Best Cheltenham Festival Betting Sites
With so much choice in the betting landscape, picking the best bookmaker for the Cheltenham Festival 2026 is no simple task – but luckily, we’re here to help.
Punters have more options than ever before, making it increasingly important to assess which firm offers the best overall product for you. While major bookmakers such as Coral and Paddy Power are closely associated with the Cheltenham Festival through their sponsorship of races during jump racing’s biggest four days – notably the Coral Cup, Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase – other betting companies have become more visible to festival fans in recent years.
William Hill sponsor the County Hurdle, the first handicap on Gold Cup day on Friday, March 13, having previously backed the race now known as the Ultima Handicap Chase between 1998 and 2010. They also formerly sponsored the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which is now supported by Sky Bet.
BetMGM has also made a significant impact on the festival by sponsoring the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the feature race on Wednesday, March 11. Founded in New Jersey in 2018, BetMGM rose to greater prominence in 2024 thanks to high-profile advertising campaigns featuring comedian and actor Chris Rock. They are just one of several newer entrants challenging the more established firms.
BresBet, the Sheffield-based bookmaker launched in September 2021, has increased its visibility through its association with Fergal O’Brien. The firm’s branding can be seen on the jackets and other clothing worn by staff from the Gloucestershire-based trainer, who continues his search for a breakthrough winner at the meeting.
While O’Brien prepares to end his wait for that elusive Cheltenham success, the RP Recommends team are here to help you find the winning formula by making the most of the best possible offers available during Cheltenham Festival week.
It can be tempting to stick with what you know during one of the biggest punting weeks in the jump racing calendar, but we assess how to take the most efficient approach by identifying the bookmakers we believe offer the best overall experience.
Top-rated Cheltenham Festival betting sites for 2026
Best Cheltenham Festival betting sites 2026
The Betfair Sportsbook is not the most user-friendly in the world but it is worth keeping on side for the specials they offer during Cheltenham Festival week.
The Betfair Exchange, on the other hand, is a necessity during the festival. There is more flexibility than most alternative betting sites here as you are competing against fellow punters to get matched at prices that are far greater than on your traditional sportsbooks. If you fancy a big-priced outsider in one of the handicaps, this is the place to place your bet.
There is understandably a sacrifice to be made with Betfair’s commission, but this is worth it for the service that they offer.
Coral
Coral regularly offers extra places on races as well as price boosts, making it a solid option for all your betting needs during the biggest week of the season.
Unlike some of their competitors, they offer best odds guaranteed from 8am on the day, which gives you peace of mind when placing your Cheltenham bets throughout the week.
The Coral racing blogs, featuring insight from the likes of champion jockey Sean Bowen and leading trainer Joe Tizzard, can give punters invaluable pointers to the chances of key festival runners.
Sky Bet
Sky Bet have an association with punters for the first race on each Cheltenham Festival day that extends beyond the bookmaker’s sponsorship of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle since Vautour’s victory in the meeting’s opener in 2014.
Sky Bet used to offer money back up to £20 if your horse lost in the first race on each day of the Cheltenham Festival and while this gradually evolved to if your horse finished second, third or fourth, this offer is still worth taking advantage of.
The limit on money back is usually £10 now but it remains an attractive offer for casual and seasoned punters alike.
Sky Bet regularly offer enhanced each-way terms at Cheltenham, particularly in the handicaps, which can be a big help when trying to solve punting puzzles such as the Ultima, Fred Winter, Coral Cup and Pertemps Final.
They also provide price boosts and other special offers to punters during festival week.
Tote
If there is one bet every punter should place each day of the Cheltenham Festival, it would have to be the Tote Placepot.
This is a bet you can win big from small stakes – and you don’t even have to find a winner.
With so many punters getting involved in the pool each day of the showpiece meeting, there is the potential to secure a really healthy profit, providing you can navigate your way through the first six races by finding a horse that finishes in the places.
The Tote is also great for any multiple bets on the festival, such as Lucky 15s and patents, as they have price guarantees and ten per cent back on losing bets.
William Hill
If you are attending the Cheltenham Festival 2026, then be sure to make use of the on-course William Hill facilities located near the parade ring, where there are usually free bet offers for shop customers.
For those betting digitally, William Hill tend to be fairly generous with their place terms, more so than bet365 but less than Sky Bet, which is worth considering as you pore over the handicaps.
A solid all-rounder when it comes to betting on racing, they also offer best odds guaranteed and a range of price boosts.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Click on the ‘Claim now’ links above for each bookmaker you would like to bet with.
- Click on the ‘Join here’ or ‘Sign up’ button once you are on their website.
- Enter your details such as an email and password, deposit some money and then start betting.
The Cheltenham Festival is the biggest jumps meeting of the year in Britain. During the four days, starting on Tuesday, March 10 and going through to Friday, March 13, the best horses in jump racing will take each other on in some of the most famous races in the sport, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
- Login to your betting account with whichever bookmaker(s) you have signed up with for the Cheltenham Festival 2026.
- On the site’s main screen, or in a sidebar, there will be an option to click ‘Deposit funds’, and you click on that.
- It will then allow you to choose a custom amount, usually with a minimum deposit.
- Add your funds and complete your transaction details.
- The money should be added to your account instantly so you can then begin betting.