Betting on the Cheltenham Festival is one of the standout events on the UK horse racing calendar. Held annually in March, the prestigious National Hunt event always attracts huge attention from fans and bettors alike.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are wagered over the course of the four-day festival, with punters flocking from all over the world. If you want a piece of the action, why not begin with our top five tips for betting on the Cheltenham Festival?
Prepare Early for the Races
Every year, horse racing fans eagerly await betting on the Cheltenham Festival. Since the event takes place across the same few days annually, bettors have plenty of time to assess the field and plan their wagers accordingly.
Race lineups are often confirmed weeks in advance, while horses and jockeys compete in warm-up races before the festival. If you can study the warm-up races and prepare for the main event, you will give yourself a far better chance of making a profit when betting on the Cheltenham Festival.
Analyze Historical Betting Trends
Believe it or not, the Cheltenham Festival originated all the way back in 1860. Horse racing fans have enjoyed the event for more than 160 years, so there is no shortage of historical trends to analyze.
Certain breeds tend to perform better than others at the Cheltenham Festival, while some races have a history of producing surprise winners. Analyzing historical trends will only enhance your prospects when betting on the Cheltenham Festival.
Look for Successful Jockeys
This Cheltenham Festival betting tip relates to the previous point regarding past trends. With certain jockeys dominating the event during different periods, it is vital that bettors know which jockeys to back each year when betting on the Cheltenham Festival.
For example, Paul Townsend won the most races in 2020, 2022 and 2023. Further back, Ruby Walsh was the most successful jockey for five straight years between 2013 and 2017.
Don’t Just Bet On the Big Races
Average bettors stick to the high-profile races like the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle. However, expert bettors explore all the options throughout the four-day event.
The 2023 Cheltenham Festival featured a whopping 28 races, giving punters an endless number of betting opportunities. On top of that, the lower-profile races often present the best value when betting on the Cheltenham Festival because the bookies put less effort into them.
How to Read a Horse Racing Form
Use Promotions for Betting on the Cheltenham Festival
The leading horse racing sportsbooks always serve up tasty bonuses and promotions when the Cheltenham Festival comes around. So, why would you not take advantage of these special offers?
From welcome bonuses and sign-up offers to odds boosts and bet builders, the top betting sites invariably have tons of Cheltenham promotions to choose from. These promotions can put extra money back in your pocket.
Learn how to bet on the Canadian Triple Crown next.
