Get all the necessary info for your Cheltenham Betting with BettingTop10 Ireland. The highlight of the British National Hunt season is undoubtedly the Cheltenham Festival, a four-day event traditionally held during the second week of March. It may be a British festival, but in many ways it’s as every bit Irish, with the abundance of Irish trainers, horses, jockeys and racegoers making it an integral part of the Irish racing calendar.

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Cheltenham Festival Fixtures Schedule 2021

Here’s what the Cheltenham Festival has in store for us this year, with your day-by-day guide:

Day 1 – Tuesday 16th March 2021

The first shock on day one was Vintage Cloud’s fantastic run at odds of 28/1 in the Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase. The 11-year-old pushed ahead on the final circuit and galloped to victory, beating the favourite Happygolucky, who finished second.

Another shock was Jeff Kidder at 80/1, who won the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race, beating the favourite Saint Saim by two lengths for Ireland’s fourth victory of the day.

Our very own Rachael Blackmore delivered by winning the Championship Hurdle, as we predicted on our Cheltenham page. The Tipperary woman rode Honeysuckle to victory by six and a half lengths to become the first-ever female jockey to win the Grade One race.

2021 Day 1 Winners:

  • Appreciate It
  • Shishkin
  • Vintage Clouds
  • Honeysuckle
  • Black Tears
  • Jeff Kidder
  • Galvin

Day 2 – Wednesday 17th March 2021

St Patrick’s Day provided us with plenty of action on day two, with Rachael Blackmore cruising to victory on Bob Olinger to win the Ballymore Hurdle.  

A loose horse almost distracted Monkfish on the final stretch of the Brown Advisory Steeple. But the Willie Mullins trained 4-1 favourite overcame his blunder to finish first. 

At 33/1, Heaven Help Us provided another stunning Irish victory in the Coral Cup. But everyone was talking about Put The Kettle On, as the 17/2 mare continued her three-time unbeaten streak in Cheltenham by winning the Betway Champion Steeple. 

Sir Gerhard capped off the day with another win for jockey Rachael Blackmore and trainer Willie Mullins. Another amazing day for the dominating Irish.  

2021 Day 2 Winners:

  • Bob Olinger
  • Monkfish
  • Heaven Help Us
  • Put The Kettle On
  • Tiger Roll
  • Sky Pirate
  • Sir Gerhard

Day 3 – Thursday 18th March 2021

Chantry House won the Marsh Novice’s Chase by three lengths after favourite Envoi Allen fell in the race’s early stages.

Rachael Blackmore and Allaho cruised to victory in the Ryanair Steeple Chase. Blackmore later claimed her fifth victory by winning the Parnell Properties Mares’ Herbal on 5/1 Tellmesomethinggirl.

Irish domination continued in the last race, as 3/1 favourite Mount Ida started last but eventually won in the Fulke Waleyn Kim Muir Cup.

2021 Day 3 Winners:

  • Chantry House
  • Mrs Milner
  • Allaho
  • Flooring Porter
  • The Shunter
  • Telmesomethinggirl
  • Mount Ida

Day 4 – Friday 19th March 2021

Blackmore notched up her sixth win with Quilixios on the last day, while 33/1 Belfast Banter surprised punters by winning the McCoy Contractors County Hurdle race.

Minella Inodo came out on top from a fierce battle with second-place A Plus Tard, much to the delight of Henry de Bromhead, who claimed a famous one-two in the Gold Cup. 9/4 Colreevy notched up another win for Willie Mullins in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple.

The festival ended with Rachael Blackmore lifting the cup for leading jockey, and Willie Mullins was given the honour of leading trainer.

2021 Day 4 Winners:

  • Quilixios
  • Belfast Banter
  • Vanillier
  • Minella Indo
  • Porlock Bay
  • Colreevy
  • Galopin Des Champs

Cheltenham Festival Betting

Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide for Ireland 2021

Cheltenham is a four-day national hunt racing extravaganza, where the best chasers and hurdlers from all over Britain and Ireland come together to compete in 28 races. There are four championship contests over the four days, and these are the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Ryanair Chase and the Gold Cup. It’s a big deal for horse racing betting fans and bettors; each year, the festival features the best Irish and UK horses, jockeys and trainers.

The 2021 Cheltenham Festival runs from 16th to 19th March. It takes place at Prestbury Park as always, and continues to be the pinnacle event of the national hunt calendar. There may not be any spectators allowed at the course this year, but it’ll still be an incredible TV spectacle, and Cheltenham offers are already beginning to take shape.

On this page of our site, you’ll find all the information you need for this event, including information about the races, the best prices and where to find them, expert tips and the four-day event schedule. All information will be updated as bookies adjust their prices. This means you’ll know exactly where to put your money and who to back in every Cheltenham race.

The best horses from the UK and Ireland will be taking part, and for many, it can be the most important race of their career. And for Irish sports betting fans, Cheltenham Festival betting is among the highlights of the sporting calendar.

Cheltenham Betting Options for 2021

If you want to get in on the action, you need to find a reputable and reliable online bookmaker. We can help with this. Just take a look at our expert reviews to find the site that suits you best. Be sure to check for free bet sign-up bonuses too as these can help boost your bankroll. There’ll be plenty of Cheltenham Festivals offers too.

You’ll find lots of different bet types in this competitive racing festival and many online bookmakers often have generous prices on favourites, so be sure to check these out. Below are the different types of bets that you can make and a little bit of information on each.

Ante-Post/Non-runner Money Back

In the run-up to the festival, many online sportsbooks will have non-runner no bet deals on the four championship races. Some will also offer these bets on all 28 races. Check for these if you are looking for a risk-free bet, because if your horse doesn’t run you’ll get your money back.

Be sure to check the non-runner money-back guarantee. It’s worth noting that ante-post rules often apply right the way up to the day before the race and if you place a bet during this period and your horse doesn’t run, you won’t get your money back. Getting the non-runner money-back bet means that you get your money back if your horse doesn’t make it to the starting post.

Each-Way Bets

If you are going for an each-way bet, make sure you look for the best prices as these can vary greatly. Keep a close eye on the Cheltenham offers which extend each-way bets down the places, so you can get a return on a horse finishing as far back as fifth. Be sure to check the terms and conditions before placing your bets.

Free Cheltenham betting offers

Keep your eyes open for sponsored bets. Some bookies sponsor select races and will offer free bets on these. This is just one example of a considerable variety of Cheltenham betting offers you’ll find at the festival.

Best Price Guaranteed

Look for the best prices guaranteed because if you choose to bet on a horse and the starting price is higher, your bet will be settled at the higher price if you win. This is a Cheltenham offer well worth keeping an eye out for.

Multiple Bets

If you know what you’re doing, this is a great way to win massive amounts. There are lots of bets that you can place and lots of daily deals you can grab too. Be sure that you check the terms and conditions.

cheltenham festival betting

Betting Odds

Odds are still getting finalised by most bookmakers ahead of the March Festival, but the buzz is already building around the likes of Al Boum Photo, who’ll attempt to become a three-time winner of the race just like the legends Best Mate and Arkle. Can this French-bred but Irish-trained horse do it?

As the Festival approaches bookmakers will pay close attention to the runners’ performances and adjust their prices accordingly. To ensure that you get the most out of your bets, be sure to keep a close eye on the fluctuations in odds. Keep an eye on those ante-post odds in particular.

for more information, you can check our updated new betting sites list.

The favourites predicted so far are:

  • Al Boum Photo– Looking for a hattrick of Gold Cup wins to cement his name in racing history.
  • Altior – Can Altior claim back a title he won in 2018 and 2019 in the hotly anticipated Queen Mother Champion Chase?
  • Sire Du Berlais– the two-time Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle winner steps up to take on Thursday’s Stayers’ Hurdle.
  • Epatante – Can the J.P McManus-owned Nicky Henderson-trained mare defend its title in the opening day Champion Hurdle?

 

Cheltenham Trials Day

Before the main event kicks off, all Cheltenham enthusiasts usually have Cheltenham Trials Day to look forward to so they can hone their picks for the main event. However, this year’s event, scheduled for Saturday 30th January, was called off due to the abundance of rain that had fallen at the famous old course over the preceding days.

But there’s no need to let that fact affect your Cheltenham betting. Many of the horses pencilled in for Trials Day have received run-outs elsewhere as the horses, jockeys and trainers seek to get things right ahead of the festival.

Most of the runners and riders for the Cheltenham Festival 2021 are yet to be confirmed, but that shouldn’t stop you analysing which horses are being primed for the events. Also, keep an eye on many of the meetings scheduled in the build-up to the Cheltenham Festival: they’ll be used as de jure trials for festival runners.

2021 Cheltenham Festival Preview

The 2021 Cheltenham Festival, as well as being its usual unrivaled celebration of The Sport of Kings, has some intriguing stories on the racetrack that are set to unfold.

A Plus Tard could well be the biggest threat to Al Boum Photo. The Henry de Bromhead-trained horse looked sensational when winning at Leopardstown, and it is he and stablemate Minella Indo who seem the most likely to ruin the party for Willie Mullins and Al Boum Photo

Will Epatante defend the Champion Hurdle in the main event of the opening day of the Festival? The 2020 winner currently heads up the ante-post for that championship race and is a big favourite in Cheltenham Festival betting circles.

The race of the Festival could be Day Three’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, with a host of festival winners in serious contention. Chacun Pour Soi leads the ante-post at evens and has looked unflappable in winning his last three races. But the main contenders here also include two-time champion Altior, back from injury; Min, winner of the 2020 Ryanair Chase, and 2020 Champion Chase winner Politologue. Check out all the Cheltenham offers for what should be the race of the week.

Cheltenham 2020 Festival round-up

The 2020 Cheltenham Festival threw up a number of intriguing stories as crowds flocked to the famous course at Prestbury Park before a lockdown was brought about by the Covid crisis.

And as we’ve come to expect, it was a week of tremendous success for Irish trainers.

No doubt the biggest story of the meeting was Al Boum Photo claiming a second victory in the Gold Cup. The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was just one of six Irish-trained winners on the final day of the event. In all, Irish-trained horses claimed a staggering 17 wins at the four-day Festival.

Back on day one, the Nicky Henderson-trained Shiskin won the opening race, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. That same trainer claimed the biggest race of the opening day with Barry Geraghty riding Epatante home in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

The Henry De Bromhead-trained Put The Kettle On claimed the maiden Irish success of the Festival in the Grade 1 Racing Post Arkle Novices’ Chase.

Honeysuckle also ran home for De Bromhead in the Mares’ Hurdle, and in doing so, the impressive mare claimed her fourth Grade 1 victory by defeating Benie Des Dieux.

Jamie Codd led the Gordon Elliott-trained Ravenhill to victory in the National Hunt Chase on that same action-packed first day.

Day two was a successful one for Irish racing as Gordon Elliott-trained horses claimed the first two races of the day while Willie Mullins’ Ferny Hollow secured the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Barry Geraghty rode two more winners for Nicky Henderson, including Champ in the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase Grade 1.

And speaking of doubles, two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll was upset in the Glenfarclas Chase by Easyland. That defeat denied Tiger Roll a fifth Cheltenham win and a third-successive win in that particular race.

The big race of the day – the Queen Mother Champion Chase – was claimed by Harry Skelton on the Paul Nicholls’ trained Politologue.

Day three saw Mullins and Elliott share five winners between them – fitting for St. Patrick’s Day Thursday. Mullins’ Min, ridden by Paul Townend, beat favourite A Plus Tard in the Ryanair Chase – the main event of the day.

Other significant winners were the Davy Russell mount Samco in the Grade 1 March Novices’ Chase and Mullins-trained Concertista in the Grade 2 Dawn Run.

Yet perhaps the story of the day came in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle. Lisnagar Oscar saw of defending champion Paisley Park and several other top runners to claim success for first-time festival winning jockey Adam Wedge. Lisnagar Oscar came home at an impressive 50/1 for trainer Rebecca Curtis.

The final day of the festival was all about Al Boum Photo and trainer Willie Mullins. Mullins-trained horses secured wins in the first four races of the day. Burning Victory claimed the JCB Triumph Hurdle, Saint Roi ran home in the Randox Health County Hurdle, and Townend got his second success of the day on Monkfish.

Willie Mullins once again was the leading trainer at the meet with seven wins. That was the same number as rival Gordon Elliott, but Mullins won on countback. This was the seventh time Mullins has claimed that mantle, and it was a success that was only confirmed due to four Mullins wins on the final day. It was a riveting close to a fantastic few days of top-class racing.

Cheltenham 2019 Festival round-up

Britain and Ireland share the spoils at 2019 Cheltenham Festival

Honours were even at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, with British and Irish trainers claiming 14 victories apiece over the four-day meeting.

On the first day, it was an Irish bonanza, with Irish trainers winning four of the seven races including the prestigious Champion Hurdle.

Espoir D’Allen gave trainer Gavin Cromwell a first festival victory, with the five-year-old taking advantage of disappointing performances from the more fancied horses.

The 16/1 chance, ridden by Mark Walsh, stormed clear up the run-in as the leading three runners failed to make an impact.

Two-time winner Buveur D’Air fell at the third hurdle, while mares Apple’s Jade and Laurina struggled to produce their best form.

chentelham round up

Trainer Willie Mullins had a perfect start to the day with a 41/1 double thanks to wins for Klassical Dream in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and Duc Des Genievres in the Arkle Chase.

However, his hopes of a treble were dashed in the Mares Hurdle where the odds-on favourite and last year’s winner Benie Des Dieux fell at the final hurdle when well clear. Roksana took advantage to win the race at 10/1.

Elsewhere on the card, Nicky Henderson got his first winner of the meeting when Beware The Bear took the Festival Handicap Chase under Jerry McGrath.

A Plus Tard gave Rachael Blackmore her first festival success in the Novice Handicap Chase, while Le Breuil took the gruelling four-mile National Hunt Chase.

Odds-on favourite Altior claimed a record-equalling 18th consecutive success over jumps in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on the second day.

Nicky Henderson’s superstar was pushed hard by his rivals but dug deep to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths under Nico de Boinville.

It was a second win of the day for the jockey and trainer combination after William Henry edged out Wicklow Brave in the Coral Cup.

In the Cross Country Chase, a powerful display by Grand National winner Tiger Roll gave trainer Gordon Elliott his first success of the week.

The nine-year-old, ridden by Keith Donoghue, roared clear for a 22-length victory – his fourth festival success.

City Island was an impressive winner of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle ahead of the highly-touted Champ, while Topofthegame got trainer Paul Nicholls on the board with victory in the RSA Chase.

Band of Outlaws claimed the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle for Joseph O’Brien and Envoi Allen was a heavily backed winner in the Champion Bumper.

The undoubted highlight on day three was Paisley Park’s superb victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle. The 11/8 favourite found plenty ahead of him as they turned for the home stretch, but he bounded up the hill to claim an impressive success.

Bryony Frost’s Ryanair Chase victory on Frodon and Lizzie Kelly’s win on board Siruh Du Lac highlighted the talent amongst the female jockey ranks.

However, the ride of the day went to Barry Geraghty aboard Sire Du Berlais, with the Irish jockey coming from an impossible position to win the Pertemps Final.

Geraghty also guided Defi Du Seuil to victory in the JLT Novices’ Chase, while there was a rare 50/1 winner for Mullins as Eglantine Du Seuil landed the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Trainer Ted Walsh took the day’s concluding race, with his Any Second Now proving a popular winner in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders Handicap.

The final day of the meeting belonged to Mullins as Al Boum Photo, ridden by Paul Townend, put in a superb display to give him a first Cheltenham Gold Cup victory.

Mullins, the Festival’s most successful trainer, had previously finished second six times in the prestigious race.

The day started on a sour note, with heavily-backed Sir Erec suffering a fatal injury in the Triumph Hurdle. Pentland Hills eventually finished first.

Minella Indo took the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at 50/1, while trainer Dan Skelton celebrated a second successive County Hurdle when Ch’tibello came out on top.

Hazel Hill came with a well-timed run to take the Foxhunter Chase for amateur riders, while 66/1 chance Croco Bay won the Grand Annual Chase.

After suffering heartbreak earlier in the day with Sir Erec, O’Brien finished the Festival with a winner through Early Doors in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle.

Check out Cheltenham Festival 2019 Day 4 – All Finishes By RacingTV

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