The Olympics of racing, Great Britain v Ireland, the last big test before the Grand National – there’s a reason that the Cheltenham Festival always has everyone talking…
Day one of the festival is now upon us, and to mark the start of a week of horse racing-specific coverage, we’re starting with part two of our Cheltenham special Bookies Corner.
In part one, we looked at things largely from the trading perspective. But this time around, we’ll be analysing the culture around racing and the Cheltenham Festival itself.
With betting and racing facing regulatory pressure like never before, just how crucial are major events such as the Cheltenham Festival for fan and cultural engagement?
The UK v Ireland racing rivalry is always very competitive at Cheltenham. What are the odds, and punter choices, saying about it this year?
Henry Beesley, Fitzdares: Our current odds have Great Britain at 5/1, Ireland at 1/6 and a tie at 12/1.
In truth, this isn’t a hugely popular market for us. Our clients are always more inclined to latch on to the top jockey and top trainer markets…
James Knight, Entain: The current Prestbury Cup odds have Ireland at 1/7, Great Britain at 9/2 and the tie at 14/1, so we are expecting Ireland to win again – albeit, it is closer than it has been in recent years.
If Great Britain is to stand a chance of winning, then we will need a strong Day one – and with the Nicky Henderson pair of Old Park Star and Lulamba heading the market for the Supreme Novices’ and Arkle, there is a fair chance that could happen, which would make things interesting.
Pat Cooney, bet365: The rivalry may be competitive, but since a tie at 14-14 in 2019, it has been Irish domination, most notably a 23-5 victory in 2021.
Ireland won 20-8 last year, but I expect it to be a lot closer this time, with Ireland perhaps winning by 16-12. Current odds in the Prestbury Cup betting market are Ireland 1/6, Great Britain 5/1 and tie 14/1.
James Mackie, Flutter: The Prestbury Cup is always a market that punters tend to keep their eye on as the Festival looms. This year, Ireland are the clear favourites again to take home the bragging rights at 1/9.
After a 20-8 defeat last year, the British will be looking to put up a better fight, with many experts believing they could get a lot closer this year. Britain is currently a 6/1 chance to take back the Cup; with the last time they did so back in 2015. The tie is priced at 14/1.
As an Englishman, of course I will be cheering on the British to snatch back those bragging rights.
Is the Cheltenham Festival always going to be one of the biggest events of the year for British and Irish bookies?
Henry Beesley, Fitzdares: Cheltenham is always the biggest betting week of the year for us. It’s often described as the ‘Olympics of horse racing’, and for good reason. The combination of top-class racing, incredible atmosphere and tradition makes it unmissable.
For our clients, who have historically been primarily racing fans, Cheltenham is always a highlight of the calendar, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon!
James Knight, Entain: It’s a huge week, and the only thing outside of Cheltenham that can hold a candle to it is the Grand National. Although the Festival has had its challenges in recent years, the Jockey Club has made some very smart alterations to the race programme, and I see no reason to think that the Festival won’t continue to be the biggest Racing Festival of the year for many years to come.
From a bookmaking perspective, one of the things that stands out is just how popular the Friday of the Festival is with punters. In 2025, five of the top ten turnover races of the year came on the Friday of Cheltenham, so it is always a day where, almost regardless of what has gone before, the results can really make or break the Festival for the layers.
Pat Cooney, bet365: It’s the biggest festival meeting of the year with turnover consistently beating that at Royal Ascot. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is usually the third biggest turnover race in the calendar, behind the Grand National and the Epsom Derby.
James Mackie, Flutter: The Cheltenham Festival is always the pinnacle of the horse racing season when it comes to engagement. The build up to the four-day meeting is second to none, with punters placing ante-post bets on next year’s meeting during the current Festival.
As well as that, punters get to take in the preview night circuit that really does get racing fans in the mood for the greatest show on turf. Keep an eye out for Racing Only Bettor’s Cheltenham Preview show that drops on Sunday.
For jumps racing fans around the world, they get to see the best of the best in each division take each other on; apart from these four days, that very rarely happens.
From a punting perspective, they get to take advantage of lucrative offers across the week including superboosts, extra places on races and our bespoke offers which this year is ‘Get a free £10 bet when you bet £10 worth of racing multis every day of the Cheltenham Festival’.
The Cheltenham Festival offers the four busiest betting days of the year for horse racing punters and, like many, I can’t wait for the action to unfold.
What is it about Cheltenham that sets it apart from other races in the rest of the UK and Irish calendars?
Henry Beesley, Fitzdares: It’s the one time of the year where you see the very best of the best taking each other on. There’s always so much build up and anticipation for the week. We wait all year for it and there’s nothing quite like that first roar from the crowd for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
James Knight, Entain: Punters love two things when it comes to betting on Horse Racing – quality and competitiveness. The problem that National Hunt racing has for most of the season is that it struggles to get both at the same time.
Most Saturdays see the odd top class horse turn up somewhere. But often, we see small fields and relatively uncompetitive racing. Cheltenham is the one place where we consistently get both quality and competitiveness – and the races that really get the pulse racing are when we get two or three superstar heavyweights slugging it out.
Probably the best example of that in my lifetime was the Kauto Star v Denman clash in the 2008 Gold Cup – punters were arguing for months about which horse would prevail and you simply don’t get that level of engagement and excitement at other big horse racing Festivals.
This year probably lacks a Kauto Star v Denman, but there are a lot of extremely talented horses going head-to-head for the first time – and maybe the clash that has most people talking is Lulamba v Kopek Des Bordes in the Arkle. It’s England vs Ireland, Henderson vs Mullins and strong cases being made for both horses – everything that makes the Festival special!
Pat Cooney, bet365: Interest in the Ante Post markets really are 365 days a year. As soon as, say, the Champion Hurdle is over, we’ll be straight back out with odds to win next year’s renewal, and so on, with the other Championship races. This just doesn’t happen at any other big meeting.
If you missed part one of the Bookies Corner: Cheltenham Edition, you can read it here.