Cheltenham Festival

Over £450 Million Expected In Estimated 2026 Cheltenham Festival Betting Figures

3 hours ago

| BY News Team

Bookmakers up and down the UK are braced for horse racing’s biggest betting week of the year, the Cheltenham Festival, with 28 races over four days, all of which made it into the 31 most bet-on races in 2025.

Only the Grand National, Derby and Scottish National earned a place alongside Cheltenham’s 28 races on that list of betting turnover.

This year, William Hill, who sponsor the William Hill County Hurdle on Gold Cup Day (Friday 13th March), are forecasting an industry total of £450 million to be wagered in the United Kingdom across the four days.

Of the horses William Hill are fearing most, Bambino Fever, who runs in Thursday’s Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, currently stands as their biggest liability, while Kateira, who’s been backed from 40/1 all the way down to 8/1, has the leading bookmaker sweating for Wednesday’s two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle.

William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps said: “Of the shorter-priced favourites at the meeting, Bambino Fever is our worst result. She’s been described as one of the best Irish chances of the week, and her price has continued to tumble into 11/10.

“Other bad results would be the Dan Skelton-trained handicappers Supremely West (Pertemps Final) and Kateira (BetMGM Cup). Kateira has been smashed in the last week or so from 40s all the way into 8/1 favourite.

“The battle between us and the punters over the four days of the Cheltenham Festival is unrivalled in Jumps racing. We’re expecting around £450 million to be wagered over the four days, which makes it the most bet-on racing festival of the year, and it’s a hugely important week for us.

“One day the fancied runners can go and get beat and everyone on the trading floor is cheering, and the next it can swing right back to the punters. Bring it on!”