Cheltenham Free Bets & Bonuses

For any younger bettors amongst you there may be an inclination to assume that Coral is quite a new bookmaker. After all, the explosion of online betting and mobile apps mean that Coral have been able to reinvent themselves as a company for modern times. In reality, however, Joe Coral founded a bookmakers in London back in 1926. He was also one of the first people to open a licensed betting shop when legislation on the matter changed in the 1960s.

There’s a slight degree of truth in the notion that Coral is a young bookies, of course. The company was acquired by Bass Leisure in 1981 and in 1999 it became Coral Eurobet after the purchase of an online betting company called Eurobet. In 2005 Gala, which itself was only formed in 1991, purchased Coral and it became Gala Coral. The potted history of the bookmaker was completed in 2015 when Ladbrokes bought out Gala Coral and formed a new company, Ladbrokes Coral.  This itself was then bought by GVC holdings the following year who eventually rebranded as Entain. What a journey.

HORSE RACING AT CORAL

Coral is operated as a separate arm from Ladbrokes and the other brands under Entain's umbrella, which is why we’re talking about them separately here. The company’s history is also steeped in horse racing, with Joe Coral originally operating his bookmaking operation from pitches at horse race meetings. That’s why we think they’re worth looking at for all of your horse racing needs, with the fact that they sponsor a race on Ladies Day also indicative of how seriously they take the Cheltenham Festival.

If you’re hoping to get an edge for your bets at the Cheltenham Festival then you might be interested to know that Coral run a specialised blog in the time leading up to and during the meeting. The likes of former jockey-turned-trained Joe Tizzard and current jockey Tom Scudamore often chat through their predictions for the week ahead of the Festival. You can’t get much better inside knowledge than that!

Coral has decent offers for punters like Best Price Guaranteed and daily enhanced odds, extra places or free bets for winners so that should perk your interest, with other factors like a decent website and mobile app also worth considering.

One of the other major advantages of placing a bet on horse racing with Coral is that you’ll be able to live stream the race via the main app or their website, for free. This is great for those of you that can’t make it to the racecourse itself but still want to be kept abreast of the action. Do your research, place a bet then sit back and cross your fingers.

If you’ve read our section on Coral then you’ll know that Ladbrokes merged with Coral back in 2016 and are now part of the Entain group of companies. Laddies are still run as a separate company, though, so it’s worth considering them as such. That is especially true given Ladbrokes’ long and illustrious history in the betting industry. Founded in 1886 by Messers Schwind and Pennington, the company was initially a commission agency for horses from Warwickshire’s Ladbrokes Hall. They moved the operation to London in 1902 and from then until 1956 their clients were members of royalty and the aristocracy.

Acquired by Mark and Cyril Stein in 1956, Ladbrokes’ new owners decided to abandon the exclusive mandate that had seen the company’s profits dwindle in the wake of the Second World War and instead opened a chain of betting shops when the law on such matters changed in 1961. The modern iteration of the bookmaker was formed in 2016 when Ladbrokes bought Coral and formed the Ladbrokes Coral Group. We think it’s a company worth turning to for your Cheltenham Festival betting because of their history with the sport and knowledge of what it takes to survive in a competitive industry for so long.

HORSE RACING FEATURES

Compared to some other companies Ladbrokes may seem a little bit old hat, mainly thanks to its website and mobile app. These both seem a little dated and underwhelming when compared to some of the more modern flashy bookies that are out there, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that the company doesn’t have anything to offer. In fact, the opposite may well be true. What to you might seem a little uninteresting is actually tried and tested, with Ladbrokes having entered the world of online betting as far back as 1998.

Given that Ladbrokes is one of the oldest and most established bookmakers in the UK it isn’t a particularly huge shock to report that their market depth is exceptional. They have some of the the most incentivised offers and payouts in the whole world and there’s barely a market you’ll be able to think of that they don’t cover. This is great for a meeting such as the Cheltenham Festival, where every Tom, Dick and Harry covers the main races but not all are so quick to offer market depth on the lesser known races.

Ladbrokes match other leading bookmakers on our list by offering live streaming and Best Odds Guaranteed for horse racing.  This means they match the SP if your early fixed price was lower when you placed the bet.  They also have money back second offers, extra places, and more that vary across the year.  At the end of the day, though, the major draw for most punters is going to be the name recognition and longevity covering the sport. That is proven by the fact that they have sponsored races at the Cheltenham Festival in years gone by.

With more customers spread across more countries than pretty much any other online bookie it’s entirely fair to say that Bet365 are a betting behemoth.  Fully UK licensed they are one of the biggest online bookmakers in the world; pretty impressive when you consider that the company started life from inside a portacabin in 2000.

What the company lacks in terms of a historical reputation with punters it more than makes up for in terms of innovation. It is no exaggeration to suggest that Bet365 has changed the face of online gambling throughout its first few decades. It is that willingness to offer something different combined with the fact that the company dominates the market that makes it one of the our top recommendations when it comes to betting on the Cheltenham Festival. But what exactly do they offer?

HORSE RACING FEATURES

The better question might actually be 'What don’t they offer'. As one of the top betting companies in the world there are few features you’re likely to be interested in that aren’t covered by Bet365. Even ignoring their excellent offers and promotions it’s the little things that capture the attention when wondering who to place a bet with.

For example, Bet365’s desktop site is one of the best around, with an intuitive interface and as many markets in as many sports as you could possibly want to see. Yet their mobile app is also elegant, easy to use and quick to respond to your requests, making it ideal for sticking a last minute bet on a race at the Cheltenham Festival. Using a service where the app is just as good as the website is a no brainer for people who can’t exactly carry their laptop around a racecourse with them.

Whether you’re using the website or the app, Bet365 provide great live betting, streams, stats and many other top features to allow you to bet the way you want to, where you want to.

The company’s gigantic power in a very competitive market means that few bookmakers can beat them for important stuff such as value, banking options, loyalty schemes, cash out and more. If you’re a serious punter then all in all, this is one of the best bookies out there.

Founded in 1946 by father and son William and Victor Chandler, BetVictor used to be known as Victor Chandler International Limited. William Chandler had been an owner of Walthamstow Stadium and had a betting stall at the greyhound track, so the company is steeped in gambling history.

Though they’ve now settled on the name BetVictor, the company has gone through numerous rebranding exercises over the years. In 2004 they gave VC Bet a go, then went back to Victor Chandler in 2008 before settling on their current moniker in 2012. If you’re wondering why we think they’re a top-notch bookmaker for all your horse racing needs then consider this: In 2014 the racehorse owner Michael Tabor took over the company. If anyone’s likely to know what’s good for racing fans then it’s surely an owner of racehorses.

HORSE RACING FEATURES

There are countless horse racing features that make BetVictor one of our favourite places to go when we’re looking to place a bet on the Gee-Gees. We’ll talk about Cheltenham specifically in a minute, but for now there are two things we want to mention that you might be interested in. The first is that BetVictor cover horse races from all around the world, meaning that you’re almost always going to be able to have a bet on a race with them if you want to. And when there aren’t any races going on anywhere? You can bet on virtual racing instead.

BetVictor’s website is excellent, so if you’re the sort of punter that likes to use desktop sites then you’re not going to be disappointed. You are going to miss out, though, as the BetVictor mobile app is one of the best in the business. Whichever way you want to place your bet you’ll be pleased to know that you can then stream it live after you’ve got your bet on. Great for those of you that can’t get to the racecourse or can but would rather watch the race in the bar on your phone…

If you’re looking for particularly deep ante-post markets then you might be slightly disappointed, but the odds are more than good enough to make up for that and you can also place in-running bets if that tickles your fancy. Like most top-end bookmakers, BetVictor offer a Best Price Guarantee when to comes to horse racing, so you’ll know that you won’t be short-changed with your bet. They also offer racing specials (check for availability) such as their Lengthen The Odds market, which allows you claim a win for extra places. If you love betting on the Sport of Kings then the fact that BetVictor has such a decent pedigree will be a big draw for you.

Unibet is part of the Kindred Group, which itself used to be known as Unibet Group Plc. It was founded in 1997 by Anders Ström and has gradually grown to become a real powerhouse in the betting world. A large part of that is due to the manner in which the Kindred Group has absorbed other bookmakers into it, which have in turn been re-branded under the Unibet banner. A good example of this is Stan James, which was acquired in 2015 and then dissolved in 2017, with customers moved over to Unibet instead.

In 2017 Kindred Group also purchased 32Red, the Malta-based bookmaker and gaming business. It was another step along the road towards Unibet becoming far more UK-centric in its coverage. As well as taking over the online businesses of the likes of Stan James and 32Red, Unibet has also taken on their sponsorship responsibilities. This is relevant to us here because Stan James sponsored numerous races associated with Cheltenham, including the Champion Hurdle during the Cheltenham Festival. That race, along with the seven races known as 'The Road To Cheltenham', are now sponsored by Unibet instead.

HORSE RACING FEATURES

The combination of the company’s desire to appeal more fully to a UK-based audience and the fact that they’ve taken over those racing sponsorship responsibilities means that Unibet’s coverage of horse racing is as competitive as any of the other major bookies out there. They offer the industry-wide standard of a Best Odds Guarantee for UK and Irish racing.

In terms of offers they do tend to have a few specific promotions when big horse racing events are in progress, so it’s always worth double-checking their 'Special Offers' page regularly to see what’s going on. On top of this there are plenty of regular offers that change from the flat to the jump season, but you can always get extra place daily on select races and lucky bet bonuses.

One area that is not a disappointment is their Live Streaming. Unibet TV, as the Live Streaming function is known, is really good and is easy to navigate to on the site. If individual races are to be streamed then you’ll see the 'UTV' symbol next to both the race details and the main page with the race course name on. Alternatively you can head to the Live Streaming tab at the top of the page, if you prefer. Live Streaming is free on Unibet, as long as you’re logged in and your account is in credit. Occasionally they might require a set amount of money to be bet on an event in order to stream it, but they’ll make that very clear to you ahead of time.

Named after Fred and Peter Done, who founded the company as a single shop in Manchester in 1967, Betfred is one of the biggest bookmakers in the UK. The owners are Manchester United supporters, which explains why they have twice paid out early on the Red Devils to win the Premier League. They will no doubt have regretted their decision, however, with Arsenal winning the title the first time they did it in 1998 and Manchester City taking the title from their rivals on goal difference in 2012. Fred Done also personally lost £1 million when he had a bet with fellow bookie that Manchester United would finish ahead of Chelsea before the 2004-2005 Premier League season.

That should give you something of an idea of the sort of bookmaker we’re talking about here. They’re not afraid to go big on publicity stunts if it means that that will garner the company some attention from the press and punters alike. Little surprise, then, that Betfred are one of the largest sponsors of horse racing in the United Kingdom. That, combined with the fact that they owned the Tote from 2011-2019, is why we’re keen to recommend them to you as a bookie you want to have an account with ahead of the Cheltenham Festival meeting. As an example, in previous years the company has sponsored the biggest race of the week, the Gold Cup.

HORSE RACING FEATURES

As long as you stake £1 you can live stream racing from across the UK and Ireland. You can do this on either the company’s main desktop site or via their mobile app, so you never have to miss out on the action as long as you’ve got internet access. Given that both the main site and the app are perfectly functional and easy enough to use, you’re unlikely to be caught short when trying to get a bet on.

As former part-owners of the Tote, Betfred have all the totepool bets along with some great offers on horse racing pretty much all year round. Best Odds Guaranteed is a given, offers for Lucky bets are also popular, when you consider that Betfred invented the Lucky bet type. They’re also a decent company to bet with thanks to their general coverage of the racing, with tips, hints, suggestions and course guides all found on their site.

When it comes to Cheltenham specifically, Betfred are hard to beat. They may not have the very best odds or offers that can’t be rivalled, but Betfred TV offers some of the best coverage around. In previous years they’ve spoken live to trainers such as Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins, heard from jockeys like Noel Fehily and Richard Johnson in the weighing-room and generally just been a head in front of their competition for your attention. The fact that their coverage is free is also great news.

Few bookmakers in the entire industry offer the same level of name recognition as William Hill. Founded by the man it’s named after in 1934, it began life in less than auspicious circumstances when you consider that gambling was actually illegal at the time. The company has had numerous owners over the years, from Sears Holdings who bought it in 1971 through to Brent Walker in 1989. It’s enjoyed its fair share of ups and downs during its existence, too. Brent Walker’s collapse in 1997 led to a leveraged buyout by a Japanese investment bank called Nomura, who eventually sold it on again to Cinven and CVC Capital Partners in 1999.

The turn of the millennium saw a  turn in fortunes for the bookies thanks to the explosion of online betting, and partly because of William Hill’s sponsorship of Sunderland and Newcastle Greyhound Stadiums, interest in the company spiked once more. They bought 624 betting shops from Stanley Leisure in 2005 and subsequently overtook Ladbrokes as the biggest bookmaker in the UK (although lost that recently following other bookmakers merging). They have cornered around a quarter of the UK betting market, which is one of the main reasons we’re not afraid to recommend them to you for your Cheltenham Festival betting needs.

HORSE RACING FEATURES

Obviously such a gigantic bookmaker is hardly going to lag behind the competition when it comes to the big race meetings, so it’s no surprise to discover that William Hill offer all of the usual attractions for punters. Best Odds Guaranteed is a staple of the bookie, as is live streaming of all UK and Irish races as well as selected offerings from elsewhere in the world.

In truth William Hill doesn’t try to compete with the more gimmicky offers of the younger, newer bookmakers. They need to drum up business and garner attention in order to get their name out there, whilst William Hill boasts one of the best-known names in the industry.  Saying that they do have some great value offers and the ante-post service is as good as it comes, with their market depth also worthy of a mention. If you like to place accumulators or the like then they’ve got you covered too, so there’s not an awful lot to criticise William Hill for. Not the most exciting bookie on the block, but sometimes reliability and name recognition is just as important.

It’s becoming more and more common for bookmakers to exist online only, for them to have no high street presence. That means that the three hundred plus Boylesports shops that are in place across Ireland and England makes the bookie a somewhat original prospect. The first Boylesports was opened in Market Hill in Newry, Northern Ireland, in 1989 by a man named John Boyle. Since then it has grown and grown, employing more and one and a half thousand people across the Emerald Isle. They have been a fixture in Irish gambling since before the move by majority of companies online came about, meaning that the bookmaker is well-respected in the industry.

As with countless other companies that began life away from the mainstream English and British market, Boylesports made a name for itself through sponsorship over the years. A deal with Leopardstown Racecourse was signed in 2011, for example, which was also the year when they sponsored a meeting at Newmarket. That all came after Boylesports’s sponsorship of the International Hurdle at Cheltenham between 2006 and 2009. Outside of horse racing, the company has sponsored two then Premier League teams in Sunderland in 2007 and Aston Villa in 2008. That’s why you might well recognise the name of the company, even if you’ve never been to Ireland.

HORSE RACING FEATURES

Given all of the various sponsorship of races that Boylesports has carried out over the years, it’s no major surprise to learn that the bookmaker takes its coverage of racing very seriously indeed. Click on the sportsbook homepage and you’ll see Horse Racing at the top of the list of sports covered, unless there’s a major event taking place that they think their audience will be more interested in. It’s not just a matter of convenience as to why that’s gaining a mention - they also do their utmost to cover as many different races as possible from numerous different locations around the world.

Click on ‘Horse Racing’ and you’ll find that the coverage is split into numerous different tabs. As well as the obvious one of UK & Ireland, there’s also international racing from the United States of America, Latin America and Australia. Away from that you’ll see Virtual Horse Racing is also covered, as are the Irish and US Totes. Expect to be able to bet on all of the biggest English racecourses if they’ve got anything on, plus smaller ones like Cartmel, Kenilworth and Lingfield. If you’re looking abroad then you’ll see locations like Philadelphia, Golden Gate Fields and Geelong Synthetic crop up.

Even the world’s biggest horse racing fanatics like to look away from the Sport of Kings every now and again and if you do then you’ll find all of the biggest sports on their list. From British institutions like football, golf and tennis through to more unusual offerings such as handball, rugby and speedway. They’ll even let you bet on random events in politics and television, should that take your fancy. If you’re going to have a bet on the horse racing then you’ll want to know what’s happened in the race, so the company’s Live Streaming feature will be a big plus for a lot of you.

Some bookmakers believe that all you need to win custom is a name that people know and trust. 10bet is one of the new breed of bookies that are out to give those complacent competitors a shock, making up for a lack of brand recognition with exciting offers and good sports coverage. Founded in London in 2003, the company has won numerous awards since its inception and have grown to become one of the biggest new names in online betting.

In 2014 a list was compiled of bookmakers that UK-based punters were most likely to place bets with and 10bet came second, just behind Bet365. That should tell you exactly how far they managed to go in such a short space of time, and all these years later their reputation has only improved. No doubt part of their success is due to the 2012 release of their mobile betting app, allowing people to place bets on the move as well as on their main computer. Not exactly innovative in a competitive industry, but their app is one of the best on the market.

HORSE RACING FEATURES

When it comes to horse racing, 10bet’s features are decent enough. As with pretty much all of the bookmakers we recommend for Cheltenham, they offer Best Odds Guaranteed. That means that you can place a bet really early and know that you’ll get the best odds regardless of what happens to the market. They also offer regular promotions that shift and change throughout the year, such as money back as a free bet if the horse you bet on comes second in a race to the starting price favourite along with faller insurance, extra places and more (check the 10bet site to see the latest deals for racing).

10bet is an alternative to the more mainstream bookies out there, but as an alternative their offerings aren’t quite as good across all areas.

There’s still plenty to recommend the site though, this is a proper bookie for proper punters.  They’ve got good market depth, decent odds and a reputation as an exciting, trustworthy bookmaker to bet with.