It’s time for the highlight of the National Hunt season: Cheltenham Festival! This year’s Prestbury Park proceedings start on Tuesday 10th March with Champion Day concluding on Friday at the iconic Gold Cup race.
Friday the 13th may be unfortunate for some, but it’s a lucky day for horse racing fans, since Cheltenham’s four-day Festival is considered the Olympics of jumps racing. Beginning back in 1860, it’s now one of the most anticipated events in horse racing history.
Today, Cheltenham Festival attracts over 250,000 spectators. Want to get in on the action of this year’s biggest racing celebration? Keep reading as we share our expert Cheltenham betting tips to help you enjoy this world-class racing program.
Cheltenham Betting: What to Consider Before You Bet
Among the most important things to consider before betting on any Cheltenham race is a horse’s past performances.
Both the Old and New courses feature a grueling hill at the finish line, meaning top contenders need stamina if they hope to secure a trophy. So, if you can’t choose between horses, go for the one that’s previously run best at Prestbury Park.
Here are four other crucial Cheltenham betting tips for 2026:
Consider Current Form: A runner’s form over the season across similar distances to your chosen Cheltenham race can indicate their potential abilities.
Check Ground Conditions: Some horses race better on drier grounds, while others work best with moist conditions.
Look at Trainer and Jockey Records: Cheltenham Festival’s leading trainers include Willie Mullins, who had a winner in almost every race on opening day last year. Irish Champion Jump Jockey Paul Townend has been the leading jockey for the past 4 years, beaten only by Rachel Blackmore in 2021.
Watch Previews: Previews provide exclusive insights from jockeys and trainers. This year’s official preview evening takes place on Thursday 5th March, with a panel including Sir AP McCoy and 2025’s Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell.
Enjoy expert coverage of each day of the Festival, including from British jump racing Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson, on the Unibet blog. And if you’re new to the sport, check out our detailed Horse Racing Guides for even more 2026 Cheltenham Festival betting tips.
Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips in 2026
There are a variety of different ways to win in horse race betting. The most common way is with a single ‘To Win’ wager on just one horse. Placing a £1 bet at odds of 4/1, would return £4 plus your stake of 1.
If you’re looking ahead and want to secure the best prices early on, one of our top Cheltenham Festival betting tips is to place an ante-post bet. This is any wager made before the betting market opens, when odds are typically more favorable. However, there’s no guarantee that these horses will run on the big day.
Other popular bet types include:
- Each-Way: Pays if your horse finishes first or in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place
- Double/ Treble: One bet with two/ three horses across two/ three different races. Each selection must win (or place for an each-way bet).
- Accumulator: Four or more selections across different races are combined in one bet.
- Forecast: Correctly predict the top two finishers and their order.
- Lucky 15: Consists of 15 bets on four horses across four races: four singles, six doubles, four trebles, and a four-fold accumulator.
- Yankee: 11 bets on four horses in different races.
How Do Cheltenham Betting Odds Work Out?
Cheltenham betting odds are calculated and changed as the Festival approaches. Shortening prices on a particular horse suggest significant market support, while odds that suddenly become longer point to a dip in form or negative reports from inside the stables.
These odds are impacted by information available at the time, including Cheltenham Festival betting tips from horse racing experts. Prices are updated as news about runners (plus their trainers and jockeys) and current training form emerges.
They’re also affected by races taking place in the lead-up to the big event. With Cheltenham, for instance, the Dublin Racing Festival happens a couple of months earlier. Many of the racing world’s big hitters compete in both events, offering some great insights into form that bookmakers consider when setting Cheltenham odds.
Four days of excitement mean there’s plenty of online betting options here at Unibet, including championships that feature some of the best-in-class horses. Cheltenham Festival’s 28 races also provide opportunities to spot future winners for the next National Hunt season!
Cheltenham Festival Last Winners
Last year’s Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup winner was Inothewayurthinkin. Trained by Gavin Cromwell, the 8-year-old beat the formidable Galopin Des Champs in this prestigious steeplechase event, ruining the double champion’s chances of sealing the hat trick.
But following a fall in form this year, Inothewayurthinkin is unlikely to get the same opportunity this year.
Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs bounced back in April 2025 by claiming the Punchestown Gold Cup title and is now in training once more for this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Betting Tips and Best Horses Predictions
When it comes to betting tips for the Cheltenham Gold Cup race 2026, the Dublin Racing Festival is a great place to start. This Leopardstown event provides an early preview of the Prestbury Park championship, with four Grade 1 horses racing for the coveted Irish Gold Cup.
Brighterdaysahead got the better of Lossiemouth in this season’s Irish Champion Hurdle, but so far has failed to beat the Willie Mullins-trained mare at Cheltenham. And despite striving to become the first four-time consecutive winner of the Irish Gold Cup, Galopin Des Champs was overshadowed by Fact to File, who is now the favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup race.
However, with Inothewayurthinkin’s regression, the field remains wide open for newcomers, including The Jukebox Man and Jango Baie.
Unibet Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Betting Tips
The Unibet Champion Hurdle is the most prestigious two-mile event in the hurdling calendar. First run in 1927, this Championship is day one’s third Grade 1 race and takes place over two miles and 87 yards.
Unibet is a proud sponsor of the Blue Riband race until at least 2028, supporting our mission to continue investing in British racing. That means we’re the best place to come for up-to-date information on Cheltenham betting, including the latest tips and odds!
Constitution Hill and State Man both fell last year. Golden Ace shocked Cheltenham fans by beating these Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins-trained horses! The 25/1 shot battled it out with Brighterdaysahead to take the trophy, and we could see round two of this battle in 2026.
State Man is absent this year. Sir Gino, pipped to be the star of the Champion Hurdle show, has also withdrawn. Instead, Dan Skelton’s The New Lion is a top contender, alongside Mullins-trained Lossiemouth and favourites of years gone by El Fabiolo and Constitution Hill.
Why bet on the Cheltenham Festival with Unibet?
At Unibet, we offer extensive coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, with competitive odds across all 28 races. Alongside expert insights on our blog and a range of helpful betting tools, you’ll find everything you need to enjoy the Festival in one place.
Unibet’s Bet Builder is available on thousands of sporting events each year, from the Premier League to top horse racing events like the Cheltenham Festival. Not sure which bet to place? Try our free Bet Calculator, which automatically calculates stakes and profits for all available bets.
Create your Unibet UK account today to start putting these expert Cheltenham betting tips to use and enjoy our exclusive welcome offer!
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