We’ve reached the midway point in the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, but there’s still plenty more to come, with today’s card featuring co-headliners in the Stayers’ Chase (15.20) and the Ryanair Chase (16.00).
There are a variety of free bets available on the best betting sites on St Patrick’s Thursday, and we’ve been through a host of UK bookmakers to put together our list of the best Cheltenham betting offers.
There are seven more cracking races to enjoy today and betting sites continue to roll out their best Cheltenham offers for the festival, with plenty more to choose from.
Here’s our pick for the top five Cheltenham free bets offers available on day three.
| Rank | Bookmaker | Cheltenham Offers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virgin Bet | Money back as a free bet on all losing bets on the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (14.00). Place a bet on the race and if your selection doesn’t win, receive your stake back as a free bet. The value of the free bet varies between users and ranges from £1 to £50. |
| 2 | JeffBet | Deposit £25 or more using the JeffBet promo code FESTIVAL and wager a minimum of £25 on Cheltenham races to receive a £10 free bet. The free bet must be used on a Cheltenham Festival market at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or bigger. |
| 3 | Tote | Tote are making every race at Cheltenham a money-back race with bettors getting their stake refunded in free bets if their selection finishes second on day three. The offer applies to win-only and the win part of any each-way wager, with bettors eligible for a maximum £10 refund. |
| 4 | Coral | Coral have one of the best value Cheltenham free bet offers of the entire festival, giving bettors £30 in free bets instantly when they wager £5. Sign up to Coral, make a first deposit of at least £5 and then wager £5 or more at odds of 1/2 or greater to qualify for the £30 in free bets, all of which can be used to bet on Cheltenham. |
| 5 | PricedUp | The PricedUp welcome offer is for those who enjoy Cheltenham accumulators. Sign up with PricedUp and wager a minimum of £40 at odds of evens or greater. In return, bettors will receive 4x £5 free accumulator bets, which must be used at combined odds of 3/1 or greater. |
Compare the odds: Use odds comparison tools on The Independent to find the best available prices before placing a bet. Many bookmakers also run Cheltenham odds boosts, so checking multiple betting sites can help you squeeze extra value out of your stake.
Best odds guaranteed: Some bookmakers offer Best Odds Guaranteed on horse racing. This means if you take a price on a horse running at Cheltenham and the starting price (SP) is higher, or it goes off at a shorter price, bookmakers guarantee they will pay out at whatever the highest odds were. This offer only kicks in on the morning of the race.
Understand the promotions: Always read the terms and conditions to understand exactly how any Cheltenham offer works. Many Cheltenham deals include NRNB (Non Runner No Bet), which means you’ll get your stake refunded if your selected horse doesn’t run in the race.
Use free bets carefully: Free bets can add extra value during the festival, but it’s worth using them strategically rather than chasing unlikely outsiders. Check the wagering requirements and expiry dates so you don’t let them go to waste.
Follow expert insight: It’s also worth keeping up with the latest analysis from our horse racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge, who has put together his Cheltenham tips for today, with several selections to consider.
| Rank | Bookmaker | Cheltenham Promos and Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paddy Power | NRNB, BOG, extra places, profit boosts, acca boosts, live streaming, referral bonus, Cheltenham specials, AskPaddy, racing tips, picks games, moneyback specials |
| 2 | BetMGM | Profit boosts on racing, live streaming, Cheltenham price boosts, Cheltenham specials, daily racing specials, free racing bets with sign up offer. |
| 3 | Betfair | NRNB, BOG, extra places, profit boosts, acca boosts, live streaming, referral bonus, Cheltenham specials, racing tips, picks games, moneyback specials |
| 4 | Bet365 | Bet boosts on selected runners, BOG, pay out on disqualified horses, extra places, price boosts, updates on your tracked horses, live streaming, race history archive, welcome offer valid on racing. |
| 5 | Betfred | NRNB, extra places, NAP of the day, racing acca winnings boosts, BOG, Rewards4Racing points, odds boosts on Lucky 15s, live streaming, welcome offer valid on racing. |
| 6 | BOYLE Sports | Money back specials on racing, BOG, racing acca price boosts, Cheltenham free bet offers, Cheltenham invent-a-bet, Cheltenham specials, live streaming, welcome offer valid on racing. |
| 7 | Betway | Cheltenham free bet club, Cheltenham free bet specials, free racing prediction game with cash prizes, BOG, racing price boosts, extra places, live streaming, welcome offer valid on racing. |
| 8 | Coral | NRNB, Low stake Cheltenham sign up offer, price boosts, Cheltenham boosts, Cheltenham specials, BOG, great value Cheltenham odds, free to play games, Cheltenham competitions. |
| 9 | Unibet | Money back specials on racing, racing multi-feature, racing acca boosts, extra places, racing price boosts, BOG, best industry prices, live streaming, racing welcome offer. |
| 10 | Ladbrokes | NRMB, BOG, extra places. low stake betting sign up offer, acca boosts, Cheltenham boosts, Cheltenham bet builder, lived streaming, racing tips, picks games. |
Ryanair Chase
History: The Ryanair Chase began in 2005 and has slowly become one of the most important chase races at the event, signalling a potential charge at the Gold Cup in future years.
Competed over two miles and furlongs on the Old Course, chasers must clear 17 fences to win the event. Willie Mullins has dominated the Ryanair Chase with six wins, including four in the last six years.
Stayers’ Hurdle
History: This Grade One race is the ultimate test of distance for horses competing at Cheltenham. The Stayers’ Hurdle has been staged at Cheltenham Festival for over 100 years and takes pride of place in the schedule on day three.
Competitors race over three miles of the New Course at Prestbury Park. Trainers work their charges all season to gear them up for the challenge of the final uphill challenge. Paul Nicholls’ is the most successful trainer in the event, having trained the four-time winner Big Buck’s to four-straight wins between 2009 and 2012.
With so many Cheltenham offers to consider, it can get confusing which ones are the best to follow. Here’s how we evaluate which ones are best:
Licensing: All our recommended Cheltenham offers come from bookmakers licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This ensures operators meet strict standards for player protection, data security and fair gambling practices.
Welcome offer: We prioritise bookmakers that provide strong and fair sign-up bonuses for new customers. The welcome offer should provide genuine value and be easy to claim without unnecessary complications.
Promotion strength: The best Cheltenham betting sites provide a wide range of festival promotions. These can include free bets, money-back specials, best odds guaranteed, NRNB (non runner no bet), price boosts, acca boosts, acca insurance, acca rewards, super boosts and extra place races. We review the terms and conditions carefully to ensure these offers provide genuine value for bettors.
Markets: Cheltenham Festival is the biggest betting event of the year, and bettors can expect online bookmakers to produce a huge range of markets each and every day. This includes traditional race betting as well as newer options such as racing bet builders, giving punters more flexibility in how they place their bets.
App: All our Cheltenham free bet offers should be available on both desktop sites and betting apps. The offers we recommended are from bookies who deliver a seamless experience for bettors, no matter what kind of device they are using.
Payment options: The Cheltenham betting offers we recommend come from bookmakers that support a variety of trusted payment options, including PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and other convenient deposit and withdrawal methods.
Bettors should always gamble responsibly when betting online. With so much excitement around the Cheltenham Festival, it can be easy to get caught up in the moment, so it’s important to stay in control of both your time and your spending.
The same principles apply if you’re gambling on online casinos, slot sites, poker sites or bingo sites.
Bettors can use responsible gambling tools provided by online bookies such as deposit limits, loss limits and self-exclusion among others.
Should you wish to seek help for gambling-related issues, there are several charities, organisations and healthcare providers who offer support and information:
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