Cheltenham Festival Matched Betting Guide 2026

Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest horse racing events that takes place annually in the town of Cheltenham! Being a popular event within the National Hunt calendar, the Cheltenham Festival takes place over four days in March, with each day being different. Here is the schedule for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival:

Day 1 – Champion Day

Day 2 – Style Wednesday

Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday

Day 4 – Gold Cup 

On most days throughout the Cheltenham Festival, the first race starts around 13:30, whilst the last race begins around 17:40, leaving about 40 minutes between races. Each day will have a ‘Feature race’, which will typically offer different offers and promos from bookmakers, as it is usually the biggest of the day. With Cheltenham being one of the most exhilarating events in horse racing, OddsMonkey is the place to be for those who are looking to make the most of the festival. With value betting and matched betting tips, users at OddsMonkey can use this guide to implement informed betting at the Cheltenham races!

Essentially, matched betting is a process of placing a ‘back’ and ‘lay’ bet on a single event. When done correctly, these bets will cancel out each other’s potential losses, resulting in a profit no matter what the result of the sporting event. Now that we are sure that everyone understands the basics of matched betting, we will go through some of the different ways that the Cheltenham Festival can be bet on.

Cheltenham Festival Matched Betting

There are lots of opportunities to place stakes throughout the Cheltenham Festival with matched betting. Some of these matched betting opportunities come from the bookmakers and different promotions. However, there are other ways for users to make a return throughout the festival.

One of the most popular promotions is the extra place race offers, which are used at larger racing events such as the Cheltenham Festival. An extra place is when one or more places are added to the bookie’s standard place classification for Each-Way betting. For example, if the bookmaker usually pays for three places in a horse race, they might offer a fourth position, too. These are used throughout Each-Way bets, and by taking advantage of this promo, users can increase their value.

Price boosts are common throughout all different types of sporting events, but they are also extremely common in the Cheltenham Festival. Price boosts are when the odds are enhanced, meaning users will receive more value if the selection comes in. This is another form of value betting that can be extremely useful for those looking to make the most of their funds during the Cheltenham Festival.

However, if bettors are able to claim racing refund offers, these are some of the best ways to successfully use matched betting. These promos award bettors with their money back if the selection does not win, meaning if they place a lay bet on the selection as well, they can potentially make a return. Ensure that when calculating the back and lay bet, you use the OddsMonkey matched betting calculator, which ensures that users are using the correct mathematics.

Why Is Cheltenham Festival Such A Big Deal?

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most popular events throughout the entire horse racing calendar, yet this is not only for horse racing enthusiasts, as the Cheltenham Festival is also a huge occasion for matched bettors and for value betting. 

Due to the festival being one of the most notable events, many bookmakers will use this opportunity to offer competitive odds, loads of free bets, and fantastic offers such as money-back specials, price boosts, and extra place races! The reason why this is so important for matched bettors is that these offers can be taken advantage of throughout the festival to create matched betting opportunities! By using these offers and placing matched bets, bettors can ensure they do not incur a loss by covering all possible outcomes. 

Cheltenham Festival At OddsMonkey

The Oddsmonkey site is filled with different matched betting tips and tricks that users can take advantage of throughout a wide range of sporting events. However, some people might not know what matched betting is or how it works, which is why we have included our own matched betting blog to cover a wide range of different matched betting topics. 

OddsMonkey is designed to cover all sports betting scenarios; for example, the site includes a wide range of calculators for different sports. However, there are calculators that are best suited to horse racing and can be used while betting on the Cheltenham Festival. One of the most popular calculators available on the site is the each-way calculator, which can be used when users are placing each-way bets on horse races, ensuring that users know exactly how much they can return from different bet markets. 

This is not the only horse racing calculator we have, as we also have included a Rule 4 calculator, which can be used if there are any non-runners in the Cheltenham races.

How To Prepare For Cheltenham Festival

Being ready for the Cheltenham Festival before it begins is essential, as it can make matched betting simpler, as you do not need to focus on logistics whilst the races are ongoing. Here are some tips to take into account if you are planning to place matched bets at the Cheltenham Festival.

• Have your accounts with bookmakers and betting exchanges ready; this means you do not have to wait to sign up or prove your identification when the races come around.

• Make a note of any offers you see that can be of use to matched and value betting. By keeping track of these offers, users can see which offers are worth placing bets on and which are not worth using.

• Get your bankroll together. By having your designated bankroll pre-loaded into your accounts, you can ensure you stick to limits, promote responsible play, and avoid wasting time depositing funds.

• Begin researching horses. If you know which horses are going to be attending Cheltenham, you can start watching how they perform in events before the festival. This means you can understand how they run in certain conditions and lengths.

How Much Can You Make From Cheltenham Festival?

Returns from matched betting throughout the Cheltenham Festival can vary massively depending on a wide range of factors. Along with making the most of the tips we have already mentioned in this piece, there are other factors, such as your bankroll, the amount of time you have put in, which bookie accounts you have access to, and your level of experience.

With all these different factors coming into play, it is impossible to say how much could be returned through betting over a 4-day festival. With the different tools, which are available throughout the OddsMonkey site, bettors can implement various sports betting techniques throughout the event! 

Matched Betting At OddsMonkey

With the Cheltenham Festival coming quickly, it is important that users ensure they are ready for one of the most interesting and exciting horse races of the year! By making the most of our blogs, tips, and guides, users can make the most of their bets throughout the festival, implementing different bet markets and expert analysis on the races.

OddsMonkey is not only a place that looks into the details of horse racing, but the site also has its own specific pages dedicated to other sports. Users are able to check out guides such as our football betting guide and our basketball betting guide.

Cheltenham Festival Matched Betting FAQs

Cheltenham Festival and matched betting can work together to make the most of horse racing betting. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the topic.

Is The Cheltenham Festival Good For Matched Betting?

The Cheltenham Festival is widely regarded as a popular time for matched betting due to the increased number of bookmaker promotions available during the event. These often include free bets, money-back specials, and enhanced odds. When used correctly and in line with the bookmaker’s terms and conditions, these offers can create matched betting opportunities. 

How Much Bankroll Do I Need For Cheltenham Festival Matched Betting?

There is no fixed amount required to take part in matched betting during the Cheltenham Festival. Some users may choose to start with a modest bankroll, while others may use more depending on their personal circumstances, experience, and the offers available. It is important to only use money you can afford to set aside and to remain within your own financial limits. 

Can Beginners Take Part In Cheltenham Festival Matched Betting?

Beginners can take part in matched betting during the Cheltenham Festival, provided they take time to understand how it works and use appropriate tools, such as calculators, to reduce mistakes. Starting with lower stakes and simpler offers can help beginners learn the process. As with all betting activity, matched betting should be carried out responsibly and within personal limits.