The Cheltenham Festival 2025 runs from Tuesday, March 11, to Friday, March 14, at Cheltenham Racecourse. As the premier event in National Hunt racing, this four-day festival showcases top horses from Britain and Ireland competing in the sport’s most prestigious races.
The standout steeplechases include the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase, and Arkle Chase. Over hurdles, the Champion Hurdle is the headline event, alongside the Stayers’ Hurdle and Triumph Hurdle.
Find out more about the Cheltenham Festival:
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Cheltenham Festival Day 1
The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival 2025 kicks off on Tuesday, March 11, with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, traditionally met by the famous Cheltenham Roar. Past winners include Golden Cygnet (1978), Vautour (2014), and Altior (2016).
The Grade 1 Arkle Trophy follows as a launchpad for future Champion Chasers, with past dual winners including Flyingbolt (1965), Moscow Flyer (2002), Sprinter Sacre (2012), and Altior (2017).
The highlight of Day 1 is the Champion Hurdle over two miles, a race dominated in recent years by owner JP McManus and trainer Nicky Henderson. Epatante’s 2020 win brought their tallies to nine and eight victories, respectively. Henderson’s See You Then (1985-1987) and McManus’s Istabraq (1998-2000) remain festival legends.
Explore Sports Betting Tipsters’ comprehensive guide to Cheltenham Day 1 tips for expert insights.
Cheltenham Festival Day 2
Day 2, taking place on Wednesday, March 12, begins with the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, a key test over two miles and five furlongs. Notable winners include Istabraq (1997), Hardy Eustace (2003), Simonsig (2012), Faugheen (2014), and Envoi Allen (2020).
The RSA Chase, a crucial trial for future Gold Cup contenders, has been won by elite chasers such as Arkle (1963), Garrison Savannah (1990), Denman (2007), and Bobs Worth (2012). In 2020, Champ produced a dramatic late surge to defeat Minella Indo and Allaho.
The feature race of Day 2, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, crowns the best two-mile chasers. Badsworth Boy remains the only three-time winner (1983-1985), while past champions include Master Minded (2008, 2009), Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016), and Altior (2018, 2019).
Check out Sports Betting Tipsters’ Cheltenham Day 2 tips guide for race previews and expert betting analysis.
Cheltenham Festival Day 3
Day 3, on Thursday, March 13, begins with the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles. This race has produced leading chasers such as Sir Des Champs (2012), Vautour (2015), and Defi Du Seuil (2019).
The Ryanair Chase, introduced in 2005, has established itself as the festival’s premier two-and-a-half-mile race. Albertas Run (2010, 2011) was its first dual winner, while Willie Mullins has dominated with Vautour (2016), Un de Sceaux (2017), and Min (2020).
The Stayers’ Hurdle, the festival’s top long-distance hurdle event, was dominated by Big Buck’s with four straight wins (2009-2012). Inglis Drever (2005, 2007, 2008) and Baracouda (2002, 2003) also secured multiple victories.
Read Sports Betting Tipsters’ Cheltenham Day 3 tips for analysis and race predictions.
Cheltenham Festival Day 4
The final day, on Friday, March 14, begins with the Triumph Hurdle, a key juvenile race. Katchit (2007) was the last horse to win both this and the Champion Hurdle, while Tiger Roll (2014) went on to claim Grand National glory in 2018 and 2019.
The festival reaches its climax with the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the sport’s most prestigious steeplechase. Legendary winners include Golden Miller (five consecutive wins from 1932-1936) and Arkle (three wins from 1964-1966).
Memorable Gold Cup victories include Dawn Run (1986) and Desert Orchid (1989), while Al Boum Photo’s back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020 aimed to match Best Mate’s historic treble (2002-2004).
Check out the Sports Betting Tipsters’ Cheltenham Day 4 tips.
Cheltenham Festival Tickets
Secure your Cheltenham Festival 2025 tickets through official channels, including The Jockey Club. To avoid fraud and ensure authenticity, always purchase tickets from approved sources.
Betting on Cheltenham Festival 2025
The Cheltenham Festival is the UK’s biggest betting event, with over £600 million wagered across four days.
Bookmakers offer Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) terms, enhanced place terms, and best odds guaranteed (BOG) promotions in the lead-up to the festival.
The top-rated Cheltenham Festival bookies include Bet365, Skybet, William Hill, Paddy Power, Betfair and Ladbrokes.
Leading Trainers and Jockeys
Willie Mullins is the most successful Cheltenham Festival trainer, securing multiple Champion Trainer titles, including a dominant Gold Cup Day in 2020. Gordon Elliott (2017, 2018) and Nicky Henderson (2012) have also made a significant impact.
Paul Townend has risen as a top jockey, securing the Ruby Walsh Trophy in 2020 with five wins, equaling Barry Geraghty’s total.
See who our tipsters are predicting is going to be Cheltenham Top Jockey and Cheltenham Festival top trainer.
Cheltenham Festival Betting Tips
Here are the most popular bets for Cheltenham Festival punters.
Bankers of the Meeting
Every horse racing tipster is coming out with their best bets of the Cheltenham Festival meeting and many have difference of opinions.
The ground conditions will play a big part to some horses chances, but check out the full list of Cheltenham Festival bankers predicted by Joe Norris from GYTO.
Outsiders
Punters love the thrill of finding value in the betting markets, especially at Cheltenham, where history has shown that outsiders can defy the odds.
With large-field handicaps and unpredictable race conditions, well-handicapped runners, unexposed horses, and those with strong course form often deliver big-priced winners.
Check out our page for the outsiders with live chances at Cheltenham Festival 2025, capable of producing a shock result and rewarding those willing to take a chance.
Many savvy bettors seek each-way opportunities, looking for horses who can outrun their odds and challenge the market leaders.
Each Way Chances
Cheltenham Festival is a prime hunting ground for each-way punters looking to land big returns on horses who might not win but can hit the frame at generous odds.
With competitive fields and high-class racing, the right each-way selection can turn a profit even if finishing second, third, or fourth (and sometimes further depending on bookie terms).
Check out our page where we’ve identified a shortlist of each-way contenders for Cheltenham Festival 2025 with the potential to deliver at rewarding prices.
Punters often target stamina-laden stayers, course specialists, and well-handicapped runners who could outrun expectations and sneak into the places.
Acca Bets
Many punters turn to accumulator (acca) bets to maximise returns by combining multiple short-priced favourites into a single wager.
While backing individual favourites may not offer huge payouts, rolling them into an acca bet multiplies potential winnings.
Check out our page where we’ve selected a few strong favourites that could form a high-potential acca for punters for 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival is the perfect setting for this strategy, with top-class horses often delivering on expectations.
Cheltenham Festival Favorites
The success rate of favorites at Cheltenham Festival varies by race type, with an overall strike rate of 30-35% across the four days. However, certain races see stronger trends:
- Grade 1 races (e.g., Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup) have a higher favorite win rate, often around 40%, as elite horses dominate.
- Handicap races are highly competitive, with favorites winning just 20-25% of the time due to large, unpredictable fields.
- Bumper races & novice events tend to favour well-backed market leaders, where punters often side with strong stables.
Cheltenham is famous for big-priced winners, making it a key event for each-way bets and outsider selections. For a full breakdown, check out our list of all favourites at Cheltenham Festival 2025.
Ante Post Bets
Punters looking for early value often turn to ante-post betting, securing bigger prices on horses before final declarations.
While this approach carries risks, as horses may not run, it also offers huge rewards when spotting a well-priced contender early.
Check out our page where we’ve highlighted our Cheltenham Festival top ante-post selections, offering strong value ahead of the big week.
Cheltenham Festival is known for market movers, with odds shifting as form, injuries, and race entries change.
Lucky 15 Tips
Most horse racing punters enjoy wagering bets on lucky 15s because one winner can pay out on treble the odds.
Check out our Cheltenham Festival Lucky 15 Tips where we provide a 330-1 lucky 15 bet our tipsters fancy.
Our list of horse racing tipsters provide daily lucky 15 tips.
Placepot
If you enjoy a selection in each of the races many enjoy wagering bets on the Tote pool bets like placepots and quadpots.
Check out our Cheltenham Festival Placepot Tips where we explain how our tipsters look to choose a few selections in the large handicap fields.
Cheltenham prize pools usually a large payouts so its always nice to have a placepot bet.
Cheltenham Festival History and Notable Champions
The Origins of the Cheltenham Festival
Established in 1860 as the Grand National Hunt Festival, the Cheltenham Festival found its permanent home at Prestbury Park in 1911.
The racecourse is based in Gloucestershire and racegoers wear a smart dress code when attending the racing track.
The parade and winners enclosure has a great atmosphere and the experience if galopin des champs was able to win the Gold Cup again would be memorable.
Historic Races and Key Winners
The Stayers’ Hurdle, first run in 1912, remains the longest-standing championship race at the event.
Throughout history, the festival has produced iconic winners. Five horses have secured three Champion Hurdle victories: Hatton’s Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then, and Istabraq.
Golden Miller dominated the Cheltenham Gold Cup with an unmatched five consecutive wins from 1932 to 1936. Other multiple champions include Arkle (1964-1966) and Best Mate (2002-2004).
Festival legends also feature Big Buck’s, a four-time Stayers’ Hurdle winner (2009-2012), Badsworth Boy, who claimed three Queen Mother Champion Chase titles (1983-1985), and Quevega, a six-time Mares’ Hurdle champion (2009-2014).
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Summary
The Cheltenham Festival remains the pinnacle of National Hunt racing, delivering world-class action across four unforgettable days.
With elite races, legendary winners, and intense British-Irish rivalries, Cheltenham Festival 2025 is a must-see event for all jump racing fans.
When placing bets on Cheltenham Festival we always recommend comparing the best horse bookmakers online to research the highest odds.
The best bookies with have amazing betting promotions for Cheltenham to entice new customers so make sure to research the highest free bets and if wagering bets on the go find the best betting apps to use on your phone or tablet.
