger fields, especially handicaps, where bookmakers are paying extra places.
  • Accas and multiples can increase returns, but they also increase variance, so they are better suited to bonuses specifically structured for acca or Bet Builder users.

Price versus chance

The best Cheltenham bet is not always the horse most likely to win; it is the horse whose odds are bigger than its true chance. That is why price-sensitive offers such as Best Odds Guaranteed, enhanced odds, and extra places can change the value of the same selection. A 6/1 each-way bet with 6 places is a very different proposition from a 6/1 win-only bet with standard place terms.

Exploring the Different Cheltenham Offers From Leading Bookmakers

Non Runner No Bet

Non Runner No Bet ensures that if your horse does not run in the race in which you place a bet, you will get your bet refunded.

One of the markets that most appeals ahead of any sign up offers. This guarantees punters a sense of security that they cannot find in other traditional markets. Particularly for horses who may have multiple Cheltenham Festival targets, the ability to choose a Non Runner No Bet market can be crucial. If your horse ends up running in a different race or even fails to get to the course at all, you will get your stake refunded in full without losing a single penny.

Money Back Specials

Money Back Specials are race-specific concessions where the bookmaker refunds some or all of your stake if a defined outcome occurs. The value of the offer depends on four things:

  • trigger condition — for example, finishes 2nd, finishes 2nd to the SP favourite, falls, or loses in a named race
  • refund format — cash, free bet, bonus credit
  • refund cap — for example, up to £10 or up to £20
  • qualifying market — win single, win part of each-way single, or selected race only

At Cheltenham, money-back promotions are especially common on the first race of the day, major championship races, and heavily bet handicap contests. They are most useful for punters who already planned to back a horse in that race anyway, because the offer improves downside protection without forcing a completely different betting strategy.

Ante Post Offers

Ante Post refers to offers for races well in advance of when they are run, up until the day the horses are declared to run.

Due to the nature of the Cheltenham Festival being at the forefront of the National Hunt season, ante-post betting is a key focal point for punters. In the weeks leading up to the festival, bookmakers offer enhanced prices on runners, often near the head of the market. This generally comes from the preview nights that the various bookmakers conduct and sponsor, so keep an eye out for when they happen as you could find yourself an extra bit of value.

Through the Card

Bet-through-the-card offers come into their own for Cheltenham betting. This consists of staking a particular amount on the first race to receive a set amount of free bets, split equally to use on the remaining races on the card. So for the price of a single bet in the opening Cheltenham race, you get a £5 or £10 free to use on the remaining 6 races.

ACCA Insurance

Acca insurance is designed for multiple bettors rather than traditional single-race punters. The usual mechanic is simple: if one leg of your accumulator lets the bet down, the bookmaker refunds your stake as a free bet or bonus credit, subject to the offer cap and terms.

This type of promotion is best suited to users combining several Cheltenham selections across a day’s card, for example two favourites and a value each-way angle, or a mix of Festival races and football selections. It is less relevant to punters focused purely on one horse in one race.

Best Odds

Best Odds Guaranteed usually means that if you take an early price and the bookmaker’s starting price (SP) is bigger when the race begins, you are paid at the bigger SP instead. It does not mean you get the best price across the whole market or across every bookmaker, so always read the operator’s own terms carefully.

Enhanced Odds

Enhanced Odds are individual specials where one horse has their odds boosted. There are always a few hot pots during the Cheltenham Festival, especially in the Grade 1 contests. Because they are a short price in key races, bookmakers sometimes offer high prices to lure in new customers, as they will be popular horses.

In addition, they will often go to 33/1 or even 50/1 on short-priced horses, offering the winnings of a £1 stake in free bets if the horse wins. So if you fancy a horse that’s a short-priced favourite, you could be able to take advantage of an enhanced-odds offer.

Each Way Extra

Each Way Extra offers allow flexibility for punters where they can choose the amount of places their each way bets can have.

Extra Places

All the Cheltenham handicap races have full fields (give or take) and due to the competitive nature of the entire event, even the open races can have much larger fields than we’d usually see for similar races the rest of the season. Of course, more competition means more horses to choose from, so the harder it is to find the winner or even a place!

But this is where you can take advantage of extra places that some bookmakers offer. Some will go as far as offering seven or even eight places in specific heats. So make sure you shop around once you’ve found the horses you want to back, as finding that crucial extra place can be the difference between you making a profit or not.

Best Cheltenham Betting Offers For New Customers

Cheltenham is one of the busiest times of the year for bookmaker welcome offers, which is why many operators strengthen their sign-up deals during Festival week. Most follow a Bet X, Get X in Free Bets structure, but the real value depends on how easy the offer is to trigger and how flexible the reward is once it lands.

The best place to find all the top offers is here on GG at https://gg.co.uk/betting-offers/

Best Cheltenham Betting Offers For Existing Customers

Cheltenham is not just about new-customer offers. If you already have accounts with the main racing bookmakers, existing-customer promotions such as extra places, odds boosts and race-specific concessions can be just as valuable during Festival week.

Enhanced Odds

Lots of bookmakers will be making odds enhancements on many races and horses throughout the week. Keep an eye out for promotions of these enhancements as you can get some strong value on many leading chances.

Extra Each Way Places

Many bookmakers will be increasing the number of places on offer in some races during the Festival. This means rather than getting, for example, three places as per normal rules, they might offer four, or even more, places. So if you have an each way bet, and your horse finishes fourth you will get paid on the each way part of the bet.

Non-Runner No Bet

Non-Runner No Bet is one of the most common Cheltenham concessions for existing customers, especially on feature races and ante-post markets.

Most bookmakers will go Non-Runner No Bet on all the feature races for the Cheltenham Festival, such as the bet365 Cheltenham Offer. However, some may go all in and cover every race – it will depend on the operator. 

Back a selection, usually before the 48-hour declaration point (check with your bookmaker for T&Cs) and if your pick is declared a non-runner, you will receive the stake back as cash.

Understanding All the Different Cheltenham Bet Types

Win

A win bet is the simplest Cheltenham wager: your selection must win the race for the bet to pay out. It is most effective when you have a strong view on the most likely winner and do not need the insurance of extra place terms or each-way concessions.

Each Way Bet

An each-way bet consists of two equal bets. Your stake is halved, with one half being placed on the An each-way bet is made up of two equal parts: one stake on the horse to win and one stake on the horse to place. If the horse wins, both parts of the bet are paid. If it only places, the win part loses but the place part pays at a fraction of the odds, usually 1/4 or 1/5, depending on the race and bookmaker terms.

Each-way betting is especially relevant at Cheltenham because many bookmakers increase the number of places in handicaps and big-field races, which can materially improve the value of a selection at double-digit odds

Forecast bets

A forecast bet requires you to predict the first two finishers in the correct order. A reverse forecast covers both possible finishing orders for the same two horses, which doubles the line count and therefore the stake. Forecasts are higher-risk bets, but they can suit races where the market looks dominated by two runners or where you strongly oppose the rest of the field.

Tricast Bets

A tricast goes one step further than a forecast: you must name the first three finishers in the correct order. It is a specialist pool-style bet more suited to confident race readers than casual Festival punters, as the margin for error is small and the strike rate is naturally lower.

Placepot Bets

The Placepot is an extremely popular bet on each day of the Cheltenham Festival. This year The Tote is guaranteeing a £1 Million Placepot for each day of the Festival!

Done on the tote, you select a horse (or horses) in the first six races on the card, and you need at least one horse to place in every race. If you succeed, you’ll win a share of the total prize pot, split between however many winning tickets there are. So the more unpredictable the results are, the bigger the dividend will be! The catch is the more horses you choose, the more lines you have, so the higher your stake will be, but you have more chances of winning.

Place Only Bets

This essentially splits the each-way bet from the win bet. Some bookmakers will offer this market, and if there’s a short-priced favourite that looks hard to beat, you can use the place-only market to back a longer-priced horse to just place. 

Betting Without The Favourite

It is quite common to have a strong favourite that is too short of a price for you to bet on. However, if you fancy another horse to run well, you can bet on it to win without the favourite in the field, theoretically speaking. Again, this offers better odds than the place-only market, and essentially you remove the favourite from the result, and if your horse has then won, you win your bet.

How to place a bet in person at the Cheltenham Festival

If you’re lucky enough to be attending the Cheltenham Festival this year, you might be wondering how to place a bet at the course. You have three options:

  • Place a bet on your mobile
  • Place a bet at the bookmaker shops at the course
  • Place a bet with the on-course bookmakers

If placing a bet at the on course bookmakers, you may wonder what you need to do. The easiest way to place your bet with them will be to simply tell them how much you wish to back, what horse you wish to back and whether you want to back win only or each-way. For example, “Can I have £5 each-way on number 4 – Bravemansgame”.

Cheltenham Free Bets Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens If I Win A Free Bet?

Not usually. With most Cheltenham free bets, the free-bet stake is not returned with your winnings. In most cases, you only receive the profit from the bet, not the original free-bet amount.

What are the best Cheltenham offers for existing customers?

The best Cheltenham offers can be found around the site. Click on any of the banners or links on whichever offer takes your fancy.

What is the minimum bet at Cheltenham?

The minimum bet depends on the bookmaker and the offer. Some Cheltenham welcome offers require a £5 qualifying bet, while others require £10, £20 or more, and some promotions also have minimum odds requirements.

Can you cash out on a free bet?

Free bets are usually non-withdrawable, and many bookmakers also restrict how they can be used. If a free bet loses, the token is normally lost rather than refunded, unless the promotion specifically says otherwise.

How can I use a free bet?

It depends on the bookmaker. Some free bets can be used on standard horse racing singles or each-way bets, while others are restricted to accas, Bet Builders, multiples or selected markets only. Always check the offer terms before assuming the token can be used on any Cheltenham race.

What if I lose my free bet?

If you lose a free bet, the token is normally used up and no refund is paid, unless the bookmaker is running a separate money-back promotion linked to that market.

What is Non-Runner No Bet?

NRNB means your stake is refunded if your horse does not run in the race you backed.

What is Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)?

BOG means you are paid at the bigger of the price you took or the bookmaker’s SP if the SP is higher.

Where Can I find the Cheltenham Festival Results?

You can find an up to the minute Cheltenham race results on our results page

Why didn’t my Cheltenham free bet get credited?

The most common reasons are missing the minimum odds, using an excluded payment method, forgetting to enter the promo code or opt in, or placing a bet that was cashed out or voided. In many cases, the bonus is only added after the qualifying bet has fully settled, so it is worth checking the exact terms before contacting support.

Can a qualifying bet be void and still count for a Cheltenham offer?

Usually not. Most bookmakers require a settled qualifying bet, which means a void bet normally will not trigger the bonus. The same often applies to cashed-out bets, so it is important to check the offer terms before relying on a market that could be voided.

Are all Cheltenham free bets the same?

No. Cheltenham free bets can differ by qualifying stake, minimum odds, reward type, expiry period, payment restrictions, and eligible markets. Two offers may look similar in headline value, but one may be much easier to claim and use in practice.

Can I use a Cheltenham free bet on ante-post markets?

Sometimes, but not always. Some bookmakers allow free bets on ante-post horse racing, while others limit them to standard sportsbook or day-of-race markets. If you want to use a token before final declarations, check whether ante-post betting is specifically included in the promotion terms.

Why do some Cheltenham offers pay out in several smaller free-bet tokens instead of one big free bet?

Bookmakers often split the reward into smaller tokens to encourage use across multiple races, different days, or specific bet types such as accas or Bet Builders. That can be useful if you plan to bet throughout the Festival, but it is less flexible if you want to use the full reward on one race.