With Cheltenham Festival fast approaching, we look at the five races attracting the most betting interest this past fortnight.
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The Cheltenham Festival is just days away with punters gearing up for 28 fantastic races over four days next week.
Whilst some races with attract more eyes and coverage than others, for instance, The Gold Cup, Champion Chase, and Champion Hurdle, they don't always prove to be the most popular with bettors.
In this article, we look at the five races attracting the most betting interest heading into next week and the storylines that are accompanying them.
Champion Hurdle
Top bets (past fortnight):
- Constitution Hill – 35%
- Lossiemouth – 17%
- The New Lion – 17%
Despite being ruled out, Constitution Hill accounting for 35% of all bets perfectly illustrates why the Champion Hurdle has been one of the most heavily bet races of the past two weeks.
For a significant period, punters weren’t just betting on the race — they were betting on possibility. With Non‑Runner No Bet concessions widely available, many were willing to gamble that Constitution Hill’s raw ability would outweigh the jumping doubts, leading to a huge concentration of early money before his absence was finally confirmed.
Once that uncertainty cleared, the market didn’t settle — it fractured.
Both Lossiemouth (17%) and The New Lion (17%) now sit joint‑second in the betting data, highlighting how divided punter opinion has become. Lossiemouth’s support reflects faith in Willie Mullins’ Festival record and her proven Cheltenham class, but that interest is tempered by a crucial unknown: it remains unclear whether she will line up in the Champion Hurdle or be diverted to the Mares’ Hurdle, a decision that continues to hover over the market and encourages cautious, shorter‑term betting.
Meanwhile, The New Lion has emerged as the clear focal point for British support, appealing to punters backing progressive form and a home-trained contender in a year where the traditional two‑mile hierarchy has been stripped away.
In essence, this is a Champion Hurdle defined by instability and unanswered questions — and those are exactly the conditions that drive sustained betting volume.
| Champion Hurdle Winner | Best NRNB Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| The New Lion | 2/1 | William Hill |
| Lossiemouth | 11/4 | bet365 |
| Brighterdaysahead | 10/3 | Betfred |
| Golden Ace | 13/2 | William Hill |
| Poniros | 10/1 | Ladbrokes |
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Top bets (past fortnight):
- Old Park Star – 31%
- Mighty Park – 16%
- Talk The Talk – 10%
The Supreme Novices' Hurdle’s popularity is no surprise — it always attracts huge volume — but the betting split tells an important story.
Old Park Star commanding 31% of bets suggests punters are desperate for an anchor in a notoriously difficult novice race. His profile — strong trial performance, clarity of target, and solid UK form — makes him the closest thing to a “safe” Supreme selection, and bettors have latched onto that.
Behind him, the market opens up quickly. Mighty Park (16%) reflects the perennial appeal of lightly raced Irish novices, especially those trained by top yards with a history of peaking on the big day. Talk The Talk (10%) attracts more form-led players who value Grade 1 evidence over hype.
The Supreme thrives on contrast in betting styles: cautious players backing the obvious, and braver punters hunting upside in unexposed horses. That blend keeps it consistently near the top of Cheltenham betting charts.
| Supreme Novices' Hurdle Winner | Best NRNB Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Old Park Star | 2/1 | bet365 |
| Mighty Park | 9/2 | Sky Bet |
| Talk The Talk | 5/1 | William Hill |
| El Cairos | 7/1 | 888sport |
| Mydaddypaddy | 10/1 | BetMGM |
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Cheltenham Gold Cup
Top bets (past fortnight):
- Galopin Des Champs – 12%
- Fact To File – 12%
- The Jukebox Man – 12%
- Inothewayurthinkin – 11%
- Gaelic Warrior – 10%
Nothing sums up this year’s Gold Cup better than this data.
No horse accounts for more than 12% of bets, and the top five are separated by just two percentage points. This is a wide‑open Gold Cup, and punters are responding by spreading their money rather than committing to a single favourite.
Galopin Des Champs (12%) still attracts loyalty from those backing proven greatness and Festival class, even amid signs of vulnerability. Fact To File (12%) reflects momentum bettors chasing recent big-race performances and perceived improvement.
The Jukebox Man (12%) has pulled in a huge amount of attention thanks to his unbeaten profile and crossover appeal, while Inothewayurthinkin (11%), last year’s winner, shows how Cheltenham course form continues to hold powerful sway with bettors despite a patchy season.
Add Gaelic Warrior (10%), and this becomes a market driven by debate rather than certainty. That kind of Gold Cup always generates exceptional betting turnover.
| Gold Cup Winner | Best NRNB Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Fact To File | 9/2 | Sky Bet |
| Jango Baie | 11/2 | William Hill |
| The Jukebox Man | 11/2 | Unibet |
| Gaelic Warrior | 11/2 | bet365 |
| Galopin Des Champs | 7/1 | Betfred |
Arkle Novices’ Chase
Top bets (past fortnight):
- Kopek Des Bordes – 42%
- Lulamba – 27%
- Romeo Coolio – 6%
The Arkle Chase stands out as the most polarised betting race in the data.
A massive 42% of bets on Kopek Des Bordes tells us punters believe they’ve identified the standout. He fits the classic Arkle winner profile: speed, Grade 1 form, and the sense of a horse being campaigned specifically for this race.
Lulamba at 27% shows there is still a significant opposing camp, drawn to his chasing experience and perceived reliability. Together, those two horses account for nearly 70% of all bets, turning the Arkle into a head‑to‑head in many bettors’ minds.
Everything else — including Romeo Coolio on just 6% — is being treated as secondary. That clarity makes the Arkle especially popular with punters who like betting races where the market feels decisive rather than chaotic.
| Arkle Novices' Chase Winner | Best NRNB Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Kopek Des Bordes | 6/4 | bet365 |
| Lulamba | 2/1 | William Hill |
| Kargese | 6/1 | 888Sport |
| Romeo Coolio | 7/1 | Ladbrokes |
| Irish Panther | 14/1 | bet365 |
BetMGM Cup
Top bets (past fortnight):
- Kateira – 22%
- Storm Heart – 14%
- Jingko Blue – 7%
If the Arkle is about confidence, the BetMGM Cup is about controlled chaos.
Despite being one of the most competitive handicaps of the week, Kateira still accounts for 22% of bets, suggesting punters believe they’ve latched onto a “plot horse” — well treated, lightly raced, and aimed squarely at this race.
Storm Heart (14%) appeals to those backing solid handicap form and consistency, while Jingko Blue (7%) reflects classic BetMGM Cup behaviour: smaller but committed support for horses perceived to be hiding from the handicapper.
The BetMGM Cup remains hugely popular because it offers big-field drama, generous each-way terms, and the belief that smart punters can out-think the market. Even with favourites having a dreadful historical record, bettors keep coming back — and spreading their stakes.
| BetMGM Cup Winner | Best NRNB Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Storm Heart | 8/1 | Ladbrokes |
| I Started A Joke | 10/1 | bet365 |
| Iberico Lord | 14/1 | Coral |
| Kateira | 14/1 | Ladbrokes |
| The Yellow Clay | 14/1 | Unibet |
Find the best Cheltenham Festival odds with Oddschecker
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Head to the Oddschecker Cheltenham Festival page to compare odds, follow the latest betting trends and make sure you’re always getting the best value before you bet.
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