The Cheltenham Festival in March is the Olympic Games of National Hunt horse racing. Fans from far and wide flock to Prestbury Park to see the finest equine athletes strut their stuff. The highlight of the week is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, a 3m 2f steeplechase viewed by many as the perfect test of stamina and speed. It is by far the biggest betting week of the year for British Bookies and punters. If you are planning on having a festival punt, this guide to the best Cheltenham Betting sites 2020 will be well worth giving a read.
Not only will our horse racing betting analysts reveal their favourite Cheltenham 2020 betting sites, we will also give you an idea of what Cheltenham betting promotions and bonuses you might come across. We also preview this year’s Gold Cup and give you an exclusive Cheltenham betting tip. Our Cheltenham odds comparison section will explain where you can find the best prices too. If you want to know about how to bet on Cheltenham, you are most certainly in the right place.
Top 7 Cheltenham Betting Sites
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After hours and hours of research our Cheltenham betting experts have finally come to a decision. They have selected a Top 7 of the best Cheltenham betting sites and some big names have missed out. However, we are sure you will be familiar with most of our favourite Cheltenham bookies. If you aren’t, you can find out more by checking out our in depth reviews. Paddy Power topped our list, but Betfred and William Hill were not too far behind.
Paddy Power Cheltenham – Promotions Galore!
One of the best betting sites for Cheltenham promotions is Paddy Power. They have a huge presence both online and offline and you can be sure you’ll find lots of Paddy Power Cheltenham Promotions for every day of the festival. Another one of the best things about Paddy Power is that they are usually one of the first Cheltenham betting sites to go Non Runner No Bet on the Championship races.
Paddy Power are also famed for taking big chances with Money Back Specials for the Cheltenham Festival. Usually they pick out one of the hottest favourites of the week and offer customers money back on all losing bets on other horses in the race if the favourite wins. Hurricane Fly, Douvan and Un De Sceaux are just three of the horses that have been the subject of Paddy Power Cheltenham Money back specials over the years.
Betfred Cheltenham – Extra Places For Lots Of Races
Betfred, aka the Bonus King, is well worth considering for your Cheltenham bets. This 100% British Bookie is long established as one of the UK’s favourite Cheltenham betting sites. Not only can Betfred be relied upon for competitive prices, a slick website and top class mobile app, you can also be sure that they will be offering extra places for each way bets for a huge amount of races throughout the week.
For the big handicaps you might get paid out on a whopping 6 places instead of the standard 4 you’ll get with a lot of other Cheltenham betting sites. If there are decent sized fields in the Grade 1 races like the Champion Hurdle or Cheltenham Gold Cup, Betfred will most likely pay out on an extra place for those contests too. For each way betting enthusiasts especially, Betfred is a Cheltenham betting site you should definitely take a punt on.
United Kingdom
William Hill Cheltenham Free Bets
A British Betting institution, William Hill is one of the best known bookmakers in the UK. They have shops all over Britain and they are one of the biggest online operators too. As you might have guessed, William Hill targets Cheltenham every year with lots of specials and Cheltenham free bet offers. Just check out the Free Bet promotion they ran in 2019.
If you placed a £10 bet on any football match, William Hill gave you a £5 free bet to use on any race on Day 1 at the Cheltenham Festival. Any single or multiple bet placed on football qualified, once the minimum odds were 1/5 (1.2). William Hill also have an excellent ‘Bet Boost’ feature that can be used to pump up the price of any Cheltenham bet you like. Make sure you choose wisely when you use it though, there isn’t much point in boosting the odds of a loser!
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Cheltenham Gold Cup 2020 Preview and Tip
It is safe to say that the biggest race of the week at Cheltenham is the Gold Cup. The 2020 renewal looks like being one of the most open for years. The two battling out for favouritism are last year’s hero Al Boum Photo and the hype horse, Santini. The former is trained by Willie Mullins and he has had just one run this season. That was an easy win on soft ground at Tramore and he is sure to be in tip top shape on March 13 for his seasonal target.
Santini, beaten in the RSA Chase in 2019, has run twice this year and despite winning, he has looked as slow as a boat. You need a turn of foot to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, unless the ground is testing, so his backers will be praying for rain. Delta Work won his two prep races and in our opinion should be favourite.
A Grade 1 winner over 20f on good ground, he clearly possesses speed as well as stamina and that is exactly what is needed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was unlucky behind Topofthegame and Santini in the RSA last year and he travelled very sweetly throughout the race. His trainer Gordon Elliott knows what it takes to win this race and at odds of 6/1 Delta Work is the Sportsbetting24 tip for the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Sportsbetting24 Cheltenham Gold Cup 2020 Tip: Delta Work @ 6/1 William Hill
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Cheltenham Odds
There are many variables when betting on the Cheltenham Festival that you cannot control. It makes sense to take care of all the things you can control and one of the most important things that a lot of inexperienced punters overlook is getting the best Cheltenham odds. As you are about to discover, Cheltenham odds can be very different depending on the bookie you use. No one site is guaranteed to have the best Cheltenham odds for every race and every horse. You can find out more on how to get the best Cheltenham betting odds below…
Cheltenham 2020 Odds Comparison Table
|
Horse Name |
Betfred |
PPower |
888 |
|
Santini |
7/2 |
7/2 |
10/3 |
|
Al Boum Photo |
4/1 |
7/2 |
4/1 |
|
Delta Work |
5/1 |
5/1 |
5/1 |
|
Lostintranslation |
7/1 |
13/2 |
6/1 |
|
Clan Des Obeaux |
8/1 |
7/1 |
8/1 |
|
Kemboy |
8/1 |
7/1 |
8/1 |
|
Presenting Percy |
10/1 |
10/1 |
11/1 |
|
Monalee |
20/1 |
20/1 |
20/1 |
Overround And Odds Comparison Cheltenham Gold Cup
To give you an idea of how much prices can vary, we compared the prices for the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup between 888sport, Betfred and Paddy Power. Although Paddy Power are best for promotions, when it comes to odds they are lagging behind their rivals. Their overround for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, worked out from the table above, was 113.3%. 888sport were a shade better with an overround of 109.4% but Betfred beat both hands down with an overround of just 107.5%.
However, overrounds don’t always tell the full story and Presenting Percy’s price illustrates why we believe it is so important to shop around before you back a horse at Cheltenham. Yes, Betfred have the best overround but they are only 10/1 about Presenting Percy. 888Sport, on the other hand, go 11/1 about the enigmatic Irish horse. That translates to a big difference in returns if he wins, especially if your stake is big.
Best Cheltenham Betting Promotions
We already highlighted some of the best Cheltenham betting promotions you can expect to encounter with the likes of William Hill, Paddy Power and Betfred. However, plenty of Cheltenham betting sites come up with new and exciting promotions for Cheltenham every single year and below are some of the best types of Cheltenham betting promotions you should look out for in March.
- Cheltenham Sign Up Offers: Look out for Cheltenham sign up offers that offer massive odds enhancements for new customers. Betfair and Betfred are well known for these type of offers. Stakes are usually heavily restricted but if a horse you fancy is available at massive odds it makes sense to take full advantage!
- Cheltenham Non Runner No Bet: Ante post betting is a risky business. If you back a horse ante post for Cheltenham and he or she doesn’t make it to the festival, you lose your stake. Watch out for bookies that go non runner no bet in the weeks and months before the Cheltenham festival. Paddy Power are usually one of the first UK bookies to go NRNB for Cheltenham.
- Cheltenham Money Back Specials: Paddy Power are well known for their Cheltenham money back specials but they aren’t the only ones to offer them. Betway had a nice Cheltenham money back special last year, refunding your losing stake if your horse finished 2nd in the first or last race for all four days.
Best Cheltenham Betting App
If, like so many punters these days, you prefer to bet on your mobile device the William Hill App has got you covered for Cheltenham. William Hill have designed native apps for both Android and Apple devices. Both apps are free to download from the relevant stores (Google Play/App Store).
The App downloads quickly on all device types and works equally smoothly on Android and iOS. The William Hill Web App works perfectly well on other devices, like Nokia and Windows Phones. But why is it our favourite Cheltenham betting app?
What we liked best about the William Hill App was the fact that not only can you bet on Cheltenham, you can also stream every single Cheltenham race live. So, if you are out and about and can’t make it to a TV or betting shop, simply open the William Hill app, place a minimum bet of £1 and you will be able to watch all the drama unfold on your mobile device. And it isn’t just horse racing streaming that is available either, you can also stream football, ice hockey, basketball and lots of other sports if you download the William Hill App.
Cheltenham Betting Advice and Tips
The Cheltenham Festival is the most competitive week in national hunt horse racing. With so much prize money (and prestige) up for grabs it is one meeting where nearly every horse will be doing their level best to win. In the Grade 1 races form usually stands up, but there are a number of things you should take into consideration before betting at Cheltenham.
Being disciplined is obviously important, as is finding the best odds. There are a few more things you should watch out for when backing a horse at Cheltenham, check out some useful Cheltenham betting advice below.
- Ground Conditions: The ground is the most important thing to consider when betting at Cheltenham. Back horses with proven form on the prevailing ground. If you fancy a horse that has winning form on good ground and the heavens open on he day of the race, you will probably be better off keeping your cash for another race.
- Trainer Form: You should always check how a trainer’s horses have been running in the weeks before the Cheltenham festival before having a bet. If their horses have not been running to form it could be a sign that there is a health issue in the yard. That is not ideal at a meeting like Cheltenham so stick to backing horses from yards that have had recent winners.
- Horses For Courses: Cheltenham’s famous hill has found out some seriously talented horses over the years. However, in the handicaps and some of the Novice and Juvenile races previous course form is not essential. If you fancy a horse that has previously won at a track with a stiff finish like Cheltenham (Navan, Newbury etc.) but has never actually won at Cheltenham, don’t be afraid to back him or her.
History, Information and Facts
The Cheltenham Festival is held at Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire every year in March. Hordes of Irish racing fans head across the pond to support their horses, while the home team is usually well represented too. It makes for a unique and electric atmosphere and there are few better sounds than the famous Cheltenham Roar when the Supreme starts on Day 1.
It has been held at its current venue since 1911 and the oldest race at the Festival is the Stayers’ Hurdle, first run in 1912. The Gold Cup was first run in 1924 and while it wasn’t a Grade 1 initially, it soon became the blue riband race of the week.
Up until 2005 Cheltenham was a 3-day festival but a 4th day was added. There is now 28 races run throughout the week, with the four Championship races taking centre stage on alternate days. The Champion Hurdle is the main race on the Tuesday, Wednesday is Champion Chase Day, on Thursday the Stayers’ Hurdle is the feature while on the final day, The Gold Cup reigns supreme.
The first woman to ride a winner at Cheltenham was Gee Armytage in 1987 on The Ellier in the Kim Muir. Some of the most legendary Cheltenham horses include Kauto Star, Sprinter Sacre, Quevega, Best Mate and the legendary Dawn Run. The now retired Ruby Walsh rode a record 32 Cheltenham Festival winners. Irish handler Tom Dreaper, the trainer of the mighty Arkle, holds the record for the most festival wins with 26.
Facts And Records
With thirteen Grade 1 races held over four days, the Cheltenham Festival is the mecca for national hunt horse racing trainers and jockeys. A Cheltenham winner is very hard to come by, particularly at Grade 1 level.
In recent years Irish trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have been very successful, while UK trainers Nicky Henderson and Colin Tizzard have flown the flag for the home team. Below you can find some of the most interesting Cheltenham Festival facts and records…
- Davy Russell was the leading jockey in 2024 with four winners.
- Ruby Walsh has taken the top jockey honours eleven times since 2004.
- Irish trainers Gordon Elliott (16/17) and Willie Mullins (2016/15/14/13) have dominated in recent years.
- The last British handler to take leading trainer honours was Nicky Henderson back in 2012.
- The biggest shock result at the Cheltenham Festival was undoubtedly Norton’s Coin who scored in the 1990 Gold Cup for Sirrel Griffiths at odds of 100/1.
- Horses aged between 7yo and 9yo have won 11 of the last 12 Cheltenham Gold Cups.
- Backing Cheltenham Gold Cup favourites has not been rewarding – only 4 of the last 12 have won.
- Course experience is crucial, 50% of the last 12 winners had winning form at Cheltenham.
- Every single one of those winners had run at the track previously.
- The cream usually rises to the top and the lowest rated winner in the past decade was Al Boum Photo (164).
- Another trend to note is that the last 10 Gold Cup winners had previously won a Grade 1.
Legends Of The Past
The Cheltenham festival is where jumping horse racing legends are made and some famous horses have won there down through the years. Sprinter Sacre, Istabraq, Arkle and Kauto Star are just some of the names to have graced the winner’s enclosure at Prestbury Park. Below we look back at some of the most famous Cheltenham Festival horse racing winners from the past.
Famous Past Winners
- Arkle won the RSA Chase in 1963 and landed three Gold Cups in a row from 1964-66 for Irish trainer Tom Dreaper. Regarded as one of the best steeplechasers of all time.
- Istabraq put top flat handler Aidan O’Brien on the map as a trainer, winning four times at the festival, including three Champion Hurdles between 1998-2000.
- Kauto Star was a household name in his day and became the first horse to regain the Gold Cup crown. Won it in 2007 and 2009 after losing his crown to stablemate Denman in 2008.
- Sprinter Sacre was a two time Champion Chase winner, coming back from heart problems to add his 2nd in 2016. He is the third highest rated chaser of all time.
- Golden Miller remains the most successful horse ever at the Cheltenham Festival, winning the Gold Cup five times in a row between 1932-1936 (Only horse to do the Grand National/Gold Cup double in 1934)
- Quevega won the Mares’ Hurdle an incredible six times in a row for Willie Mullins between 2009-14.
Past Winners 2009-2019
|
Year |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
| 2019 |
Al Boum Photo | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2018 |
Native River |
Richard Johnson |
Colin Tizzard |
|
2017 |
Sizing John |
Robbie Power |
Jessica Harrington |
|
2016 |
Don Cossack |
Bryan Cooper |
Gordon Elliott |
|
2015 |
Coneygree |
Nico de Boinville |
Mark Bradstock |
|
2014 |
Lord Windermere |
Davy Russell |
Jim Culloty |
|
2013 |
Bobs Worth |
Barry Geraghty |
Nicky Henderson |
|
2012 |
Synchronised |
Tony McCoy |
Jonjo O’Neill |
|
2011 |
Long Run |
Sam Waley-Cohen |
Nicky Henderson |
|
2010 |
Imperial Commander |
Paddy Brennan |
Nigel Twiston-Davies |
|
2009 |
Kauto Star |
Ruby Walsh |
Paul Nicholls |
Cheltenham Festival FAQs
What are the best Cheltenham Festival betting sites? 
Not one, but we created a list of the top 7 betting sites that offer top-notch service targeting the festival. The ranking is unbiased, based on the odds, the betting promotions and if there are any other extra features that might improve the overall betting experience.
Do any UK betting sites have live Cheltenham streaming?
Yes, if you want to stream racing from Cheltenham live you will be able to do so with every single one of our top 7 Cheltenham betting sites, including Betfair and Betway. The only requirement is that you have to place a bet on the race you wish to stream (usually a minimum stake of £1).
What Cheltenham betting site has the best odds?
As you can see in our dedicated Cheltenham odds comparison section above, the difference in odds between bookies on certain horses can be very considerable. Betfred are usually among the most competitive on Cheltenham odds, and they have plenty of extra place specials for each way punters too.