Every March, the Cheltenham Festival pulls racing fans into four days of intense action. From the roar that greets the opening race on Tuesday to the drama of the Gold Cup on Friday, it is one of the biggest weeks in the British racing calendar.
Bookmakers know that interest peaks during the Festival, and many run special offers to tempt punters into having a bet during the week.
One of the more straightforward promotions for 2026 comes from Betfred, who are offering a daily Bet £10 Get £10 deal built around the opening race each day.
BETFRED
GET £50 IN FREE BETS WHEN YOU BET £10
If you are planning to follow the racing across the week, it is a promotion that could give you a bit more ammunition for the later races on the card.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 and the Opening Race Buzz
The first race each day at Cheltenham always has a special atmosphere. The crowd has spent the morning studying the form, the anticipation builds, and then suddenly the tapes go up and the Festival is underway again.
In 2026, the first race on each day begins at 1:20pm and features some of the most exciting novice horses in training.
The opening day starts with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, traditionally a fast and furious contest for young hurdlers. Many future stars of the sport have made their name in this race.
Wednesday’s curtain raiser is the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, another race that often throws up top class performers who later go on to compete at the highest level.
On Thursday the focus shifts to the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, a race that has grown in prestige over the past decade as more quality mares are kept in training.
Finally, Friday’s opening race is the Triumph Hurdle, which showcases the best juvenile hurdlers in the sport.
Each of these races tends to attract big betting interest. That is exactly where the Betfred offer fits in.
How the Betfred Offer Works
The promotion itself is simple.
If you opt in to the offer and place a £10 Win bet or a £10 Each Way bet on the first race of the day at Cheltenham, Betfred will give you £10 in Free Bets once your bet has settled.
A £5 Each Way bet counts as well, since that totals £10 in stake.
The key point is that the qualifying bet must be on the 1:20 race on that specific day of the Festival. Bets on any other race will not count.
Once the race has finished and the bet is settled, the £10 Free Bet is credited to your account.
That Free Bet then has to be used on another race at Cheltenham later on the same day.
A Chance to Play the Rest of the Card
Cheltenham race days are packed with major races, and many punters like to spread their bets across the afternoon.
That is where this kind of offer can come in handy.
If you place your £10 bet on the opening race and qualify for the Free Bet, you suddenly have another £10 to use later on the card.
Maybe that goes on a big handicap where you fancy something at a price. Maybe it goes on one of the headline races.
The Free Bet can even be split across several smaller bets if you prefer. Betfred allows the balance to be used in multiple wagers, with a minimum stake of 10p.
There are a couple of limits to keep in mind. The Free Bet stake itself is not returned with winnings, and any unused balance disappears at 23:59 on the same day. In short, it is designed to keep the focus on Cheltenham racing.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Opening Races
| Day | Race | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 10 March | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle | 13:20 |
| Wednesday 11 March | Turners Novices’ Hurdle | 13:20 |
| Thursday 12 March | Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle | 13:20 |
| Friday 13 March | Triumph Hurdle | 13:20 |
The Small Print Worth Knowing
Like most bookmaker promotions, there are a few conditions.
The qualifying bet must be a single bet on the 1:20 race at Cheltenham on the relevant day between March 10 and March 13, 2026.
Bets placed with Free Bet funds will not qualify, and the offer does not apply to specials or boosted markets.
If your selection is declared a non runner or the bet is voided, it will not trigger the Free Bet either.
The offer is open to both new and existing verified online customers, although restricted accounts may not be eligible.
One to Consider During Festival Week
Cheltenham week often turns into a marathon of racing, betting, and debate among fans trying to pick winners.
Promotions like this can add a little extra interest to the opening race each day. Even if your first bet does not land, the Free Bet gives you another chance to get involved later on the card.
With four separate days of racing and a Free Bet available each day if you qualify, the promotion could potentially give you £40 in Free Bets across the week.
For anyone already planning to have a bet during the Festival, that is worth keeping in mind when the tapes rise for the first race at 1:20pm.
BETFRED
