The Cheltenham Festival is jump racing at full volume: four days, packed race cards, and the kind of roaring atmosphere that makes even the early races feel like main events. The 2026 meeting runs from Tuesday 10 March to Friday 13 March 2026, with Champion Day, Ladies Day, St Patrick’s Thursday and Gold Cup Day shaping the week.
Unibet is closely tied to the week too. Unibet is listed as an official sponsor of the Cheltenham Festival, and the opening day’s feature race is the Unibet Champion Hurdle, so it is no surprise that Cheltenham betting offers tend to be a major focus around this meeting.
This guide breaks down the key promos, the race coverage, the specials you can find during the week, and how to use the markets responsibly without pretending anything is predictable. Racing rarely is.
Unibet’s Cheltenham betting offer
If you are looking at Cheltenham betting offers as a new customer, the headline is simple: new customers can bet £20 and get two £10 free bets on racing once the qualifying bet settles. The free bets are credited after settlement, and the offer is built for racing markets. Terms can include minimum odds and other conditions, so it is always worth checking the promotion page before opting in.
The value in these Cheltenham betting offers is not just the free bet element. Cheltenham week is when race cards feel like festivals in themselves, so having access to deep pre-race markets, in-play options and festival-specific extras can make the experience smoother, especially if you like to follow price moves close to the off.
A quick reminder that matters more at Cheltenham than almost anywhere: odds change, outcomes swing on tiny details, and nothing in this guide is a prediction of results. Treat it as a way to understand what is available and how to navigate it.
Unibet’s Cheltenham betting options
One reason Cheltenham betting offers get so much attention is that the coverage is wall-to-wall. In practice, the Festival is treated like a complete racing menu: you can open the meeting, scan each race, and you will find markets and prices for the full schedule rather than just the headline contests. That depth is also why people keep an eye on Cheltenham odds throughout the day, because a single non-runner or a going update can reshape a market.
Below is a reader-friendly run through of the races across the Festival.
Races on Tuesday 10 March (Champion Day)
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (14:20)
The curtain-raiser that sets the tone for Champion Day, usually run at a fierce tempo and often seen as the first serious statement race of the week.
Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (15:00)
A sharp, high-speed novice chase where jumping under pressure is everything and a single mistake can change the result instantly.
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (15:40)
A competitive handicap where improvement and potential often matter as much as established form.
Ultima Handicap Chase (16:20)
A stamina-testing handicap chase where pace and jumping rhythm usually shape the outcome.
Unibet Champion Hurdle (17:00)
The two-mile hurdling championship, run at top speed and often decided by a horse’s finishing kick and tactical positioning.
The Plate Handicap Chase (17:40)
A Festival handicap chase where tactics matter, with races often becoming frantic early before settling into a strong late finish.
National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase (18:20)
A late-day staying test where novice chasers face the intensity of Festival competition.
Races on Wednesday 11 March
Turners Novices’ Hurdle (14:20)
Day two begins with a novice hurdle that frequently showcases future Grade 1 performers.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (15:00)
A demanding staying novice chase where stamina and accurate jumping are crucial.
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (15:40)
One of the most competitive handicaps of the week, usually featuring large fields and strong pace.
Cross Country Chase (16:20)
A specialist race that tests a horse’s ability to handle unusual obstacles and unique course demands.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (17:00)
The championship two-mile chase where precision jumping at speed is essential.
Grand Annual Handicap Chase (17:40)
A fast-run handicap chase where a clear round and good track position are vital.
Champion Bumper (18:20)
The leading National Hunt flat race, where highly regarded young horses often make their first appearance on the big stage.
Races on Thursday 12 March
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (14:20)
A race highlighting promising mares early in their jumping careers.
Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase (15:00)
A novice handicap chase where progressive profiles often come to the fore.
Mares’ Hurdle (15:40)
A championship-level race for mares where class and race positioning often decide the finish.
Stayers’ Hurdle (16:20)
The staying hurdling championship where rhythm and stamina over the long climb to the line are crucial.
Ryanair Chase (17:00)
An intermediate distance championship chase often attracting horses with both speed and stamina.
Pertemps Network Final (17:40)
A handicap hurdle final with a unique qualification route, often producing strong narratives around horses trained specifically for this race.
Kim Muir Challenge Cup (18:20)
An amateur riders’ handicap chase where patience and experience can be decisive.
Races on Friday 13 March (Gold Cup Day)
Triumph Hurdle (14:20)
The championship hurdle for juvenile horses, where young talent meets the biggest stage.
County Handicap Hurdle (15:00)
A competitive handicap hurdle where race positioning and timing can be crucial in large fields.
Mares’ Chase (15:40)
A championship race for mares over fences where jumping under pressure is key.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (16:20)
A gruelling staying novice hurdle often described as the race that finds the toughest young stayers.
Cheltenham Gold Cup (17:00)
The sport’s centrepiece – a searching staying chase where class, stamina and courage are all required.
Hunters’ Chase (17:40)
A prestigious race for hunter chasers that still demands every bit of Cheltenham stamina.
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (18:20)
A competitive handicap that closes the Festival, often featuring progressive younger horses.
Cheltenham betting specials
Cheltenham specials are where betting markets can feel most Festival-specific. Rather than focusing on a single race, specials often revolve around the wider narratives of the meeting – trainer performances, jockey tallies or week-long totals.
Examples of Festival specials can include:
- Top Trainer at the Cheltenham Festival
- Top Jockey at the Cheltenham Festival
- Total favourites winning during the meeting
- The Prestbury Cup (Ireland vs Britain)
- Total winners for a specific trainer
- Biggest winning price at the Festival
These markets reflect the storylines that develop throughout the week. They can be entertaining to follow, but as always they should be treated as part of the overall Festival experience rather than something predictable.
Cheltenham betting: Gold Cup odds
Gold Cup Day is where the week’s storylines reach their peak, and it is often when Cheltenham betting offers attract the biggest audience. The Gold Cup is the race even casual fans recognise.
When you look at Gold Cup contenders, prices show how the market is leaning at that moment. Cheltenham odds can move throughout the week, so always check the latest price before placing a bet.
Example market prices have included:
| Horse name | Odds value |
| Fact To File | 5.00 |
| Gaelic Warrior | 6.50 |
| Jango Baie | 6.50 |
| The Jukebox Man | 6.50 |
| Galopin Des Champs | 8.00 |
| Inothewayurthinkin | 8.00 |
*Disclaimer: Odds are subject to change and were correct at the time of publication.
What are the best Cheltenham betting markets?
The best betting markets usually depend on how you like to watch racing and what type of opinion you want to express.
Win bets
The simplest option: backing a horse to win the race outright.
Each-way bets
Popular during the Cheltenham Festival because large fields mean the place part of the bet can offer additional security.
Festival specials
Markets such as Top Trainer or Top Jockey let you follow the entire week rather than focusing on a single race.
Whatever option you choose, keep stakes sensible. Cheltenham lasts four days, and not every race needs to be played.
How to bet on Cheltenham races online?
Start by opening the Racing section and selecting Cheltenham. Choose the race you want from the day’s card, then tap the odds for your selection to add it to the bet slip. From there you can select the market type, enter your stake and confirm the bet.
Once placed, you can track it in My Bets, and settlement will appear once the official result is confirmed.
If you are using Cheltenham betting offers, make sure the qualifying bet meets the promotion terms shown on the promo page.
Cheltenham betting tips and previews
Unibet publishes Cheltenham previews and racing guides in the Racing section and on the blog. These previews provide context around runners, race conditions and market trends, helping readers move easily from analysis to the race card itself.
Final word on Cheltenham betting offers
The best way to view Cheltenham betting offers is as part of the structure surrounding one of the biggest weeks in racing. Cheltenham is unpredictable by nature, which is part of its appeal.
Use betting offers responsibly, keep stakes comfortable and focus on enjoying the racing itself.
And one final reminder: set limits, take breaks and only bet what you can afford to lose.
