Best Cheltenham Betting Sites in Ireland for 2024 – Racing Free Bets

How do we rank the best Cheltenham betting sites?

Now that you’re ready to bet on the races, what do you need to look out for? Here are the things we believe make good Cheltenham betting sites in Ireland:

• Security

Security is a must when it comes to betting sites online. Check that the betting site has a legit licence on their about page or terms and conditions. This will ensure they are trustworthy and will treat players fairly.

• Range of Cheltenham markets

The more choices, the better! The more you have to pick from, the more exciting it can be. Plus, the more markets, the more people the site caters to in terms of preferences. It also means you will never be bored or run out of options for what to wager on.

• Easy interface

The betting site needs to be enjoyable and hassle-free to use. This ensures you can focus on the betting rather than finding your way around. Good betting sites in Ireland should have a good navigation system and a clear layout. The site should also load quickly and avoid access ads.

• Good reputation

Don’t forget to check the site’s reviews beforehand; this can help you gauge what the site is like without signing up. Reviews will often give you an insight into how enjoyable the site is and how much they offer for the Cheltenham races.

• Bonuses and promotions

As we discussed earlier, good betting sites should offer regular promotions and bonuses to keep players engaged. These range from cashback offers to enhanced odds to make players get more for their money and have the potential to earn more. Though offers should not just be offered to new players, regular players should also be rewarded. This might be through VIP programmes and exclusive promotions.

• Live streaming

Some betting sites will offer live streaming of the races. This is a great feature, as it makes watching the Cheltenham races live more accessible. In addition, it can be far more thrilling to watch the races yourself if you’ve placed a bet beforehand to see how your horse does.

• Mobile app

With more players enjoying playing from the comfort of their smartphones, the best betting sites will offer specific apps for them to download and bet on the Cheltenham Festival from. These apps are better than accessing the site on your mobile browser because they are optimised to look and perform better on your mobile. A mobile app can make betting on the Cheltenham races more accessible and convenient and appeal to more players.

• Additional information

Some of the best betting sites in Ireland have been known to offer additional stats and information on their sites. This is great because it saves you time doing the research yourself, and instead you can use the information already provided and focus on the races. These extra pieces of information can provide context and help you make smarter decisions when it comes to wagering on the Cheltenham races.

• Stick to a budget.

As always, have a set budget in mind. Stick to this to avoid any major financial losses. This can help you avoid over betting or spending too much money chasing losses. Plus, having a set budget in place is good for helping you make more conscious bets that are more thoroughly thought through.

Best Cheltenham Betting Sites in Ireland for 2024

Here are some reviews of popular online bookies in Ireland that offer Cheltenham betting markets.

Boylesports

Boylesports has a good reputation among Irish bookies and is a good choice for betting on the Cheltenham races. They have strong coverage of the sport in a range of markets. Indeed, you will find all the typical markets, such as each-way bets and outright winners, as well as more niche markets, so players can try something new. The site is also known for offering competitive odds across markets, which is great news for players hoping to get the most out of their bets. Plus, you will find regular promotions and offers available during the races to make betting more thrilling. For instance, BoyleSports has been seen to offer players enhanced odds and cash back offers. Not to forget, they offer an easy-to-use betting site; their layout is clean and organised, and the site loads quickly to avoid betting disruptions. They also have a strong community online, where they offer social features to encourage players to interact if they wish. For example, they offer elements such as forums and leaderboards.

Pros	Cons
Good reputation Lots of Cheltenham markets Promotions and offers Easy to use betting site	Customer support responses can vary. Might not be available internationally.

Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes is another reputable betting site in Ireland for Cheltenham betting. They have impressive market coverage as well as competitive odds on their site. Ladbrokes also offer live streaming of the Cheltenham races, which makes watching the races live more accessible to more people. Alongside their streaming services, they offer good insights and tips on the races to help inform your betting decisions, not to mention saving you time researching this information yourself. Also, Ladbrokes has a mobile app that provides a better betting experience for those who prefer playing on their smartphones. This is more optimised for a smaller screen and therefore performs better than accessing the site through your mobile browser. In addition, you will find plenty of features on Ladbrokes betting site that help give you more control over your wagers. For example, their cash-out options let you have more control over controlling your losses and confirming your winnings.

Pros	Cons
Cheltenham markets available Live streaming Cash out features Stats and insights provided	Customer service may vary in response time. Strong connections are needed for live streaming.

Coral

Coral is a respected betting site within Ireland and is another solid choice for Cheltenham betting. They have a range of markets to suit everyone’s preference, from classic-style markets to more unique ones. They offer regular promotions such as enhanced odds and free bets to make betting on the Cheltenham Festival even more exciting and thrilling. Coral also provides good-quality live streams for the Cheltenham races, where players can watch the races unfold live. They also offer expert stats and insights alongside their live streaming to help you make smart decisions backed by evidence. Players can also bet from their mobile phones if they prefer playing on the go with the Coral bet, making betting on the Cheltenham races more accessible.

Pros	Cons
Good Cheltenham market selection Promotions available Live streaming Stats on the races	Withdrawal times sometimes take longer than expected. Less offers are available for regular customers compared to new customers.

Bet365

With a range of Cheltenham markets and consistent high odds, Bet365 is the go-to for betting on the Cheltenham races. They offer live streaming of the races with in-play betting options if you prefer to bet on the event as it has begun. Their site is simple to use, making it quick and easy to find the Cheltenham races section of their betting site. Plus, they offer additional race information, such as stats and expert opinions, to give you more resources to consider when betting. Bet365 also offers bet-builder features for those who wish to make their own bet. Indeed, this allows users to make bets based on their preferences and what they feel most comfortable with. The bet builder feature gives users flexibility with their bets, similar to the cash-out options available for players betting on the Cheltenham races too. This allows users to end their bet before it has been settled and is often used to confirm a win or prevent further losses.

Pros	Cons
Good selection of markets Live streamingIn-play betting Stats and extra information are provided. Bet builder and cash out features	Customer support responses vary. Withdrawal times can vary too.

Cheltenham betting offers and free bets

Below are the common types of betting offers and free bets you will likely come across when betting on the Cheltenham races in Ireland.

Enhanced odds

This is an offer that improves the odds offered by the bookie. This is a good offer, as if you are successful, you will receive a higher payout. These are common promotions to find among the Cheltenham races due to the popularity of the event.

Free bets

Free bets may be another bonus you come across. This is an appealing promotion as it lets you wager without the financial risk of losing your money. Therefore, even though some betting sites will ask you to place a small deposit to activate the offer, you will not be risking this credit on the bet. Therefore, this lets players experiment and perhaps take riskier bets that they wouldn’t risk their own money on to add extra excitement. Here are the most common free bets you will come across in Ireland for the Cheltenham races:

• No-deposit free bets: an offer that means you won’t have to place a deposit to receive the free bet.
• Matched deposit free bets: with this kind of offer, the bookie will match the deposit you put down to receive the free bets. This helps you get more for your money.
• Risk-free bet: A risk-free bet is a type of free bet that means the bookie will return your bet if you lose. This is a great type of offer, as it allows you to bet without the risk of financial loss.
• Bet and get: this is a less common free bet where the bookie will offer a free bet when you place a different type of bet. This sometimes acts as an incentive to place a qualifying bet.
• Welcome offers: these are the most common types of free bets, as bookies will offer free bets to new players to encourage them to test the site out in hopes of spending more time on it. Though these types of welcome bonuses sometimes require a deposit to be placed before receiving the free bets, Nonetheless, these are good free bets to use, as you can get a feel for the site before depositing more money.

Cash-back offers

Cash-back offers usually mean you will receive some of your losses back. Some bookies will save these up and return them at the end of the week or month. Thereby, this reduces the pain of losing and reduces the final loss.

No runner, no bet

This is a promotion that is exclusive to horse racing, where if the horse you wager on does not run in the race, you will get your bet back. This provides you with the security that your bet won’t be wasted.

Best odds guaranteed

This is a promotion where the bookie will offer you the best odds available if you win. This happens when the odds may fluctuate a lot; if the odds decrease once you place your bet, this offer will mean your payout won’t decrease.

VIP or loyalty programmes

These are promotions offered to regular customers. These offers let regular players build points or work their way through levels to earn points, not only providing extra motivation to bet but also allowing them to exchange these points for prizes, rewards, or free bets.

Extra places

Sometimes bookies in Ireland will offer extra places in certain races. This gives you a large chance of winning; for example, if the market offers you a wager on the top 3 horses in the race, the promotion may expand this to include the top 5. This evidently increases your chances of winning.

Strategies for betting on Cheltenham

Here are some strategies that can help you make smarter decisions when it comes to betting on the Cheltenham races in Ireland.

1. Form

Form is important in horse racing and can help you predict how the horse will do. In addition, you can consider the jockey’s or trainer’s form to help tell you how smoothly the horse may race. One way to become familiar with horse racing form is to watch previous races where the horse has performed well and see if you can spot any trends. Plus, with horse racing being such a popular sport to bet on, you will likely find lots of resources online that can help you spot good form in horse racing.

2. Expert opinions

You will find plenty of experts sharing their opinions and predictions on the Cheltenham races. While their opinions are not facts, they do provide useful insights to take into consideration when it comes to placing your own bets. Therefore, experts know what they’re talking about; they have deep knowledge of the horses and how well they race, and thus are a trusted source.

3. Track conditions

Considering what track the horses will be racing on can also help you predict how they might perform. Things like weather or whether the track is soft or firm could influence how the horses may run. Some horses perform better than others, so it’s worth considering what tracks certain horses perform better on.

4. Jockey and trainer

While the horses are racing, consider who they’ve been trained by and who is riding them. Jockeys or trainers who have a strong record, for instance, will be good to keep an eye on.

5. Leave emotions behind.

As with any form of sports betting, it is never recommended to bet based on your emotions. Just because you have a favourite horse doesn’t mean they are the right horse to wager on. Always base your bets on facts and statistics for more accurate and smart bets.

6. Experiment with bets.

Don’t just stick to one market, venture out and find others that might work better for you. Some markets are more straightforward than others, so just because you may not be successful in one market doesn’t mean you won’t be successful in another.

7. Past races

Previous races are a valuable resource to help you place bets on the current Cheltenham races. Past races can not only help you familiarise yourself with the races, horses, and jockeys but can also help you spot trends within the races. You can study how the successful horses performed in the hopes that these similar tips might be transferable to the current raves.

8. Keep up to date.

Follow the races in the news and online. This can help you have a broader knowledge of the horses, jockeys, and the overall race itself. Indeed, there will be plenty of online discussion and  forums that could benefit your own knowledge of the races.

FAQ on Cheltenham Festival betting

Here are some frequently asked questions when it comes to betting on Cheltenham in Ireland.