Cheltenham Festival Betting Preview: OLBG preview DAY ONE of the Cheltenham Festival with focus on the Champion Hurdle as the feature race!

Day One of the Cheltenham Festival sees the Champion Hurdle as the feature race

The 2024 Cheltenham Festival is finally here and what better way to start than with Champion Day, which sees the Unibet Champion Hurdle as the feature race of the day.

Betting on this race has changed massively in the past week with Nicky Henderson's reigning champ Constitution Hill sadly missing out on the Festival this year.

Last year's runner-up State Man is the red-hot favourite now for this race with the latest betting odds putting him at 4/11 in the betting market with sponsors Unibet.

Irish Point will seemingly be the only real challenger to State Man according to the betting market with the odds putting the Gordon Elliot trained horse as the 11/2 second favourite.

2024 Champion Hurdle Antepost	Odds	Probability
State Man	4/11	73.3%
Irish Point	11/2	15.4%
Iberico Lord	10/1	9.1%
Zarak The Brave	20/1	4.8%
Nemean Lion	25/1	3.8%

OLBG's Cheltenham Festival Tipster Competition is taking place once again this year

The OLBG Cheltenham Festival tipster competition will take place on OLBG once again this year with a total prize fund of £1500.

This year's top prize is £500 for the winner with £200 for second and £100 for the third, fourth and fifth placed tipsters plus there will be £5 paid for the next 100 places.

Which sites are best for Horse Racing betting?

Our Best Horse Racing sites bookie article looks at the best places to bet on the Cheltenham Festival this year, including plenty of betting offers for the event.

Both new AND existing offers are available for the Festival this year with plenty of enhanced prices and money back specials being offered on Day One.

The racing on Day One kicks off with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and bookmakers of course like to kick off the Festival with massive prices and offers and they've done just that, which you can see in our dedicated article below.

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OLBG check out the full card for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival

Day One of the Cheltenham Festival is Champion Day with the feature race of the day the Unibet Champion Hurdle which is a 2 mile Grade 1 race.

That big race takes place at 3:30 on Day One with the Racing action getting underway at 1:30 with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

The full card for Day One of the Cheltenham Festival, shown from the Jockey Club's official website, is:

TIMES	RACE	DISTANCE	TYPE
13:30	The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)	2m abt ½f	Hurdle
14:10	The My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1)	abt 2m	Chase
14:50	The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Premier Handicap)	3m abt 1f	Chase
15:30	The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)	2m abt ½f	Hurdle
16:10	The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)	2m abt 4f	Hurdle
16:50	The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)	2m abt ½f	Hurdle
17:30	The Maureen Mullins National Hunt Novices’ Chase (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase) (Grade 2)	3m abt 6f	Chase

Racing Trends available for each race of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival

Racing Trends are up for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival with a look at the best runners and riders for each day.

OLBG's Racing Trends look at the previous running of each race at the Festival and check out each horse against those specific trends markers too.

Tuesday 12th March

• 13:30 at Cheltenham - Supreme Novices Hurdle
• 14:10 at Cheltenham - Arkle Challenge Trophy
• 14:50 at Cheltenham - Ultima Handicap Chase
• 15:30 at Cheltenham - Champion Hurdle
• 16:10 at Cheltenham - Close Brothers Mares Hurdle
• 16:50 at Cheltenham - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
• 17:30 at Cheltenham - National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup

BetMGM

You can kick things off, if you don’t have an account already, with a huge BetMGM welcome offer that runs just until the end of the Cheltenham Festival, and is exclusive to new customers only. You will have seven days to place a qualifying bet, and will receive six free bets made up of:

• Four £10 horse racing bets
• Two £10 Acca free bets.

In addition to the welcome offer, during the week, BetMGM are giving their users:

• Second Chance/Money Back: Money back as a free bet on the first race of every day.
• Golden Silks: Double your odds on any horse each day (Up to £20)
• 10 Places in the BetMGM County Hurdle (14:10 on Friday 15th March)
• Double Your Odds on any horse in the Gold Cup (Up to £20)

talkSPORT BET

There's a great offer, although it's for new customers only. talkSPORT BET are offering new customers a free bet on EVERY race when you stake £10 between now and 1pm on Tuesday 12 March (just before the racing at the festival kicks off). On placement of your qualifying bet, your account will be scheduled to receive £1 free bet to spend on each Cheltenham Festival race. Credited upon qualifying, and in the morning of every race day, punters will get:

• On placement of your qualifying bet - 7x £1 horse racing free bet
• Wednesday 13th of March at 06:00AM - 7x £1 horse racing free bet
• Thursday 14th of March at 06:00AM - 7x £1 horse racing free bet
• Friday 15th of March at 06:00AM - 7x £1 horse racing free bet

William Hill

New and existing customers get a free £5 bet every day of the festival. On top of that, Hills are offering huge extended odds on a couple of selected odds on favourites. Punters can get 20/1 on El Fabiolo and 25/1 on Sir Gino.

El Fabiolo goes in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday, while Sir Gino runs in the Triumph Hurdle on the Friday.

Betfair

As well as their usual selection of Extra Places, Lengthened Odds and Non Runner Money back, Betfair are giving punters a completely free bet on multiples every day of the festival. Opt-in is required, and this is for new and existing customers to take advantage of. There is limit and one bet per day, and the offer runs just for the week of Cheltenham. You'll also get £40 when you bet £10 on the Cheltenham Festival.

Boyle Sports

Bet £10, Get £20 + £10 Casino Bonus + NRNB on all Cheltenham Races

Unibet

Bet £20, Get £1 on Every Cheltenham Race (£26)

Matchbook

Bet £50 on Cheltenham, Get £50 on major sporting events. BONUS CODE: CHELT

This is for new customers only. Bet and settle £50 on Cheltenham 2024 Festival Markets at odds of 1.8 or more, and on a minimum of 4 different markets by 23:59 GMT Thursday 14/03/2024. Get £50 in Free Bets for specific Major Events on Matchbook. This will be split as the following:

• 1x £10 Free Bet on Cheltenham Gold Cup 
• 1x £10 Free Bet on Euro 2024 Outright
• 1x £10 Free Bet on Bet Builders
• 1x £10 Free Bet on August Masters 2024
• 1x £10 Free Bet on Grand National 2024

Paddy Power

Paddy Power are giving punters huge odds on one specific favourite. Punters can get 50/1 El Fabiolo in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday. The favourite is currently less than Evens with most bookmakers. This is limited to a maximum £1 bet.

Please note: We will keep searching and reviewing the best offers in the UK, updating this section leading up to, and throughout, the entirety of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

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