📝 Post Summary
Getting ready for the Cheltenham Festival? Focus on the key races like Champion Day and Gold Cup Day, understand the differences in race types, and do your research on horses, jockeys, and conditions to make informed bets. It’s all about knowing the basics to enhance your betting experience!
Gearing up for the Cheltenham Festival is one of the most exciting parts of the horse racing calendar! With incredible traditions and fantastic horse racing, the Cheltenham Festival can also be quite confusing for someone unfamiliar with the event, as there are many races, betting options, and terminology to understand throughout the festival! Here at OddsMonkey, we are going to look at some tips that can be essential for those who are newcomers to horse racing. With all these different tips, users will be fully equipped to start their Cheltenham horse betting journey!
Learn The Key Races
The Cheltenham Festival features 28 races over four days, with some races across the days being more high-profile than others, and some of the biggest events in the horse racing calendar! The four days have different names and titles, which stay the same every single year; these names are:
Day 1 – Champion Day
Day 2 – Style Wednesday
Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday
Day 4 – Gold Cup Day
Every day, there are some standout races that are classified as Grade 1 races, meaning they are the best of the best in terms of horse racing meetings. From the Champion Hurdle on the first day to the Gold Cup on the last day, these races attract the most attention throughout horse racing, meaning bookmakers will tend to offer plenty of promotions across these races.
Understand The Different Races
Throughout the Cheltenham Festival, every race is not the same, as some races are longer than others; some will include more runners than others, and some will include jumps! This is essential for bettors to know, as it can impact the different bets you are placing. For example, some horses might be better with jumps than others, meaning it is important to know if the horse you are betting on is comfortable in the specific race.
With races having more or fewer competitors, this can affect each-way betting as there might be more or fewer extra places included in the bet than you expect. This means that if you place an each-way bet and they finish in a placed position, then players will return some value. Some bookmakers offer some extra place offers, meaning bookmakers will offer more places than expected, which can give players extra insurance on their each-way bets!
Do Your Research
This is a tip that matched betting experts will already know the importance of, and it might sound quite obvious, but it is a simple tip that cannot be overlooked. Horse racing bets revolve massively around research, with plenty of details about the horse, jockey, and trainers needed to be successful. It is also important to consider recent race results and the ground conditions of the track, as some horses perform better than others in these types of conditions.
The research can also range to different experts and analysts, as horse racing is full of tipsters who aim to give the best knowledge about upcoming horse racing meetings, including the Cheltenham Festival.
Different Betting Strategies
There are plenty of different ways for bettors to try and stake money on the Cheltenham Festival. Most beginners will assume they should bet on the favourite, which is usually not the best option, as the return is not worth the risk of the stake. There are two main betting strategies that are extremely popular throughout horse racing, which are:
Value Betting – Rather than just picking the favourite, value betting is the process of looking for horses that have good value for their odds. For example, if you think a horse has a decent chance of winning or placing due to information you have gathered, but the bookmakers have them at higher odds, this might be a worthy value bet!
Each-Way Betting – As previously mentioned, each-way betting will allow bettors to make a return even if their horse does not win. As long as they finish in the top positions, they will be able to award the bettor with a return. This strategy provides more insurance compared to betting on straight winners, yet it requires bettors to place a stake on the horse to win and to place. We have an each-way calculator that can be used by those who want to place each-way bets throughout the Cheltenham Festival!
Set Limits
The final tip is one of the most essential tips to remember, which is to set limits. Whether this be through setting physical limits on bookmakers or by placing a certain amount of funds in an account and setting it aside for the event. Setting limits is not only for staying in control of sports betting, but it also allows users to bet what they can afford and stops them from potentially betting more, cutting out the chance of making avoidable losses.
Common Beginner Betting Mistakes to Avoid
Throughout the Cheltenham Festival, many bettors will fall into mistakes, whether that be how they approach the event or what they place their bets on. Here, we are going to look at some of the most common betting mistakes to avoid when betting at Cheltenham.
- Betting On Big-Name Horses or Jockeys – Whilst these horses and jockeys have big names for a reason, it does not mean they are going to win every race they take part in.
- Ignoring Ground Conditions – By not noticing the conditions of the track, you are not taking into account one of the biggest factors that can help or hinder horses.
- Betting On Every Race – Whilst Cheltenham Festival only comes round once a year, it does not mean you have to bet on every race that occurs. Some races might not offer as valuable odds as others, meaning not betting on a race could be your best option.
Cheltenham Festival At OddsMonkey
With the Cheltenham Festival on its way, it is essential for those who want to make the most of the festival to use the different guides and tools available on the OddsMonkey site. Whether you are a beginner or a matched betting expert, the OddsMonkey site can be extremely useful for all types of bettors.
If you are still not sure about horse racing, we have a more general horse racing betting guide available on-site that goes into more detail about the sport, its terminology, and betting. OddsMonkey is also home to calculators such as our accumulator calculator, which is essential for those who place accumulator bets.
Cheltenham Festival FAQs
If you are watching Cheltenham for the first time, and you have some questions, we are here to answer some of the most popular and frequently asked questions about the horse racing event.
What Time Do The Races Start At Cheltenham?
The first race on each day typically starts at 13:20, with the last race beginning at 17:20. These times are subject to change, and the gates open at 10:30 on each of the four days.
How Long Does Cheltenham Festival Last?
The Cheltenham Festival lasts across 4 days, with the 2026 edition beginning on Tuesday, 10th March and finishing with Gold Cup Day on Friday, 13th March.
Where is the Cheltenham Festival?
The Cheltenham Festival is held at Cheltenham Racecourse, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. Situated in the Cotswolds, the racecourse is a short distance from Cheltenham Town centre.
