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3rd February 2026
03:46pm GMT
SportsJOE will guide you through the best free bets for Cheltenham races in 2026 in the UK in this article.
In order to help you choose the platform that best fits your betting style, we will review each top welcome bonus, betting features, app experience, and market coverage.
You are in the right place if you are looking for the best free bet offers for the Cheltenham Festival, as we have you covered for one of the biggest betting events for 2026.
We will help you choose the top Cheltenham free bet offers from some of the most renowned operators in the UK in this guide, and also help you in choosing the bookmaker that best suits your needs.
Please keep in mind to gamble responsibly, as betting involves risks.
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We have pulled together a list of all the best betting offers for Cheltenham Festival, with the four-day festival fast approaching.
You can take a look at them in the following table:
| Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus |
| Sky Bet | Bet 5p, Get £40 in Free Bets |
| Paddy Power | Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets |
| Betfair | Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets |
| William Hill | Get £40 in free bets when you deposit & bet £10 |
| bet365 | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets |
| Betfred | £50 In Free Bets, When You Bet £10 |
| Netbet | Bet £10, Get £20 in Free Bets |
| Kwiff | Bet £10, Get £10 in Free Bets |
| Grosvenor | Deposit £20, Play with £40 - Paid in Cash |
| Midnite | Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets |
| Betano | Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets |
| Spreadex | Bet £10, Get £60 in Free Bets |
| Hot Streak | Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets |
| Unibet | Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses |
| Boylesports | £40 in Free Bets + 25% Bet Builder Boost |
For new customers, Sky Bet’s Bet 5p, Get £40 in Free Bets offer is a popular Cheltenham Festival choice.
Once you have signed up and deposited £5, you place a qualifying bet of just 5p at odds of evens or higher.
After that bet settles, you receive £40 in free bets, typically split into four £10 tokens that you can then use on Cheltenham races.
The minimal qualifying bet makes this a standout Cheltenham promotion, but the free bets are stake-not-returned and time-limited.
As a new customer, you can claim £30 in free bets after staking just £5 with Paddy Power’s Cheltenham offer.
In order to qualify, you need to open an account, deposit £5 or more, and place your first bet at minimum odds (evens/2.0 or higher).
After your bet has settled, the free bets are credited to your account and you can use them across Cheltenham races.
They provide an easy way to get extra value during the festival, since they’re stake-not-returned and time-limited.
New sign-ups are rewarded with £50 in free bets after placing a £10 qualifying bet in Betfair’s Cheltenham Festival promotion.
It credits your account with £50 in free bets for use on festival markets, after you create an account and you make a first bet at the required minimum odds.
The free bets offer a generous bonus if you are looking to boost your Cheltenham betting, but they do not return your stake and must be used before they expire.
If you are a new customer, William Hill’s offer gives you £40 in free bets for the Cheltenham Festival after making a £10 qualifying bet.
What you need to do is simply register, deposit, and place a first bet of £10 or more at the required odds.
After the bet has settled, you will find £40 in free bets added to your account, which you can use on Cheltenham races.
The value makes it a highly appealing option for festival bettors, however these free bets do not include the stake in any winnings and come with an expiry period.
The welcome bonus of bet365 for Cheltenham allows you to turn a £10 first bet into £30 in free bets, if you are new to the game.
Once you’ve registered, deposited, and placed a qualifying £10 bet at the required minimum odds, the free bets are credited for use on festival markets.
Since the stake is not returned with any winnings and they must be used within the specified time, it is a straightforward and valuable promotion for the festival.
Thanks to Betfred’s Cheltenham Festival welcome offer, if you are a new customer you have a chance to turn a £10 bet into £50 in free bets.
All you have to do is simply sign up deposit, and place a first qualifying bet of £10 or more at the minimum required odds, in order to claim.
After the bet has settled, £50 in free bets is credited to your account for use on Cheltenham races.
The generous value makes this one of the more rewarding festival promotions if you are a new bettor, even if the free bets are stake-not-returned and expire after a set period.
The Cheltenham Festival welcome deal of Netbet gives you as a new customer a way to boost your betting with £30 in free bets from just a £10 stake.
For you to claim, you need to open an account, deposit, and place your first bet at the minimum qualifying odds.
After that initial bet settles, the free bets are credited and you can use them across Cheltenham Festival races.
These free bets offer a simple way to get extra value and enjoy the festival action, as they’re stake-not-returned and must be used within the promotional timeframe.
If you are a new customer, Kwiff is giving you a simple way to enjoy the Cheltenham Festival with a £10 free bet when you place a first bet of £10 or more.
Once you’ve signed up, deposited and placed your qualifying bet at the required odds, the free bet is credited to your account.
Your stake isn’t included in the bonus and you should use it within the set timeframe. This way, it is a quick and easy boost to get involved in the festival action.
Your first deposit is doubled in the Cheltenham Festival welcome offer by Grosvenor, as it lets you start betting with £40 when you deposit £20, as a new customer.
You simply have to set up an account, fund it with with £20, and Grosvenor will match it with £20 in bonus funds.
Then you can use this bonus on Cheltenham races, as it gives you extra betting power to enjoy the festival.
It’s a simple way to boost your first Cheltenham bet and get more action on the track, but terms such as time limits and eligible markets apply.
New customers get a welcome boost for the festival thanks to Midnite, with £30 in free bets from just a £10 first stake.
You need to register, deposit and place your opening bet at the minimum qualifying odds to take advantage.
After the initial bet has settled, the free ones are added to your account, so that you can use them on races at the festival.
Your original stake isn’t included in the bonus and it comes with a time limit, so it’s a simple way to get some extra betting value.
New customers receive a welcome boost by Betano, as it turns your £10 first bet into £30 in free bets.
Sign up, make a deposit and place your opening bet at the minimum qualifying odds to claim.
After your wager settles, the free bets are credited to your account and you can use them on Cheltenham races.
Without risking too much of your own money, you get extra value to enjoy the festival, as these bonuses are stake-not-returned and have an expiry.
Trusted UK bookmakers give you the opportunity to make the most of Cheltenham Festival 2026, with some of the best free bet and welcome offers.
You gain extra betting value thanks to these promotions when you join and once you have placed your first qualifying bet.
At the same time, the promotions provide a great way to boost your Cheltenham action from the first day through to the big races, such as the Gold Cup.
New customers can Bet 5p and get £40 in free bets at Sky Bet, once the small qualifying stake settles at the required minimum odds, typically evens (2.0) or is greater.
On the other hand, you get a sizeable bonus from a very small first stake at Paddy Power, as it offers Bet £5, Get £30 in Free Bets.
While at Betfair, if you Bet £10, Get £50 in Free Bets, you’ll receive a generous £50 once your first £10 bet settles.
Bettors are also rewarded with a first £10 wager with £40 in Free Bets at William Hill, which is ideal for spreading across races.
At bet365, another solid option is the Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets welcome offer, while Betfred increases the stake with £50 in Free Bets when you bet £10.
You get extra tokens to use on Cheltenham markets thanks to Netbet and Betano, with both featuring Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets.
Over at Kwiff, you can Bet £10, Get £10 in Free Bets, and this adds simple value for you if you are a newcomer. On the other hand, Midnite turns a first £10 bet into £30 in Free Bets.
The approach slightly differs at Grosvenor, with a Deposit £20, Play with £40 deal. This way, you can double your opening funds, while you more to play with during the festival.
Main things to remember when you compare the offers are the minimum qualifying odds, expiry dates on free bets, and if the free bets are stake not returned.
Depending on how they credit bonuses and how long they last, offers can vary, so before you claim remember that you have checked full terms and conditions.
If you compare these deals, you will find it much easier to find the best value for your strategy at the festival.
In addition, using these bonuses wisely around races like the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup can further stretch your betting budget and make every day of the festival more exciting.
You can find a range of promotions from bookmakers if you are a new bettor during Cheltenham. Typically, you can find these in the form of free bets, deposit matches, or enhanced odds.
“Bet £5, Get £30”, “Bet £10, Get £50” or “deposit £20, play with £40” are the common examples. Usually, offers have minimum odds requirements, expiry dates, and are often stake-not-returned.
This means that you can only withdraw winnings from the free bet. Thanks to these promotions, as a newcomer you can explore betting on races like the Gold Cup with reduced risk and extra value.
By matching a percentage of your first deposit, often 50% to 100%, deposit match bonuses give you extra betting funds, whether you’re a new or an existing customer.
For instance, if you deposit £20 with a 100% match, this would give you £40 to play with.
Usually, the bonuses are time-limited, stake-not-returned, and you can use them on Cheltenham Festival races to increase your betting power without extra risk.
You can place a bet without the full financial risk, thanks to risk-free or money-back specials. For example, if your bet loses the bookmaker usually will refund your stake as a free bet.
For Cheltenham races these promotions are popular, as they make it possible for you to try selections like the Gold Cup with reduced risk, while still having the opportunity to win, in the meantime.
The price of selected horses or races is boosted through enhanced odds promotions, and compared to the standard market, they will give you better odds.
More often than not, they are often offered on headline Cheltenham races. Usually, they come with stake limits or opt-in requirements, however they provide extra value by increasing potential returns without needing to stake more.
Thanks to extra places and each-way boost promotions, the number of finishing positions that count as a win for each-way bets or improve the place terms offered by the bookmaker is increased.
In big Cheltenham fields, these offers are especially popular, since they give you as a punter a better chance of receiving a return, even if your selection doesn’t turn out successful.
If your horse doesn’t take part in the race, you can protect your stake through Non-runner No Bet promotions.
And your bet is simply refunded if your selection is declared a non-runner, so this makes it a popular option for Cheltenham ante-post betting where final race line-ups are not yet confirmed.
You receive the better price if the odds on your selection shorten between the time you place your bet and the race starting, thanks to Best Odds Guaranteed.
The bookmaker will pay out at the bigger price, giving you extra value at no additional cost, if the starting price is higher than the odds you took.
If you are a regular bettor, existing customer and loyalty promotions will reward you with ongoing Cheltenham bonuses.
These include free bets, price boosts, enhanced odds, and cashback offers.
The deals usually run daily throughout the festival and require opting in, while loyal customers get extra value on top races without needing to register with a new account.
To find out how Cheltenham free bets work, check out our step-by-step guide below:
1. Sign Up with a Bookmaker
You should start by registering with a licensed UK bookmaker offering a festival promotion, in order to access Cheltenham free bets.
What you need to do is: provide basic details, verify your age and identity, and set up an account.
Keep in mind that some offers are for new customers only, while others may be for existing players.
2. Make a Deposit (If Required)
To activate the promotion, many of the free bets will require a minimum deposit. Sky Bet’s welcome offer, for instance, asks for a £5 deposit.
On the other hand, Betfair or William Hill may require £10.
Usually, deposits are eligible via debit card or bank transfer. However, note that e-wallets like Skrill or Neteller are sometimes excluded.
3. Place a Qualifying Bet
After your account is funded, you should place a qualifying bet at the minimum odds specified in the offer.
While sometimes this could be a single bet, in some cases it is an each-way bet on a Cheltenham race.
After your qualifying bet has settled, you will get credited with the free bet amount by the bookmaker.
4. Using Free Bets
You can use your free bet on eligible Cheltenham Festival markets, once your free bet is credited.
Usually, free bets are stake-not-returned, which means that you only receive the profit from a winning selection and not the free bet itself.
Free bets are issued in splits or tokens (e.g., £10 x 4) by some operators, which you can then use across multiple races.
5. Re-Bet or Withdraw Winnings
You can usually withdraw the profit or re-invest on other races, if your free bet wins.
With your winnings, you can continue to place more bets or use the other promotions to combine them with additional free bets.
Keep in mind to always check the expiry date on free bets, to make sure you use them before they expire.
6. Repeat or Compare Offers
It is worth comparing free bets and claiming multiple offers across different operators to maximise value throughout the festival, as many bookmakers run daily or race-specific Cheltenham promotions.
If you are a newcomer, you should start by understanding the basic bet types, such as win, each-way, and accumulators, and make sure to always check the odds carefully before staking.
You can get valuable insight into likely outcomes if you research horse form, trainer records and track conditions.
What will help minimise the risk while boosting your potential returns is if you use Cheltenham free bets strategically. This especially applies to high-profile races, such as Gold Cup.
Remember to bet responsibly and set a budget, in order to make the festival a fun and enjoyable experience for you.
For anyone aged 18 or over, betting on the Cheltenham Festival is fully legal in the United Kingdom.
If you use licensed and regulated bookmakers, this means your bets are safe, fair, and secure.
Your funds are protected by licensed operators, and so is your personal data. These operators also provide verified odds, as opposed to unlicensed sites, which carry significant risks.
But most importantly, gamble responsibly. You can do this by setting budgets and using tools like deposit limits or self-exclusion, and if needed you can always seek support.
You can find guidance if you feel that your betting is becoming a problem at resources such as GambleAware, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), and Gamblers Anonymous.
If you meet the qualifying criteria, which includes the minimum deposit, bet amount, and minimum odds, then yes, most bookmaker welcome offers can be used on Cheltenham Festival races.
Remember to always look at the terms and conditions, as some offers may restrict certain markets or bet types.
In general, these bonuses are perfect for placing bets on key races like the Gold Cup or Champion Hurdle.
They are usually available in the lead-up to the festival, as well as during the four days that the racing takes place.
A lot of bookmakers will release offers weeks prior to the festival, and additional daily bonuses and promotions that are race-specific will appear each morning, once the festival has started.
You can get maximise value on the most important races if you time your free bets in a strategic way.
The best bookmakers in the UK for the festival are Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Betfair, William Hill, bet365, Betfred, NetBet, Kwiff, Midnite, Grosvenor, and Betano.
Each of these operators has its own unique promotion, usually involving a qualifying bet that unlocks a larger free bet or bonus balance for you to use on the races.
To find the best deal for your betting strategy, compare the offers by these bookmakers.
Yes, since special Cheltenham free bets and enhanced odds for existing customers are run by many bookmakers.
They can include daily price boosts, money-back specials, extra places, and free bet bonuses on specific races.
These promotions will often require you to opt in and may be limited to one claim per customer per day or race, as opposed to welcome offers.
Yes, you totally can. You can make use of free bets and promotions across multiple bookmakers, provided that you meet each offer’s requirements.
Thanks to this strategy, you can make your betting diverse across different races and markets. This way, you can boost your potential returns as you enjoy the different kinds of bonuses.
It’s simple, just stick to licensed, regulated UK bookmakers, and of course, always make sure to read the terms and conditions.
You should use the free bets on selections and races that you have researched and make sure to avoid chasing losses.
You can also keep your betting safe via responsible gambling tools like deposit limits and self-exclusion.
Yes, they are. All of the big bookmakers in the UK make their Cheltenham free bets available through their iOS and Android apps.
You can place bets through mobile apps, as well as claim promotions and track races on the move. This is why it’s convenient to use free bets during the festival.
App-exclusive bonuses or notifications for daily race promotions are also offered by some operators.
All you usually need to do is register or login, deposit if it is required, and place a qualifying bet at the minimum odds that the promotion has specified for you, while some other offers may require you to opt in via the promotions page or app.
After you have met the qualifying conditions, the free bet is credited to your account, which you can then use on eligible races at the festival.
Yes, you can. Keep in mind though that the stake itself is not returned.
If you place a £10 free bet and win £40, for instance, then the £40 is withdrawable but the original £10 free bet is not included in the payout.
Make sure to always look at any expiry dates or restrictions before you use the free bet to ensure you can access your earnings.
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