Best Cheltenham Betting Offers | Gold Cup Day | Friday 17th March 2026

The festival is back in town! Cheltenham Gold Cup has returned for another year of fun, racing, and betting. The largest UK horse racing event of March 2026 will commence on Friday the 17th, named “Gold Day”. Big payouts await not only the victorious jockeys, but also those who place a bet on the winning horse.

All the biggest bookmakers are vying for punters action during the Cheltenham festivities and some of them have special promotions and dedicated offers. We have created a curated list of the best of these offers from the top betting sites, pick a favorite and place your bet on today’s races.

• 13:30 The JCB Triumph Hurdle (2m abt 1f, Hurdle)
• 14:10 The McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle Race (2m abt 1f, Hurdle)
• 14:50 The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (3m abt, Hurdle)
• 15:30 The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1) (Abt 3m 2½f, Chase)
• 16:10 The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase (3m abt 2½f, Chase)
• 16:50 The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (2m abt ½f, Chase)
• e5cce6a2836943a99b486d19c0b5addd:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m abt 4½f, Hurdle)

Cheltenham March 2026 Gold Cup Schedule

The Gold Cup day will commence on Friday 17th March, with the first race set to begin at 13:30 pm, seven races are set to go through on the opening day, and starting off the proceedings will be the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

It is bound to be a four-day feast of racing and bets, with the event set to run until the last race ends shortly after e5cce6a2836943a99b486d19c0b5addd:30pm (GMT) on Friday 17th.

Cheltenham March 2026 Gold Cup Betting Tips

• Pace yourself – Avoid over-betting on the first couple of days and being left with not much to use for the later dates – try setting individual budgets for each day’s races
• Wait for the last moment – Changes in race lineups could occur until the very last second, weather conditions might change and odds shift – wait until an hour or so before each race starts to place your bets
• Back the favorites, dream with the underdogs – Mix it up, place bets on favorites and underdogs occasionally, the long-shot win is obviously a real delight but it is also important to register a solid win here and there to boost morale.
• Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand Annual – The main events have the spotlight on them but there is no need to limit your betting only to these two. Take a punt or two during the lead-up days even if your main interest lies in the final “big two”

Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup Betting Offers

The best UK bookmakers will go a long mile in an attempt to entice punters to use their betting platform for their horse betting needs. The wise punter will take advantage of the offers made by the bookies and increase the value of their first deposits and beyond. It is important to compare the bonuses and offers from bookies and specifically those that relate directly to Cheltenham betting, as often major events in the horse racing calendar will correlate with special promotional offers the Cheltenham festival is the most important annual event for track lovers and special offers are abound.

2026 Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup Betting Offers

The annual Cheltenham Betting Festival is one of the main betting events of the year and online bookies will rival each other for the attention of bettors in the UK, alongside sponsorship and advertising campaigns leading up to the event most of the major betting sites will also have special Cheltenham festival offers, both for existing and new customers. A good way to get the most value from these special offers is to sign up with a new online bookmaker during the first day of races or just before, enjoy the benefits of the initial offer for the first day or so and then utilize the existing customer offers during the ensuing three days.

The Joy of Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup Betting

Horse racing is one of the most popular forms of sports betting and has been that way all the way back to at least ancient Greece. Nowadays, the yearly sports calendar features events such as the Cheltenham festival and the Grand National and almost every country in the world has festivities related to the year’s largest horse racing events, be it the Kentucky Derby in the US or the Melbourne Cup in Australia. These events have become almost national holidays and all this stems back to the excitement and fun associated with betting on horse racing results.

The Types of Cheltenham Gold Cup Racing Bets

Before placing your first horse racing bets and understanding why people have enjoyed this specific type of betting for so long it is important to get acquainted with the different kinds of bets available:
The most common types of horse racing bets include:

• Win – Betting on a certain horse to win a certain race
• Place – Betting that a specific horse will finish in the top two spots of a specific race
• Show – Betting that a specific horse will finish in the top three spots of a specific race
• Each Way – A combination bet that includes both top two finishers
• Accumulator – a bet involving more than a single horse and at times more than one race
• Treble – a three-pronged bet

Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Tips for Beginners

Horse betting is a world within itself and there is a lifetime of knowledge to accumulate. But there are a few things that new punters should be aware of:

• Type of Race – Some horses perform better in flat races and some excel at obstacle courses, be mindful
• Notice the Handicap – Each horse is assigned a weight to carry, shifts in the weights carried by a specific horse could be a good way to spot a surge in form
• Pick the Bet Carefully – Make sure you are well versed in the different types of bets and only bet when you are sure what is necessary for you to bag a win
• Research and Learn – Remember that there is always another tidbit of information you are unaware of, keep notes on the horses you follow and stay on the edge
• Don’t Bet Over Your Head – Bet amounts that will be enjoyable, do not put yourself under unhealthy stress even if you feel confident of certain results

Bottom Line on Cheltenham Gold Cup Racing Betting

Now that you have read up, compared the bookie list we have prepared for you, and know the types of bets and things to follow – you can feel safe and go ahead and pick your favorite from the chart above.

Disclaimer: Our list of best bookies and betting sites is the result of hard work from our team of sports betting lovers and experts, while we do only recommend the bookies we have had positive experiences with we do sometimes receive commission fees from these bookmakers for referring bettors to them. please note that terms and conditions apply to all the offers presented above and are only available to UK and Ireland residents aged 18 and over