This promotion is only available to individuals aged 18 years and over, who have registered as new customers of Sky Betting and Gaming.
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For many years, Sky Bet has been a key bookmaker when it comes to Cheltenham Festival betting, and 2026 will be no different as they return with some huge free bet offers for new and existing customers. With The Jockey Club, new users can make the most of Sky Bet’s best offer, which is their sign-up promotion for the festival. Click any relevant link on this page and get £40 in free bets when you wager as little as 5p!
Considering how low the qualifying bet is, this is without doubt one of the best sign up offers available for the Cheltenham Festival, and a deal which positions Sky Bet as one of the standout bookmakers for Cheltenham free bets.
Sky Bet Cheltenham Offer Summary
The Sky Bet Cheltenham free bets offer is available to new customers only, and gives users the opportunity to redeem £40 in free bets when they sign up and bet just 5p. While there is no promo code required to claim this deal, there is a minimum odds requirement, which you can see listed below:
If you’re looking to claim the Sky Bet sign up offer and claim £40 in Cheltenham free bets, follow this short guide to create your account, make your qualifying bet and unlock the £40 bonus, which should only take a few minutes:
This promotion is only available to individuals aged 18 years and over, who have registered as new customers of Sky Betting and Gaming.
Free bets are non-withdrawable.
Sky Bet is a compelling option for punters during the Cheltenham Festival thanks to its blend of value for money promotions, competitive odds, special offers and user-friendly platform. Their well designed site and app make navigating Cheltenham markets and placing bets straightforward, while their risk mitigation offers like Non-Runner No Bet and money back promotions provide extra security for race week.
Odds and Special Offers
Sky Bet is known for providing competitive odds on all 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival, alongside other special promotions to increase customer experience. From extra places, price boosts to money back in cash, there is something for everyone with Sky Bet throughout the festival.
Live Streaming and In-Play Betting
Sky Bet’s live streaming and in-play tools give Cheltenham bettors an edge by allowing them to watch and react to races in real time. With a qualifying bet, users can stream the action directly through the Sky Bet app or site, making it easy to follow every twist and turn without needing a separate racing service. The responsive in-play interface updates quickly as the market shifts, helping bettors make sharper, more informed decisions during fast-moving races. Features like picture-in-picture on iOS add extra convenience, letting you keep the stream visible while browsing odds or adjusting your bets.
Platform and App Experience
The Sky Bet website and mobile app are designed with simplicity and speed in mind, making it easy for users to navigate Cheltenham markets. The clean layout includes quick-access links to dedicated Festival sections, helping you find the latest odds, racecards, and special offers for the day’s racing. Each race page provides live updates and “Watch & Bet” streaming, ensuring you can follow the action and place bets in real-time.
Payment Options and Speed
Sky Bet supports a wide range of payment methods suited to UK punters. Their pay by bank option enables instant deposits and withdrawals once your bank is linked, and after your first withdrawal, payouts via this method can clear immediately. For card-based withdrawals, Visa is available for quick cashouts, meaning funds may arrive in just 1–4 hours for eligible cards. Standard withdrawals via Visa or Mastercard typically take 2–5 working days.
Customer Support
Sky Bet provides a multi-channel customer support setup that’s accessible and responsive. They offer 24/7 live chat through their app and website, making it easy to get help instantly.
The simplest of Cheltenham betting markets. You are betting on a
horse to win their race.
Pick a horse to either win or finish in the placing threshold (e.g., top 3, 4 or more) depending on how many places are paid.
Markets where you predict the first two (forecast) or first three
(tricast) finishers in order. These are noted as available for Cheltenham with
Sky Bet.
These markets allow you to link selections across multiple races: e.g., win accumulator, or each-way accumulator (where all legs must at least place).
During big festivals such as Cheltenham, Sky Bet often offer more “places” for each-way bets than standard. For example, you might see 5 or 6 places rather than the usual 3 or 4 for select races.
Sky Bet often provides markets such as “Top Trainer at the Cheltenham Festival”, “Top Jockey at the Cheltenham Festival”, “Number of Irish-trained winners”, etc. These allow you to bet across the week rather than just individual races.
With Best Odds Guaranteed, if you back a horse early and the starting price (SP) ends up being higher, Sky Bet will pay out at the better price. This feature applies to all UK and Irish racing, including Cheltenham, giving punters peace of mind when betting early and locking in value.
One of the best parts of becoming a Sky Bet customer is the continued value you get, even after using all your free bet rewards. From daily free bets, extra places and money-back specials, this bookmaker has you covered for the years to come at Cheltenham Festival.
While the existing customer offers are yet to be confirmed for 2026 with Sky Bet, below is a list of promotions we are likely to see return for the festival:
Daily Cheltenham Free Bets
Previously for Cheltenham, existing customers have been able to claim completely free bets on each day of the festival. For example, last year saw users get a £5 free bet to use on the opening day, just by opting into the promotion via your account.
Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB)
NRNB is expected to return in 2026 after Sky Bet applied it to all 28 races this year, as the popular insurance policy means you’ll get your full stake refunded, if your horse does not run for whatever reason. This gives punters peace of mind when placing ante-post bets weeks or months in advance.
Extra Place Races
Sky Bet usually offers extra places on selected Cheltenham races, giving you a better chance of landing an each-way payout. Instead of the standard 3 or 4 places, Sky Bet may pay out on 5, 6, or even more places in large-field handicaps. This gives punters a major boost in each-way wagers targeting big-value outsiders.
Money Back Specials
This is one of Sky Bet’s most popular promotions, as Money Back as Cash means you’ll get your stake refunded in real money (not free bets) if your bet meets certain conditions. For example, if your horse finishes 2nd or falls it reduces risk by providing more flexibility, especially for cautious or first-time Cheltenham bettors.
For anyone looking to bet at Cheltenham, Sky Bet stands out as a strong all-round option due to its mix of competitive odds, easy-to-use platform, and regular Festival promotions. New customers benefit from one of the more generous sign-up deals on the market, while existing users enjoy ongoing perks such as daily free bets, extra places on selected races, and enhanced price boosts throughout the week. Sky Bet’s clean interface, quick navigation, and integrated live-streaming make it simple to track the action and place bets. With valuable offers available every day of the Festival, Sky Bet is a highly reliable and rewarding choice for Cheltenham 2026.