The Real Whacker team celebrate at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Festival tips, features, results, video replays and records

By Sporting Life

18:03 · THU March 16, 2023

The 2023 Cheltenham Festival runs from Tuesday March 14 to Friday March 17 - we have all the details.

Cheltenham Festival Tips & Features

Our industry-leading experts will be providing their tips for the 2023 Festival - bookmark this page and make sure you don't miss any of our previews from the likes of Mark Howard, Rory Delargy, David Massey, Matt Brocklebank, Donn McClean, David Ord and Ben Linfoot. We also have a dedicated index for all our latest Cheltenham features.

Cheltenham Festival LIVE!

Follow the action from Prestbury Park...

Cheltenham Festival Tips

Best Bets for Friday

Matt Brocklebank's Value Bet Tips

Ben Linfoot's Friday Tips

Top tips from one of the best in the business

Ben Linfoot's Burning Question

Who are the handicap snips?

Who are the Festival favourites to oppose?

Can Paul Nicholls bounce back at the Festival?

Matt Brocklebank's Antepost Value Bet

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle tips

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle tips

Sporting Life Arkle Trophy tips

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle tips

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase tips

Cheltenham Gold Cup tips

Do You Remember?

Our Racing Editor recounts an incredibly memorable trip to the 1992 Cheltenham Festival which resulted in several equine champions being born on the track... and a remedial eyepatch off it.

Cool Ground (right) on his way to Gold Cup glory in '92

David Ord reflects on all the drama of the 2007 Cheltenham Festival taking in the Evesham Premier Inn, Cheltenham Tigers Rugby Club and much more.

Our Racing Editor recounts an incredibly memorable trip to the 1992 Cheltenham Festival which resulted in several equine champions being born on the track... and a remedial eyepatch off it.

David Ord look back at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival - four days that had a new edition to its soundtrack.

Iconic Cheltenham moments

John Ingles recalls when Norton's Coin pulled off one of the greatest Festival upsets.

Norton's Coin - won the Gold Cup

John Ingles looks back to the dramatic outcome to the 2015 Mares' Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh walks back after his fall on Annie Power

John Ingles looks back to the dramatic day the Gold Cup was delayed by snow.

Cheltenham Festival Greats

In a series highlighting the achievements of Cheltenham greats, John Ingles focuses on Festival winners of years gone by.

Dawn Run

Jonjo O'Neill celebrates after winning the 1986 Gold Cup aboard Dawn Run

Sprinter Sacre

The Arkle is one-way traffic as Sprinter Sacre clears the last

Best Mate

Best Mate on his way to a third Gold Cup win

Istabraq

A gloriously familiar Cheltenham sight

Altior

Altior was a four-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival

Big Buck's

Andy Stewart (left) celebrates after Big Buck's wins The Ladbrokes World Hurdle in 2012

Cheltenham Festival Schedule & Racecards

Click on the links nearer to the time for full runners, riders and FREE video replays

Cheltenham Festival video previews & interviews

Records and key statistics

Cheltenham Festival - Top Jockeys

The top jockey for the Festival is the jockey who wins the most races over the four days. The winners since 1980, with wins in brackets, are:

2022 Paul Townend (3)
2021 Rachael Blackmore (6)
2020 Paul Townend (5)
2019 Nico de Boinville (3)
2018 Davy Russell (4)
2017 Ruby Walsh (4)
2016 Ruby Walsh (7)
2015 Ruby Walsh (4)
2014 Ruby Walsh (3)
2013 Ruby Walsh (4)
2012 Barry Geraghty (5)
2011 Ruby Walsh (5)
2010 Ruby Walsh (3)
2009 Ruby Walsh (7)
2008 Ruby Walsh (3)
2007 Robert Thornton (4)
2006 Ruby Walsh (3)
2005 Graham Lee (3)
2004 Ruby Walsh (3)
2003 Barry Geraghty (5)
2002 Richard Johnson (2)
2001: Festival cancelled
2000 Mick Fitzgerald (4)
1999 Mick Fitzgerald (4)
1998 Tony McCoy (5)
1997 Tony McCoy (3)
1996 Richard Dunwoody (2)
1995 Norman Williamson (4)
1994 Charlie Swan (3)
1993 Charlie Swan (4)
1992 Jamie Osborne (5)
1991 Peter Scudamore (2)
1990 Richard Dunwoody (2)
1989 Tom Morgan (2)
1988 Simon Sherwood (2)
1987 Peter Scudamore (2)
1986 Peter Scudamore (2)
1985 Steve Smith Eccles (3)
1984 Jonjo O'Neill (2)
1983 Graham Bradley (2)
1982 Jonjo O'Neill (1)
1981 John Francome (3)
1980 Jim Wilson (3)

Cheltenham Festival - Top Trainers

The leading trainer for the Festival is the trainer who trains the most winners in the races over the four days. The winners since 1997, with wins in brackets, are:

2022 Willie Mullins (10)
2021 Willie Mullins (6)
2020 Willie Mullins (7)
2019 Willie Mullins (4)
2018 Gordon Elliott (8)
2017 Gordon Elliott (6)
2016 Willie Mullins (7)
2015 Willie Mullins (8)
2014 Willie Mullins (4)
2013 Willie Mullins (5)
2012 Nicky Henderson (7)
2011 Willie Mullins (4)
2010 Nicky Henderson (3)
2009 Paul Nicholls (5)
2008 Paul Nicholls (3)
2007 Paul Nicholls (4)
2006 Paul Nicholls (3)
2005 Howard Johnson (3)
2004 Paul Nicholls (4)
2003 Jonjo O'Neill (3)
2002 Martin Pipe (3)
2000 Nicky Henderson (4)
1999 Paul Nicholls (3)
1998 Martin Pipe (4)
1997 Martin Pipe (4)

Most successful trainers in the Cheltenham Gold Cup

5 - Tom Dreaper IRE (1946 Prince Regent, 1964, 1965 & 1966 Arkle, 1968 Fort Leney)
4 - Basil Briscoe (1932, 1933, 1934 & 1935 Golden Miller), Paul Nicholls (1999 See More Business, 2007 & 2009 Kauto Star, 2008 Denman), Vincent O'Brien IRE (1948, 1949 & 1950 Cottage Rake, 1953 Knock Hard), Fulke Walwyn (1952 Mont Tremblant, 1962 Mandarin, 1963 Mill House, 1973 The Dikler)
3 - Owen Anthony (1927 Thrown In, 1936 Golden Miller, 1940 Roman Hackle), Henrietta Knight (2002, 2003 & 2004 Best Mate)
2 - Ivor Anthony (1938 Morse Code, 1941 Poet Prince), Jack Anthony (1929 & 1930 Easter Hero), George Beeby (1939 Brendan's Cottage, 1951 Silver Fame), Noel Chance (1997 Mr Mulligan, 2000 Looks Like Trouble), Michael Dickinson (1982 Silver Buck, 1983 Bregawn), Peter Easterby (1979 Alverton, 1981 Little Owl), Nicky Henderson (2011 Long Run, 2013 Bobs Worth), Dan Moore IRE (1970 & 1971 L'Escargot), Willie Mullins (2019 & 2020 Al Boum Photo), Henry De Bromhead (Minella Indo 2021 & A Plus Tard 2022)

Most successful trainers in the Champion Hurdle

8 - Nicky Henderson (1985, 1986 & 1987 See You Then, 2009 Punjabi, 2010 Binocular, 2017 & 2018 Buveur D'Air, 2020 Epatante)
5 - Peter Easterby (1967 Saucy Kit, 1976 & 1977 Night Nurse, 1980 & 1981 Sea Pigeon)
4 - Willie Mullins (2011 & 2013 Hurricane Fly, 2015 Faugheen, 2016 Annie Power), Vic Smyth (1941 Seneca, 1942 Forestation, 1947 and 1948 National Spirit), Fred Winter (1971 & 1972 Bula, 1974 Lanzarote, 1988 Celtic Shot)
3 - Colin Davies (1968, 1969 and 1970 Persian War), Aidan O'Brien IRE (1998, 1999 & 2000 Istabraq), Ryan Price (1955 Clair Soleil, 1959 Fare Time, 1961 Eborneezer), Willie Stephenson (1952, 1953 & 1954 Sir Ken)

Most successful trainers in the Queen Mother Champion Chase

6 - Tom Dreaper IRE (1960 & 1961 Fortria, 1964 Ben Stack, 1966 Flyingbolt, 1969 Muir, 1970 Straight Fort), Nicky Henderson (1992 Remittance Man, 2012 Finian's Rainbow, 2013 & 2016 Sprinter Sacre, 2018 & 2019 Altior)
6 - Paul Nicholls (1999 Call Equiname, 2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 & 2009 Master Minded, 2015 Dodging Bullets, 2020 Politologue)
3 - Michael Dickinson (1982 Rathgorman, 1983 & 1984 Badsworth Boy)

Most successful trainers in the Ryanair Chase

5 - Willie Mullins (2016 Vautour, 2017 Un de Sceaux, 2022 Min, 2021 & 2022 Allaho)
3 - Paul Nicholls (2005 Thisthatandtother, 2007 Taranis, 2019 Frodon), Willie Mullins (2016 Vautour, 2017 Un De Sceaux, 2020 Min)

Most successful trainers in the Stayers' Hurdle

4 - Paul Nicholls (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Big Buck's)
3 - Howard Johnson (2005, 2007 & 2008 Inglis Drever), Fulke Walwyn (1982 & 1986 Crimson Embers, 1985 Rose Ravine)
2 - Francois Doumen FR (2002, 2003 Baracouda), Nicky Henderson (1989 Rustle, 2000 Bacchanal), Willie Mullins (2017 & 2018 Penhill), John Mulhern IRE (1987 & 1988 Galmoy), Edward O'Grady IRE (1978 Flame Gun, 1980 Mountrivers), Jonjo O'Neill (2004 Iris's Gift, 2014 More Of That), Martin Pipe (1994 Balasani, 1996 Cyborgo), Gavin Cromwell (2021 & 2022 Flooring Porter)

Free bets for Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest betting events of the year, with top class horses competing for victory. You’ll also find that, because of this, plenty of bookmakers will be offering extra generous offers to new customers, and even to existing customers – so keep an eye out for Cheltenham Festival free bets if you follow racing.

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133. Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.

Free Bets from Sky Bet, Betfair and Paddy Power can be found by following this link.

What is a free bet?

A free bet is a type of bookmaker offer – normally offered to attract new customers, but sometimes also offered to existing customers as a reward for loyalty. Free bets give new users an opportunity to trial a new betting platform out without having to stake a lot of their own money.

Make sure to read the terms and conditions of any free bet offer before signing up – it is important to know the terms of the deal and whether it is, in fact, a good deal.

How to get free bet offers

The best way to get free bet offers is as a new customer, and you can use the Sporting Life free bets as a way to compare and contrast the best bets from three of the industry’s biggest and best operators.

When looking at free bets it is helpful to compare so that you get the best value – for instance, picking a Bet £5 Get £30 over a Bet £10 Get £30 – as that means you have to stake less up front to get the same amount of free bets.

Once you’ve decided which bookmaker you want to go with, click the link to visit the site. You will arrive on a landing page dedicated to the offer – it is important to take a moment to read the terms and conditions, and to understand what you need to do to get the offer – as there may be a voucher code or other step required.

After that you’ll need to register for a new account following the bookmakers form, and provide them information to verify who you are – this is a really important part of keeping people safe when gambling online.

How free betting sign-up offers work

There are many types of different betting sign-up offers, and it is important to pay attention to what they are and how you avail of them. You can get all sorts of offers beyond the standard sign ups, such as enhanced prices on football teams, or through the card for the horse racing.

Here are some key things to look out of:

Always read the terms and conditions
Free bets must be staked and cannot be withdrawn
Free bets commonly have an expiration date
There will be a minimum stake amount and/or minimum odds for your first bet
Your first bet will most likely need to be a single or E/W
Free bets are normally not included in your winnings
You can only use the offer once

Types of free bet offer

Bet x Get y
Free bet credits
No deposit needed
Deposit match
Risk free
Enhanced prices
Through the cards

What to look for when choosing free bet offers

As mentioned already, it is important to pay attention to the terms and conditions before signing up through a free bets offer – so you know what you’ll get and what you need to do to get it. Here are some common things to watch out for:

Are there minimum odds?
How many times do you need to bet with the free bets before you can withdraw winnings?
Does the free bet have any expiry?
Is there a minimum deposit?
Is there a minimum amount for your first bet?
Can you only use the free bets on odds above a certain point?
Can you only use the free bets on certain types of bets?
Are the free bets limited to certain sports or events?
When is the free bet available?

What are the best bets for existing users?

It depends on which bookmaker/s you bet with as they all have different promotions. You may find that your bookmaker of choice has a loyalty scheme of some sort, so if you place so many bets you then get a free bet.

You may also get free bets for other promotions such as if your horse falls, or is beaten by the SP favourite.

Sometimes you may even find that bookmakers will give you a free bet just because there’s a big sporting event, to get you using their product.

Timeform

For industry-leading data, unique ratings and winner-finding Flags check out Race Cards and Race Passes at timeform.com.