At Oddschecker, we've assembled a wonderful selection for every race on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival to help you make the most of fantastic free bet offers!
13:20 Cheltenham
Use your £20 Cheltenham free bet from Betfair on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle (13:20)
Oddschecker selection: Kopek Des Bordes
The Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1:20) brings day one of the Cheltenham Festival to life with 8 hurdles lining the 2m½f course.
Kopek Des Bordes is our top pick, the top contender from Willie Mullins’ stable. He’s the current favourite behind Romeo Coolio and Salvator Mundi. The 5-year-old boasts 2 wins in 2 outings, making him the top choice among bookies. But will his inexperience prove a handicap against some of the older competitors?
Claim the Betfair Cheltenham sign up offer and use your free £20 free bet on the festival opener.
14:00 Cheltenham
Arkle Challenge with £30 in Free Bets from bet365 (14:00)
Oddschecker selection: Jango Baie
Willie Mullins’ Majborough is the favourite in the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase at 8/13.
However, Jango Baie has our attention with odds at 15/2. Trained by Nicky Henderson and jockeyed by Nico de Boinville, an Each Way bet on the 6-year-old is our favoured wager.
Sign up to bet365 today, bet a minimum of £10, and you’ll earn £30 to place on bets at Cheltenham - just in time for the Festival. The bonus is issued as 3x £10 free bets, each of which can be used on horse racing. Use the promo code ODDSCHECK to qualify.
talkSPORT BET
14:40 Cheltenham
Bet £10 Get £60 with William Hill - Great for the Ultima Handicap Chase (14:40)
Oddschecker selection: Katate Dori
This year’s Ultima Handicap Chase is another fantastic event where each-way bets are the clear way forward.
Broadway Boy (8/1), The Changing Man (8/1), and Katate Dori (9/1) are the three front runners, but with margins so tight, it could go either way. Our pick goes to Katate Dori, but it’s an Each Way wager that we recommend.
New bettors at William Hill are offered the chance to bet £10 and get £60 in bonuses for the Cheltenham Festival. Where better to claim it than on a race with widespread odds?
William Hill
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15:20 Cheltenham
Get 60/1 on an Irish Trainer Winner with Sky Bet - Perfect for the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (15:20)
Oddschecker selection: Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth is the favourite in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle. Trained by Willie Mullins and currently at 2/3, the 6-year-old racehorse is perfect for - as he proved in 2024.
Ridden by Paul Townend, Lossiemouth surged home in first, beating Rachel Blackmore on Telmesomethinggirl. Mullins and Townend want to make history repeat with their entry into the 2025 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle.
Use the Sky Bet welcome offer and get 60/1 odds on an Irish-trained winner in the race. With Mullins responsible for the second favourite (Jade De Grugy at 5/2), claiming a welcome bonus is a good-looking bet.
Sky Bet also offers a non-runner, no-bet promotion across all 28 races in the Festival.
16:00 Cheltenham
Get 50/1 on Constitution Hill with Paddy Power in the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (16:00)
Oddschecker selection: Constitution Hill
The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy is the first day’s feature race, and all eyes are on Constitution Hill to take home the victory.
The top horse from legendary trainer Nicky Henderson, Constitution Hill is the overwhelming favourite at 4/7 to bring home the title. Henderson will be hoping for a repeat of 2023, when Constitution Hill romped home in first.
Willie Mullins’ State Man took home first last year as Constitution Hill could not defend his title due to an infection. Last year’s winner runs again on Tuesday with odds at 8/1.
Back Henderson’s champion and get 50/1 on Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy with Paddy Power.
Bet365
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16:40 Cheltenham
Bet £10 Get £20 with Virgin Bet on the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (16:40)
Oddschecker selection: Stencil
The Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is the last televised race of Cheltenham’s first day. Similar to other races in the lineup, there’s a tight front end with Stencil (6/1), Total Look (7/1) and Beyond Your Dreams (8/1) dominating the bookie's takings.
Owned by John P McManus, the most successful owner in Cheltenham’s history, it is hard to pass up on Stencil, and he’s our pick for the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Trained by Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm, Stencil placed 2/11 at the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham in January. Losing out only to the favourite, East India Dock (1/2), Stencil ran a fantastic race at 11/1. We think he’s got what it takes to bring home first this time out.
Place £10 on the outright winner, and you’ll earn £20 in free bets with Virgin Bet.
17:20 Cheltenham
£20 in Cheltenham Free Bets with talkSPORT Bet for the Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap (17:20)
Oddschecker selection: Haiti Couleurs
The Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase closes out the first day of racing at Cheltenham. It may not be broadcast live on ITV, but there’s still plenty of action worth checking out.
Haiti Couleurs, trained by Rebecca Curtis and ridden by Ben Jones, is our top pick for the race (4/1). The 8-year-old came home in first at Cheltenham with similar conditions back in December with similar odds in the Josh Wyke Birthday Novices' Limited Handicap Chase. The competition may be more fierce this time out, but there’s no reason he can’t win.
Claim the talkSPORT Bet welcome offer and claim £20 in free bets for Cheltenham! There’s £20 in Free Bets available to spend on the Cheltenham Festival - consisting of 4 x £5 free bet tokens.
