The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest events in the racing calendar, bringing together world‑class horses, top jockeys, and four days of unforgettable National Hunt action.

This guide walks you through how the Festival works, where to find race information, and the key terms to keep in mind when betting.

What is the Cheltenham Festival?

The Cheltenham Festival takes place every March at Cheltenham Racecourse and features a full schedule of top‑tier National Hunt races.

Some of the most iconic races include:

Champion Hurdle
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Stayers’ Hurdle
Cheltenham Gold Cup

Whether you’re following a favourite horse or exploring the markets for the first time, Cheltenham offers excitement from start to finish.

How many races are there?

The Cheltenham Festival 2026 runs from Tuesday 10 March to Friday 13 March, with 7 races each day.

Where can I check the schedule?

You can check race times, view the full schedule, and see the latest odds in the Horse Racing section of our site.

Tip: Race cards are available in advance, so you can plan your bets ahead of time.

Watching the Races Live

You can watch all Cheltenham Festival races live, as long as streaming is available in your region and your account meets the requirements.

Note: To watch UK and Irish races, just make sure your account has a positive balance..

Cheltenham Festival FAQs

Promotions

Are there special Cheltenham offers?
Yes. Throughout the Festival, we’ll be running a wide range of specials, including:
- Price boosts
- Extra places
- Daily Bet Boosts
- Daily specials
- Selected welcome offers
All available promotions will be displayed on our Promotions page.

What is Best Odds Guaranteed?
If you take an Early Price (EP) or Board Price on a UK or Irish horse race and the Starting Price (SP) is higher when the race begins, we’ll automatically pay out at the bigger price.

That’s our Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) promise.

Important:

Applies to bets placed after 9am UK time (10:00 CET) on the day of the race.
Excludes In‑Play, Ante‑Post, and Extra Market bets.
We may withhold or restrict this offer at our discretion.

What is Run For Your Money?
For UK and Irish racing, if your horse fails to give a Run For Your Money, we’ll refund losing bets in cash. This applies across all markets, including Ante‑Post.
- Refund limits:
  - Up to £100 on singles
  - Up to £1,000 on multiples (or currency equivalent)

Bet placement

Is there a minimum stake?
Yes, the minimum stake for Cheltenham bets is 5p. The exact amount will always be shown before you confirm your bet.
What happens if there’s a late withdrawal?
If a horse is withdrawn before coming under starter’s orders (excluding Ante‑Post bets), bets are settled under Tattersalls Rule 4.

Note:

A Rule 4 deduction applies to winnings when a horse is withdrawn and there isn’t enough time to update the market.
The deduction amount depends on the withdrawn horse’s odds.

Can I place a bet after the race has started?
Selected races are available In‑Play. Prices may change quickly during a live race, so we recommend placing your bet as soon as you spot an opportunity.

How long does bet settlement take?
Most bets are settled shortly after the official race result is confirmed. If there is a stewards’ inquiry, settlement may take a little longer.

Tips for new customers

To learn the basics, these quick links may help you feel more at home:

Verify your account – A simple step to get everything up and running.
Deposit funds – Add money to your account safely and in just a few moments.
Withdraw your winnings – When you're ready, you can request a withdrawal with ease.

Use TalkSPORT BET’s horse bet finder

You can filter horses based on ability, star rating, current odds, trainer, or jockey form. This helps you review race information more clearly before placing a bet.

Betfinder