1. bet365
Cheltenham Festival
Taking place in March every year, Cheltenham Festival is a marquee event on the sporting calendar. Finding the best Cheltenham betting site is crucial – here are the top options for wagering on the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Our top list for the best Cheltenham Betting Sites for 2023
- BetVictor – Racing-specific offers
- Bet365 – Easy to use site and app
- Unibet – First bet insurance
- Coral – Fail to finish insurance
- Ladbrokes – Boost your odds
BetVictor
BetVictor is an established, reliable bookmaker with an array of offers for current and new customers. The BetVictor site is clean and easy to navigate.
Bottom line:
The BetVictor website and app have a collection of offers and horse racing markets to choose from. Including the Loyalty Club, BetVictor rewards old customers and ranks among the best Cheltenham online betting sites.
Why we like BetVictor:
The BetVictor site is easy to use and has a clear interface. Racing markets are plentiful for sports bettors and are complemented by a selection of appealing promotions and bet boosts.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free bets through Loyalty Club Handy live chat feature Simplistic, clean website interface | Live streaming only available if account is active UK Best Odds Guaranteed only available from 9am on racedays |
What BetVictor offers you
- Specific offers for Cheltenham: New customers can receive sign-up offers related to Cheltenham Festival, including a £40 bonus.
- Range of odds: Numerous markets and Best Odds Guaranteed throughout Cheltenham Festival.
- Comprehensive list of payment options: From different types of cards to eWallets, PayPal, Skrill and Neteller, BetVictor has you covered whatever your preferred payment method.
- Run For Your Money promo: All losing bets refunded in cash if a horse fails to give their punters a ‘run for their money’ at the start.
Read the full BetVictor Review
Bet365
Founded in 1974, Bet365 is one of the largest bookies in the world. Thanks to their variety of promotions across the Festival, Bet365 is arguably the best Cheltenham betting site in 2023.
Bottom line:
Bet365 has a very strong reputation and highly regarded brand along with live streaming, audio coverage and a catalogue of Cheltenham Festival promos.
Why we like Bet365:
The Bet365 website is functional and quick to load, with concise menus and straight-to-the-point promotions. You can clearly see when odds have been boosted, and Bet365 remains one of the leaders in live streaming with just a small qualifying bet required.
| Pros | Cons |
| Tons of live streaming Massive range of markets across all sports Rapid deposits and withdrawals | No phone option for support Some have been hit with account limits |
What Bet365 offers you
- Non-runner no bet insurance: Wagers will be cancelled, and the stake refunded if your pick doesn’t start the race.
- My Horses: You can develop a ‘stable’ of your favourite horses and get updates when they are due to run.
- Price Promise: Bet365 will not be beaten on price for any race shown on ITV Racing, providing the wager is placed from 10am on the day of the race.
- Comprehensive Antepost markets: Whether after an antepost on the Gold Cup or wanting to find Cheltenham Festival specials, Bet365 has more than got you covered.
Unibet
Popular for their appealing website interface and with an extensive list of markets, Unibet is one of the best Cheltenham betting sites in 2023. Unibet always have some decent sign-up offers if you are yet to give them a try.
Bottom line:
Unibet mixes a modern-looking website with regular and rewarding promotions. Regular horse racing gamblers will be familiar with their impressive range of antepost markets.
Why we like Unibet:
Unibet is a contender to be considered the best Cheltenham betting site for the 2023 Festival. The horse racing section of the website is well-structured, with the use of colour contributing to a good customer experience. You can delve deep into antepost odds or pick out any race from around the world and give the bookie’s enhanced odds feature, Uniboost, a go.
| Pros | Cons |
| Money back as bonus if first bet loses Consistent promos for customers new and established Broad range of antepost markets throughout the year | Customer support can be unhelpful Withdrawal requests are slow at times |
What Unibet offers you
- Uniboost daily for enhanced odds: You can boost horse racing odds three times per day at Unibet, which will be popular during the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
- Frequent and rewarding promos: Unibet often introduces new promotions for both new and current customers.
- Looking to the future: With antepost markets available months in advance, you can back your pick early to unlock the best value price.
- Cheltenham-specific offers: Unibet typically brings out promotions specifically for Cheltenham, including Gold Cup free bets.
Coral
Founded almost a century ago, Coral is a stalwart of sports betting in Britain. A close association with horse racing contributes to Coral being one of the leading Cheltenham online betting sites in 2023.
Bottom line:
Experienced in the industry, Coral’s iconic blue colour scheme is synonymous with high-level customer service and consistently competitive odds.
Why we like Coral:
Coral is among the leaders when it comes to promos for Cheltenham Festival each year, and 2023 is no different. A reliable live streaming service features on a website stacked with offers. You will have no trouble finding your way around the Coral website, and the current sign-up promo is straight-forward to qualify for.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great Odds Long-standing reputation in horse racing Responsive and effective customer service | Fewer markets than some competitors Limited payment options |
What Coral offers you
- Free bets for £5 wager: You can receive £20 in free bets simply by placing a £5 wager as a new customer.
- Extra place races: Coral pays out extra places for each-way bets on a selection of races every day, which will be useful when Cheltenham Festival gets going.
- Join the Racing Club: You can join the Coral Racing Club for free, earning a chance to win experiences, including free raceday tickets and trips to the stables.
- Live streaming with qualifying bet: Watch live horse racing on Coral’s website or app once you have placed a qualifying wager of £2.
Ladbrokes
A giant of British sports betting, Ladbrokes have a growing online presence after making their name on the high street. In a competitive industry, Ladbrokes has maintained an impressive reputation with bettors.
Bottom line:
The website can feel chaotic at times, but Ladbrokes’ high-quality customer service and unmatched standing make them in the running to be considered the best Cheltenham Festival betting site in 2023.
Why we like Ladbrokes:
Ladbrokes is the complete package for sports bettors. The customer service and reputation are great, plus Cheltenham brings out the best in bonuses and promotional offers. Look out for boosted Cheltenham odds, and get stuck into the specials and antepost markets.
| Pros | Cons |
| Helpful and responsive customer service Wide-ranging Cheltenham Festival markets, including plenty of specials Best Odds Guaranteed from 8am | Often provide worse odds than competitors Sign-up offer could be better |
What Ladbrokes offers you
- Extended payouts with extra places: An each-way bet is more appealing with Ladbrokes paying out for extra places during Cheltenham Festival.
- Price boosts during Cheltenham: Ladbrokes is known for boosting the odds of high-profile runners, often enhancing the odds on the favourite.
- Versatility when withdrawing cash: You have a complete range of options when withdrawing from Ladbrokes, and there are no restrictions on the minimum withdrawal.
- Best Odds Guaranteed: Get the best possible odds on horse racing when betting on the day.
Read the full Ladbrokes Review
How our experts choose the best sites to bet on Cheltenham Festival
There is a lot to consider when deciding the best Cheltenham betting site in 2023, with odds, website interface, reputation, promotions and customer service all factors. The premier Cheltenham online betting sites cover all bases from sign-up to live chat systems and payouts.
Sam Cox: In my opinion, the best Cheltenham betting sites need to have a reliable, and quick-to-load website, ideally complemented by live streaming services with low qualifying stakes. Also, a range of promotions is important, particularly paying out extra places on each-way wagers.
Compare the best Cheltenham betting sites of 2023
Bookies go all out with their Cheltenham Festival promotions, which can make it difficult to identify the best Cheltenham betting site. Each Cheltenham bettor will value different things from sign-up offers to streaming and website functionality.
For many, it’ll come down to which bookmaker provides the most value through their odds and promos. To help compare the leading options in 2023, here are the top Cheltenham Festival betting sites:
| Site Name | Betting.com Rating | Best For | Sign-up Bonus | Full Review |
| BetVictor | 4.5/5 | Promos for existing customers | Bet £5, Get £30 | BetVictor Review |
| Bet365 | 4.6/5 | Live streaming | Up to £50 Free Bets | Bet365 Review |
| Unibet | 4.8/5 | Antepost betting | Bet £10, Get £40 | Unibet Review |
| Coral | 4.2/5 | Competitive Cheltenham odds | Bet £5, Get £20 Free Bets | Coral Review |
| Ladbrokes | 4/5 | Payment options | Bet £5, Get £20 | Ladbrokes Review |
How to choose the best site for you
It is important to try out a range of Cheltenham betting sites to identify the best platform to place your bets. We have experimented on a collection of Cheltenham online betting sites to provide some conclusions, but only through using them can you decide for yourself.
Here are a few criteria to keep in mind when looking at betting sites:
- Prioritise safety: It is important to make sure you are playing on a licensed betting site. This is the only way to be certain your financial details, money and data are safe.
- Evaluate sign-up bonuses: There are a lot of different welcome offers. Go with a bookmaker which has a sign-up bonus suited to you.
- Compare their Cheltenham odds: Every bookie claims it has the best odds. All punters want the best prices, and it is vital to compare odds before placing a wager to make sure you are getting the top value for your bet.
- Check for up-to-date security with payments: Protecting your money and bank details is important. Make sure each bookmaker has a range of deposit and withdrawal options along with updated security systems.
- Read reviews from other punters: Reputation matters in sports betting. Check out what others are saying about a bookmaker to get an idea of their customer service, reliability and whether it is worth using them in the future.
- Try the mobile app: Mobile betting is a huge part of modern-day betting, but not all apps are created equal. Some are easier to use and quicker to load than others.
- Sign-up process: Signing up to a new bookmaker has become more time-consuming over the last few years. How long this takes varies depending on the bookie, but it is worth seeing how laborious registering for a new Cheltenham betting site is.
Betting on Cheltenham Festival explained
Cheltenham Festival attracts punters from all over the UK, with the four days of the Festival jam-packed with racing.
Odds
Cheltenham Festival odds are often available well in advance of the Festival itself. Punters should shop around for the best value prices before and during the Festival, as the markets can move considerably.
Picks
Form, conditions, history and odds movement are all factors to consider when making Cheltenham Festival picks. Some will prefer outsiders for the higher prices, while others will lean towards the favourites.
Types of Cheltenham Festival bets
Alongside plenty of Cheltenham-specific specials provided, punters can choose from a lot of other bet types. Win bets are the most straight-forward. Each-way and sizeable accumulators are popular options, too.
Win
A win bet does what it says on the tin. Simply pick the winner and receive a payout if your prediction is accurate. Some bookies will offer insurance for these if your horse is a narrow loser.
Each Way
Splitting your wager between a win and a place bet, each way winnings are calculated using a fraction of your selection’s price.
Trifecta
Trifectas, sometimes known as a tricast, are bets which predict the top-three finishers in their correct order.
Lucky 15
Lucky 15 includes 15 bets of four singles, six doubles, four trebles and four four-fold accumulators, which enables a return if just one selection lands with the potential for larger winnings.
Cheltenham Festival betting strategies
There are a variety of Cheltenham betting strategies to research before the Festival. Following trends is an important element when devising your favoured Cheltenham betting strategy, and it is key to get an understanding of what kinds of wagers you prefer.
Get to know more about Cheltenham to bet smarter
The Cheltenham Festival first took place in 1860, and has the second-highest prize money of any racing event in the UK. Until the mid-2000s, it was a three-day affair, but it was extended to a four-day event with the iconic Gold Cup taking place on the Friday of the week.
The Gold Cup is the headline event at Cheltenham. It is accompanied by several other Grade I races, including the Stayers’ Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle.
While Ruby Walsh has the honour of being Cheltenham’s most successful jockey, Walsh was also at the centre of one of the biggest Festival shocks in 2015 when Annie Power fell at the final hurdle after starting as a 1/2 favourite.
Willie Mullins is Cheltenham’s most successful trainer with 88 wins, which is 16 more than anyone else.
Who is the favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2023?
Galopin Des Champs is the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite for the 2023 edition. Trained by Willie Mullins, Galopin Des Champs has won five of its last six races, and claimed a win in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2021.
Mullins is chasing his third Gold Cup win after triumphs in 2019 and 2020 with Al Boum Photo.
Who is competing at Cheltenham Festival in 2023?
The following horses are set to compete in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup:
- A Plus Tard
- Ahoy Senor
- Angels Breath
- Bravemansgame
- Capodanno
- Conflated
- Coole Cody
- Eldorado Allen
- Envoi Allen
- Franco de Port
- Frodon
- Fury Road
- Ga Law
- Galopin Des Champs
- Galvin
- Hewick
- L’Homme Presse
- Minella Indo
- Monkfish
- Noble Yeats
- Protektorat
- Royale Pagaille
- Shishkin
- Sounds Russian
- Stattler
- The Big Breakaway
- The Real Whacker
What are the key dates to keep in mind?
- Tuesday, March 14th 2023 – Cheltenham Festival Begins
- Wednesday, March 15th 2023 – Ladies Day
- Thursday, March 16th 2023 – St. Patrick’s Thursday
- Friday, March 17th 2023 – Gold Cup & Final Day
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
There is a wide range of betting promotions available for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. From Cheltenham-focused sign-up offers to free bets throughout the week, the best Cheltenham betting sites have several promos.
Win bets are the most common wager placed on horse racing. Other popular bets include each-way, Lucky 15 and trifectas.
BetVictor, Bet365 and Unibet are three of the best gambling sites for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. Weigh up the user experience, odds, promotions and much more when deciding your favoured Cheltenham betting site.
Shop around to find the best Cheltenham betting offers. Some bookmakers will keep their best offers for new customers, while others will reward loyalty to long-standing punters.