Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide 2026

If you’re attending the Cheltenham Festival, betting on-course is the best way to enhance your experience, with 200 of the UK’s biggest and most reputable bookmakers present to choose from. This allows you to compare prices across the different bookmakers to ensure you always get the best value for your wagers.

Often, these bookmakers will price up each race so normally you can only place singles when betting on-course during the festival, so this means you won’t be able to place an accumulator or Lucky 15. Another tip would be to bring the amount you wish to stake with you, as the bookmakers normally only accept cash on-course.

Last year saw the introduction of self-service betting terminals installed around the racecourse, with these electronic kiosks designed so that you can place a bet without queuing at a bookmaker’s counter. This system allowed punters to place wagers as the races unfold in real-time, so keep an eye out for these if you are attending as they are an excellent way to enjoy in-play betting throughout the festival.

Not only this, but throughout Cheltenham Racecourse during the festival you’ll find around 200 on-course bookmakers set up in designated betting rings on the course. These staffed stands are the traditional way to bet in person with odds displayed clearly on boards at each stand so you can compare prices around the course before you place your wager.

There are two different ways to place a bet with a bookmaker at the Cheltenham Festival, so let’s go through a quick overview of how this is done. At the festival, on-course bookmakers operate from stands in the betting rings around the racecourse. To place a bet, first check the boards at each stand to compare the odds for your chosen horse, as prices can vary between bookmakers. After you’ve decided, go to the counter and clearly state the race, the horse, stake and bet type. The bookmaker will repeat your bet back to you, take your cash payment and hand you a betting slip showing the details of your wager and the odds taken. Keep this slip safe, as you’ll need it to collect any winnings from the same bookmaker stand after the race has finished.

For anyone looking to wager from home, the easiest way to place a bet on the Cheltenham Festival is through a licensed online bookmaker or betting app. Start by logging into your account, then navigate to the Cheltenham Festival markets which should be clearly labelled under the horse racing section. Choose your horse and select your bet type, such as win or each-way, then enter your stake and confirm the bet before the race starts. Once your bet is placed, you can track it live as the race unfolds, and any winnings will be paid directly into your account after the result is settled.

Tote and pool markets are another great way to get involved in Cheltenham Festival betting, as with this type of bet you are entered into a pool. This means that you will not receive normal bookmaker odds as instead of betting against a bookmaker, your stake goes into a shared pool with all other Tote bettors, and the total pool is divided among everyone who backed the winning outcome. Tote betting is available on course at Cheltenham and online, and can provide a fun element if you like the idea of potentially bigger returns when a favourite is beaten.

Champion Day kicks off the 2026 Cheltenham Festival with the Unibet Champion Hurdle being the feature race for Day One. This 2-mile, Grade 1 race takes place at 4pm on Tuesday, 10 March. On the second day, Ladies Day, the highlight is the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase at 4pm, as runners in this Grade 1 event jump over 12 fences over the course of 2 miles on Wednesday, 11 March.
Next is St Patrick’s Thursday, where racegoers will see two feature races including the 3:20pm Paddy power Stayers’ Hurdle and 4pm Ryanair Steeple Chase. This year these two races will take place on Thursday, 12 March. The fourth and final day, Gold Cup Day, sees The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup take centre stage at 4pm with this being the premier race of the event.

One of the most popular and simple ways to get involved in the Cheltenham Festival is with a win bet, as all you have to do is bet on your selection to win their race. Another essential market is each-way, due to it giving you extra control over your wagers. This works by splitting into two separate, equal-stake bets, one for your selection to win and the other for it to place (finish in the top 2, 3, 4+ positions). It doubles your stake but provides a return if your horse places, even if it does not win. Another fun way to have a flutter is through an accumulator, as it provides a great way to enhance your winnings, in a high-risk, high-reward market. Simply add multiple Cheltenham selections to your bet slip and choose the multiple bet option to place an accumulator.

For beginner bettors, reading the racecard for Cheltenham Festival may sound complicated, especially with the action-packed 28 races schedule. However, the basics are very simple, and here’s why.
The first aspect you may notice is the colours of the silks of each jockey, which is there to show you what each jockey will wear and highlight who owns the horse. To the right of this, you’ll see the age and weight of every horse entered into every race. One point to note is that weights will vary if the race is a handicap, as these are races which horses are weighed according to their past performances.
In the next column on the right will be information on the trainer and jockey of each horse, sometimes this will just be the name both, however some racecards go into more detail. To find the best horse the numbers to the left of each name correlate to their form along with the places they have finished in their most recent run. For example, if a horse has 2-3-2-1-1-2, it means they have won twice and finished second in the last three races.
It’s wise to keep an eye on the form figures as this normally gives a good indication of the horse’s chances, however this is likely to be reflected in the odds. You will be able to see the odds on the far-right hand side and say for example your horse wins at 6/1, a £1 stake would return £7, which is made up of the £6 winnings and your stake back.

Responsible and safe betting is an important part of enjoying the Cheltenham Festival. Set a budget before the day begins and only bet what you can afford to lose, treating any wager as part of the entertainment rather than a way to make money. Avoid chasing losses and be mindful that alcohol can affect your judgement when placing bets. If betting ever stops being fun, it’s important to step back and seek support, with free help and advice available from BeGambleAware.org.

Setting limits before you start betting at the Cheltenham Festival is important as it helps you stay in control and enjoy the experience without added pressure. Decide in advance how much you’re happy to spend and stick to that amount, whether you’re placing a few small bets or using an app throughout the day. It can also help to set time limits between races and avoid increasing your stakes after a loss. By planning ahead and knowing when to stop, betting remains a fun extra alongside the racing rather than something that takes over your day.

If you or someone you’re with needs support during the festival, you can speak to trained staff around the racecourse, including stewards and welfare teams, who can direct you to assistance if needed. Bookmakers on site can also provide information about safer gambling tools. For confidential advice beyond the course, free support is available from organisations such as BeGambleAware.org, which offers guidance and access to specialist services. If betting stops being enjoyable at any point, it’s important to step back and seek advice early.