The Cheltenham Festival 2026 is here and to celebrate why not take a look at the wide array of special Cheltenham free bets offers to claim. For those of you looking to open new bookmaker accounts ahead of the Festival, there are a multitude of options, which we will go into more detail on this page.
Given the magnitude of an event like the Cheltenham Festival, bookmakers will be vying for your business, and that means there will be special offers available in the build-up and throughout the week.
With the chance to claim up to £300 in free bets, there’s plenty of opportunities to use your rewards on some of the most backed Cheltenham horses, such as Mighty Park, Gaelic Warrior and Teahupoo, more of which we will cover below.
Let’s look at the basic things you should consider before claiming any of the exciting Cheltenham sign up offers, and then outline the best offers from our partners for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
What Can I Use My Cheltenham Free Bets on This Week?
There are plenty of opportunities to use your free bets across some of the biggest races at Cheltenham Festival, from championship contests like the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup to competitive handicaps featuring large fields and enhanced place terms, free bets can be a great way to get involved without risking your own cash.
Many punters choose to use them on bigger priced runners for higher potential returns, while others prefer backing leading favourites in the feature races. With bookmakers also offering boosted odds and extra place promotions throughout the week, it’s worth comparing the available markets before deciding where to place your Cheltenham free bets.
Which Cheltenham Horses Have Been the Most Backed This Week?
Everyone loves a bet on the first race of Cheltenham Festival and this year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is set to be most competitive yet. With the likes of Mighty Park, Old Park Star and Talk the Talk all going head-to-head, this is an excellent way to kick start the festival. So far, racing punters have been backing Willie Mullins’ latest prospect, Mighty Park, after his 38-length debut win and this could be one to keep an eye on for using your free bets.
The Stayers’ Hurdle is the feature race on Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival, and this year looks set to revolve around Teahupoo, who has been one of the most consistent performers in the staying hurdle division over the past few seasons. Trained by Gordon Elliott, he has proven Cheltenham form and plenty of support in the betting markets again this year.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the blue-riband event of the Festival and this year’s race has attracted plenty of attention around Gaelic Warrior. Trained by the legendary Mullins, the talented gelding has shown his class over fences and arrives at Cheltenham with strong form against top-level opposition. With his powerful jumping and proven stamina, Gaelic Warrior has the attributes to put in a strong performance in the Gold Cup, making him an interesting option for punters considering where to use their Cheltenham free bets on the biggest race of the week.
