Cheltenham Festival 2024: Races & Betting Tips

The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the Jumps racing calendar, with four days of unmissable action in March each year, and here we look forward to the 2024 Festival in just two months’ time.

Here’s our all you need to know guide to betting at the Festival.

Cheltenham Festival history

Perhaps surprisingly, the first horse races near Cheltenham were actually Flat races which took place on Nottingham Hill in the early 1800s. The jump racing which we’ve come to know and love so well didn’t commence at Cheltenham until 1834 with the first ever Grand Annual Steeplechase, the oldest race in the National Hunt calendar. The famous Grand National, held an Aintree, is two years younger.

The Cheltenham Festival, as we know it now, was originally called the National Hunt Meeting. It featured the National Hunt Chase; a four-mile race for amateur riders which became an important pinnacle of the season’s racing in March. From its developing prestige, the bones of the Festival were put in place. The first official Cheltenham Festival was a two-day meeting in 1911, before being extended to three days in 1923.

When and where is the Cheltenham Festival 2024?

The Festival was extended to the now-familiar four days in 2005. The meeting brings the very best of Irish and British National Hunt horses together to compete, and has seen the likes of Golden Miller, Arkle, Desert Orchid, Istabraq, Best Mate and Kauto Star pass through the finishing posts.

• Start Date: Tuesday 12th March 2024
• End Date: Friday 15th March 2024
• Number of Days: 4 days
• Where? Cheltenham Racecourse
• Race Type: National Hunt (Jumps)

William Hill Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham 2024 Courses

There are three separate courses at Cheltenham, each with different qualities and used for different races.

The Old Course is used on days one and two of the Festival. It’s a left-handed course over undulating ground, the last half-mile of which is up the famed Cheltenham Hill. It’s a sharp track which favours horses who travel strongly.

The New Course is used on days three and four of the Festival. Another left-handed course over the same undulating ground, its emphasis is on stamina, so runners which are less keen and prominent in the field tend to fare better in races on this course.

The Cross-Country Course is the only remaining track of its kind in the UK. It’s comparable to France’s cross-country courses, where there is a wider variety of steeplechase fence types and gradient to test the horses. Tiger Roll, trained by Gordon Elliott, is an example of a racehorse best known for his performances around the Cheltenham Cross-Country track.

Cheltenham Race Schedule 2024

The four-day festival plays host to 28 races in total. The ‘main event’ of the Cheltenham Festival could be considered subjective, depending on which big-name horses are running, however the Gold Cup – which takes place on the final day of the Festival – is most widely thought of as the highpoint of the four days.

Each day of the Cheltenham Festival will have its own racecard, in which is listed each runner alongside their jockey, trainer and recent form. The horse’s age (and sometimes breeding) is included, giving you all the information you need to make an informed decision when placing a bet.

Form is easy to read when you know how. For example, form which reads 125-P4 lists the horse’s last five outings. Number 1 denotes a win, 2 a second place, 5 fifth place. A dash tells us the horse then had a break, or spent time away from the racecourse. ‘P’ signifies ‘pulled-up’, and 4 means fourth place.

Champions Day

Known as ‘Champions Day’, the first day of the Cheltenham Festival has the Champion Hurdle as it’s feature race alongside the Arkle Novices’ Chase, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Mares’ Hurdle.

Festival Wednesday

Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival is packed with Grade 1 action from the very first race. It principally hosts the Queen Mother Champion Chase in addition to the Champion Bumper, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and, excitingly, the Cross-Country Chase which offers something a bit different to spectators.

St Patrick’s Thursday

The well-loved Irish celebration of St Patrick’s Day happens a day early at the Cheltenham Festival. A fun day in itself, St Patrick’s Thursday is also full of high-octane action around the New Course. The feature race is the Ryanair Steeple Chase, but the day also includes the Stayers’ Hurdle and the Turners Novices’ Chase.

Gold Cup Day

The final day of the Cheltenham Festival is the most eagerly awaited by many racing fans. The ultimate test of jumping ability and endurance, The Gold Cup, is the main attraction of the day, but is supported by the likes of the Triumph Hurdle and the Mares’ Chase.

Who won Cheltenham in 2023?

Cheltenham Odds 2024

Thanks to William Hill’s Ante-Post betting capacity, all Cheltenham Festival races have priced up their entrants already and can be bet on with our Non-Runner Money Back concession.

Firm favourites have developed ahead of the declarations, which happen 48 hours before the race day. Subject to change, some current favourites for the most-discussed races are: Ballyburn for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle; Constitution Hill for the Champion Hurdle; El Fabiolo for the Champion Chase; Brighterdaysahead for the Mares’ Hurdle; Dinoblue for the Mares’ Chase and Galopin Des Champs for The Gold Cup.

How to Bet on Cheltenham Festival 2024

Betting on the 2024 Cheltenham Festival couldn’t be easier with William Hill. Simply go to your online betting account and choose ‘horse racing’ from the list of sports. Under the ‘Future Races’ section you should see the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, with all races available to bet on and our Non-Runner Money Back guarantee.

Check in William Hill the latest Cheltenham Odds 2024

Tote Betting

Tote Betting works differently to normal betting in that the money you put down on your selections goes into a cumulative pool with the money of all other tote bettors. If you have backed a winning horse, you get a share of the pot, rather than just your own money and odds back.

Ante Post Betting

Ante-Post betting happens ahead of the event. If you placed a bet with William Hill on the Cheltenham Gold Cup, for example, two weeks ahead of the race, that would be an ante-post bet. Betting on the day of the race would not be an ante-post bet.

Find out William Hill’s ante-post market.

What is a NAPs table and why do people use one?

A NAP is the most-likely-to-be-successful bet of the day. A NAPs table is a competition between different press companies, who are all aiming to tip the highest number of winning bets. Looking at a NAPs table can help you make a good decision regarding which runner to choose. All  selections in the table have been researched and justified, so can be a helpful guide.

Look at William Hill’s NAPs Table.

Cheltenham Odds 2024