SIGN UP BETTING OFFERS

When it comes to betting on the Cheltenham Festival the competition for your custom is very high. That is why every single online bookmaker comes out with their best welcome offers.

With 28 races over four days, millions of bets are placed in the UK during the meeting. So if you’re thinking about signing up with a bookmaker then check out all of the offers to find the one that suits you best.

The most common sign up offer is the ‘Cash Match’. This is where a bookmaker will match your first deposit, effectively doubling your money. It’s a great way to potentially increase the number of bets you can make, without risking your own money.

Just remember that while the cash match is free, you can’t withdraw it from your account and there may be wagering requirements attached to it. So always check the terms and conditions first.

The next most popular Cheltenham Festival sign up offer is the ‘Free Bet’. A lot of bookmakers will offer this. Generally, all you have to do is sign up, make a deposit and the free bet will be in your online bookmaker account immediately.

A lot of the time the free bet is worth £5 or £10. Some specify the race it must be used on but others will let you use the free bet on any sport you like. You won’t be able to withdraw the free bet as cash but you will be able to take home any winnings you may get when you use it.

CHELTENHAM OFFERS

The great thing about the Cheltenham Festival, in terms of betting, is that you can expect a new bookmaker offer every day.

They come in all shapes and sizes. From guaranteeing the best odds in any race, to free bets if the favourite wins, to an odds boost on the runner of your choice.

The good news is that these offers are for everyone, not just new customers. You can check your bookmaker’s site every day of the festival to get the best deals on offer.

Some will suit you and others won’t but if you cherry-pick the best ones you can take advantage and hopefully win more.

MATCHED BETTING DEALS

One of the most common types of betting promos is the ‘Matched Bet’. This is where a bookmaker offers to match your bet by giving you a free bet to the same value.

This is generally around £5. It can be race specific or a general bet across the whole Cheltenham Festival. A lot of the time you have to ‘opt-in’ to the offer but once you do it is very simple.

You place a £5 bet and the bookmaker gives you a free £5 bet to match it. It really is that easy. It’s a good way to maximise the number of bets you put on without having to spend all of your own cash. Like all promotions, there will be general terms and conditions so check them before taking up the offer.

RACE SPECIFIC PROMOS

Quite a few of the races at Cheltenham will generate their own promos. Every day has a ‘Feature Race’ and this tends to be the focus of the deals being offered.

The Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Ryanair Chase, and the Gold Cup are the four feature races so expect plenty of promos on them.

Also included in race promos will be trainer and jockey specials. If a trainer is predicted to do well at the festival expect specials on how many races they will win in total.

That will include specific races so for example, in the Champion Chase, there are always promotions on Nicky Henderson or Paul Nicholls winning that race as they have each won it six times and tend to dominate in the field.

With so many Cheltenham Festival promotions, you will have to check online with your bookmaker to see if there is one on the race you want to bet on. A good tip is to go with the ones that are paying extra places as this gives you a better chance of being in the money if you bet each-way.

UNUSUAL CHELTENHAM BETS & OFFERS

Aside from the normal fixed odds betting on the various runners in each race, bookmakers will also come out with a few more unusual bets to consider.

First up is for the trainers. Without fail you will be able to back the likes of Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson, Gordon Elliott, and Paul Nicholls to be the leading trainer of the festival. You should also be able to get odds on how many races you think they will win over the four days.

The same goes for the jockeys. Over the last couple of years with the retirement of AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh, and now Barry Geraghty, picking the leading jockey has become more difficult. A good tip is to see who is leading in the Jockey Championship as they will tend to get the first pick of the best rides, thereby increasing their chances of a win.

Bookmakers will also offer odds on double winners. For example in 2020, you could place a bet on Tiger Roll winning both the Cross Country Chase and the Grand National at much higher odds than either race on its own.

Each Cheltenham Festival is different. Prep seasons play a huge factor in how well a horse is predicted to run but anything can happen on the day. The favourite does not always win and some offers and promotions are better than others. But take the time to go through them all and you could find a hidden gem.