Cheltenham Tips - Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips, Predictions and Best Bets (2026)
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the greatest weeks of the year for racing fans, as four days of intense action take centre stage at the world-famous Cheltenham Racecourse. The 2026 festival takes place over four days, from Tuesday, March 10, to Friday, March 13, and features 28 races in total. With so much racing to look forward to at the pinnacle of jump racing, this page will be your main hub for Cheltenham Festival tips, helping to give you the edge with your bets across the week. This page brings together tips, predictions and expert insights alongside the best bets available for all 28 races!
Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips and Predictions 2026
The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of National Hunt racing, a four-day celebration where reputations are forged and legends are made. From the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to the iconic Cheltenham Gold Cup, this is the biggest week of the season for punters and racing fans alike.
In this Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips and Predictions 2026 hub, you’ll find expert race-by-race previews, ante-post tips, best bets for each day, and in-depth guides to the Festival’s biggest races. We also cover key trends, leading trainers and jockeys, ground conditions, and the latest Cheltenham betting offers, giving you everything you need to bet smarter throughout the week.
Cheltenham Tips by day
Each day of the Cheltenham Festival features seven races, with a number of Grade 1’s to keep an eye on. We’ll be sure to provide tips for every day of the festival from some of the best horse racing tipsters in the game, so be sure to check back to this page on a regular basis to get all the information you need.
Day 1 tips (Champion Day)
Champion Day gets the Cheltenham Festival off to a flying start and is all about raw speed, top-class novices and championship contenders laying down an early marker. The famous Cheltenham Roar is a highlight of the opening race, setting the tone for a thrilling week of racing.
Here you’ll find betting tips and previews for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Trophy, Ultima Handicap Chase, and the Champion Hurdle, the feature race of the day. Expect fast ground horses, strong market moves and plenty of clues for the rest of the Festival.
Day 2 tips (Style Wednesday)
Style Wednesday is often seen as one of the trickiest days for punters, as it brings plenty of competitive races. It’s a day where shrewd betting, trends and value selections really come into focus.
This section covers key races such as the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, Coral Cup and the Queen Mother Champion Chase. You can expect tips focused on finding value rather than just short-priced favourites throughout the day.
Day 3 tips (St Patrick’s Thursday)
St Patrick’s Thursday brings a unique atmosphere to Cheltenham, with Irish trainers, jockeys and punters traditionally making their presence felt. It’s a day often dominated by Irish runners and strong travelling support.
Here you’ll find tips for major races such as the Ryanair Chase (Grade 1), Paddy Power Plate, Stayers’ Hurdle and the Kim Muir. Expect detailed insight into Irish form lines, stamina tests and horses aimed specifically at this day of the Festival.
Day 4 tips (Gold Cup Day)
Gold Cup Day concludes the Cheltenham Festival, and is the last chance for punters to take advantage of our expert tips and analysis for the week. This section focuses on betting tips and previews for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is one of the premier races on the horse racing calendar, the Triumph Hurdle, County Hurdle and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. You’ll find analysis centred on proven class, Festival form and horses peaking at exactly the right time.
Cheltenham Festival ante-post betting tips
Ante-post betting is a huge part of the Cheltenham Festival, and is essential for securing value earlier on in the season. Ante-post markets usually appear well in advance of the festival, and often feature much longer odds, which allows punters to potentially secure better value for their bets. You can explore wider markets via National Hunt ante-post betting.
It’s easy to see why ante-post betting is so popular for the Cheltenham Festival, but there are some key factors to be aware of before betting early.
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What is ante-post betting
Ante-post betting allows you to place a bet on a race well in advance of the final declarations, often weeks or even months before the Cheltenham Festival begins. Odds are typically much bigger at this stage, as trainers’ entries, final fields and ground conditions are still uncertain. One key thing to note is that, unless stated otherwise, your stake is lost if your selection does not run.
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Advantages of ante-post betting
The main appeal of ante-post betting is value, as backing a horse early can secure a price that may shorten significantly as the Festival approaches. Ante-post markets also give punters the chance to get ahead of the market on horses with clear targets or improving profiles, often before wider betting interest drives prices down.
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Horses to back early for value
Identifying the right horses to back early is all about reading trainer intent and spotting Festival trends. Novices with standout performances, horses with proven track records at Cheltenham, and runners with ideal festival profiles often represent strong ante-post merit. In this section, we highlight horses whose odds may not last, along with the races they are most likely to contest.
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Waiting for NRNB (Non-Runner No Bet)
Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) is a crucial promotion that most bookmakers will offer as the festival approaches. NRNB means a bookmaker will refund your stake if a selection does not run. Waiting for this offer provides punters with a safety-net that means they will not lose out on their stake for an ante-post bet, should the chosen selection not run. One thing to be aware of is that prices may shorten when bookies go NRNB, so it is a matter of assessing whether the risk is worth it or not if NRNB is not available.
Expert betting tips for Cheltenham Festival 2026
Oddschecker is the go-to destination for Cheltenham Festival betting tips, bringing together the best tips from the most experienced tipsters in one place. With jump racing’s biggest week demanding insight, discipline and detail, our Cheltenham coverage is built on genuine analysis and data rather than hype.
Our expert tips are shaped by a vast pool of experience, combining seasoned racing journalists, professional tipsters and data-led analysts who specialise in National Hunt racing. Form study, speed figures, historical trends, trainer and jockey records, ground preferences and market movements are all factored in to deliver informed, well-researched selections.
Premium daily tips from our experts
As an oddschecker+ subscriber, you can gain access to the very best tips from our experts to give you the advantage throughout the Cheltenham Festival. You’ll get daily tips from Andy Holding, Racing Lee, Liam Firkin and Ginger Joe, all of whom recorded a profit throughout 2025. Each of their P/L’s can be found below, with a total profit of +609.01:
- Andy Holding: 225.40 +
- Ginger Joe: 74.10 +
- Racing Lee: 202.90 +
- Liam Firkin: 106.61 +
You can subscribe to oddschecker+ and gain access to all of these premium tipsters for the Cheltenham Festival, as well as a whole host of other exciting features from as little as 35p per day! CLICK HERE to subscribe today.
Free daily tips from our experts
As well as our premium tips from the likes of Andy Holding and Racing Lee, we will also be providing daily tips for free from some of our other tipsters. These will provide daily insights into the best selections across each of the four days of the festival, allowing punters to hopefully gain a competitive edge. These tipsters include Steve Ryder and Jake Price, as well as our ‘Road to Cheltenham’ tips.
Predictions for Cheltenham Festival 2026
As the biggest week in the National Hunt calendar approaches, Cheltenham Festival 2026 promises four days of elite racing. Making accurate predictions for the Festival is about understanding long-term targets, festival form and how horses are being campaigned in the build-up to March.
Top Horses to Watch
There are some well-known names that you might be familiar with as a regular racing punter or Cheltenham aficionado. These horses are certainly ones to watch for a number of reasons, which we will explain in more detail below.
Key Trainers and Jockeys to Follow
Every year, a select few dominate the Cheltenham Festival, and it tends to be the trainers and jockeys with the most experience and success within the sport. Below, you’ll find details on each trainer and jockey that you should be watching ahead of the 2026 festival.
Willie Mullins (Trainer)
- Number of Wins: 113 Cheltenham Festival winners
- Major Races Won: Multiple wins in the Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Queen Mother Champion Chase
- Notable Horses: Galopin Des Champs, Gaelic Warrior, Lossiemouth
Nicky Henderson (Trainer)
- Number of Wins: 75 Cheltenham Festival winners
- Major Races Won: 9 Champion Hurdles, 2 Cheltenham Gold Cups, and 6 Queen Mother Champion Chases
- Notable Horses: Constitution Hill, Jonbon, Jango Baie
Gordon Elliott (Trainer)
- Number of Wins: 41 Cheltenham Festival winners
- Major Races Won: Cheltenham Gold Cup, multiple wins in the Triumph Hurdle and National Hunt Chase
- Notable Horses: Teahupoo, Brighterdaysahead, Gerri Colombe
Paul Townend (Jockey)
- Number of Wins: 38 Cheltenham Festival winners
- Major Races Won: Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase
- Win Percentage: Around 14% at the Cheltenham Festival
- Notable Rides: Al Boum Photo, Energumene, Galopin Des Champs, State Man
Rachael Blackmore (Jockey)
- Number of Wins: 18 Cheltenham Festival winners
- Major Races Won: Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle
- Win Percentage: Around 18% at the Cheltenham Festival
- Notable Rides: Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard, Bob Olinger, Captain Guinness
Nico de Boinville (Jockey)
- Number of Wins: 17 Cheltenham Festival winners
- Major Races Won: Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase
- Win Percentage: Around 15% at the Cheltenham Festival
- Notable Rides: Constitution Hill, Shishkin, Altior, Jango Baie
Top horses to watch
Here are some top horses to watch throughout the 2026 Cheltenham Festival:
| Horse Name |
Race Target |
Key Feature / Reason to Watch |
Latest Odds |
| Lossiemouth |
Champion Hurdle |
Proven Willie Mullins-trained mare. 100% win record at the festival and has a chance to beat Constitution Hill |
3/1 |
| Romeo Coolio |
Arkle Trophy |
Top contender following wins at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse |
4/1 |
| Jonbon |
Ryanair Chase |
Classy 10-year-old, came 2nd in the Champion Chase in 2025, but could make the switch to the Ryanair Chase |
8/1 |
| Teahupoo |
Stayers’ Hurdle |
Dominant staying hurdler, will face tough competition from Bob Olinger |
7/4 |
| Galopin Des Champs |
Cheltenham Gold Cup |
Won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2023 and 2025, but lost out to Inothewayurthinkin in 2025. Will be looking to bounce back |
11/2 |
| Marine Nationale |
Queen Mother Champion Chase |
Won this race in 2025, favourite to do so once again |
13/8 |
Cheltenham Betting Offers, Free Bets and Promotions
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest events of the year for bookmakers, and they often provide plenty of offers, free bets, and promotions tailored specifically to it. These can vary from sign up offers to extra place races and money back as free bets, all of which we will cover here. You can see the latest Cheltenham promotions and offers via our Cheltenham free bets page.
Cheltenham Sign Up Offers
Extra Place Races
These have not been confirmed as of yet, but bookmakers will advertise their extra place races nearer the time, where each way punters can take advantage with each way bets.
Money Back as Free Bets
Again, these have not yet been confirmed, but usually involve bookmakers offering a safety net for those betting on Cheltenham. Normally, this offer gives bettors their money back as a free bet if they lose on select races. Check back to see which races and bookmakers are offering this.
Cheltenham Betting Tips
The Cheltenham Festival is packed with opportunities for punters of all levels, from Cheltenham regulars to racing newcomers. Understanding how to structure your bets across the four days can make a big difference in both enjoyment and potential returns. This section covers the main bet types commonly used during the festival and offers guidance on using them strategically.
Using Doubles, Trebles and Accumulators
Multiples, including doubles, trebles and accumulators, are extremely popular bets at Cheltenham because they allow punters to combine several selections into a single bet, offering the potential for much bigger returns than backing each horse individually.
No bet is certain, but it may be best practice to combine selections with shorter odds, as they should have a better chance of winning, on paper at least. It will also help if multiples are kept to a minimum, as the more selections added, the less chance you have of winning the bet.
Each-way betting tips for Cheltenham
Each-way betting is another highly useful and popular strategy at Cheltenham, especially given the large fields and the fact that bookmakers often offer enhanced place terms during the Festival.
An each-way bet is essentially two bets - one for the horse to win and one for the horse to place (usually first, second or third, though terms can vary). With large and competitive fields, even strong favourites can be beaten. Each-way betting provides a safety net and still allows you to profit if your horse runs a place.
With each-way betting, one strategy is to target races with extra place terms. This means you have a better chance of a return due to the increased places on offer. Another is to target horses that may have slightly longer odds, but a decent shot at finishing in the places.
Cheltenham Festival Dates and Feature Races
Planning your week around the Cheltenham Festival 2026 is key if you want to make the most of the racing and betting action. Below you’ll find a clear overview of when the Festival takes place and which races headline each day, helping you quickly identify the must-watch contests and structure your betting approach.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Schedule
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 runs from Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13, 2026, with each day featuring 7 races. You can find the full schedule here:
Day 1 – Champion Day (Tuesday 10 March 2026)
| Time (UK) |
Race |
| 13:20 | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) |
| 14:00 | Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) |
| 14:40 | Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) |
| 15:20 | Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 1) |
| 16:00 | Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) |
| 16:40 | TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase |
| 17:20 | National Hunt Novices’ Chase (Handicap) |
Day 2 – Style Wednesday (Wednesday 11 March 2026)
| Time (UK) |
Race |
| 13:20 | Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) |
| 14:00 | Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) |
| 14:40 | Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle |
| 15:20 | Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase |
| 16:00 | Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) |
| 16:40 | Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase |
| 17:20 | Champion Bumper (Grade 1) |
Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday (Thursday 12 March 2026)
| Time (UK) |
Race |
| 13:20 | Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) |
| 14:00 | Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase |
| 14:40 | Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) |
| 15:20 | Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) |
| 16:00 | Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) |
| 16:40 | Pertemps Network Final (Handicap) |
| 17:20 | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase |
Day 4 – Gold Cup Day (Friday 13 March 2026)
| Time (UK) |
Race |
| 13:20 | Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) |
| 14:00 | County Handicap Hurdle |
| 14:40 | Mares’ Steeple Chase (Mrs Paddy Power) |
| 15:20 | Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) |
| 16:00 | Cheltenham Gold Cup (Boodles) (Grade 1) |
| 16:40 | Festival Hunter Chase |
| 17:20 | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle |
Feature Races by Day
Here's a breakdown of the feature races across each day of the festival:
Day 1: Champion Day
• 4:00 PM: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
Day 2: Style Wednesday
• 4:00 PM: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
Day 3: St Patrick's Thursday
• 3:20 PM: Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)
• 4:00 PM: The Ryanair Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
Day 4: Gold Cup Day
• 4:00 PM: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
Cheltenham Festival betting FAQ
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When is the Cheltenham Festival 2026?
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival takes place between Tuesday, March 10 and Friday, March 13.
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How many races are there at the Cheltenham Festival?
There are 28 races in total at the Cheltenham Festival, with 7 taking place each day.
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What are the biggest races at Cheltenham?
There is at least one feature race each day at Cheltenham, which are all Grade 1 races. These are:
- The Unibet Champion Hurdle – Champion Day
- The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase – Style Wednesday
- The Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle – St Patrick’s Thursday
- The Ryanair Chase – St Patrick’s Thursday
- The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup – Gold Cup Friday
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When is the best time to place Cheltenham bets?
There’s no single perfect moment to bet on the Cheltenham Festival, but timing your bets well can make a big difference to value. In theory, the best approach is usually a mix of early ante-post betting to take advantage of longer odds or waiting for late information closer to race time.
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What bets are most popular during Cheltenham week?
Cheltenham week attracts huge betting interest, and punters tend to gravitate towards a mix of simple win bets and high-value multi-race options. For example, you’ll find Win only, Each-way, Multiples (double, treble, accas), and specials tend to be popular options.
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What is NRNB and when does it apply?
Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) bets are hugely popular once bookmakers introduce them. They offer the chance to bet early while protecting your stake if a horse doesn’t run, making them a preferred option in major Cheltenham races. This offer willy apply whenever a bookmaker introduces it, which is normally at the start of the year.
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How can I stay updated with the latest Cheltenham tips?
You can stay up to date with all the latest Cheltenham tips via this page, or via our daily tips articles here.
