Think you know who will win the Gold Cup? Or who will triumph in the Stayers’ Hurdle? Well, thanks to ante-post betting, you can place your bet on the race before the on-course betting markets even open.
Ante-post betting allows you to lock in the best possible price for your chosen horse. But, there are risks involved. For example, if you bet well in advance of the race, you may also lose your stake if your horse doesn’t run.
Ante-post 2024 tips from our recent interview with Richard Johnson.
(Teahupoo) - He was very impressive on his seasonal comeback. He was only just beaten in the race last year. The connections have decided he is not going to run again until the Stayers’ Hurdle. It is a brave thing to do, but they know he is very good when fresh. For me that is a real sign that they think he has a very good chance in what looks to be a very open race. For me he is a definite strong fancy for Gordon Elliott.
(Dysart Enos) - She was a top class bumper mare last year. She looks very professional and I was very impressed with her over hurdles this year. It is only a matter of time before Fergal O’Brien has some really good graded horses. I thought she looked very smart and I think is a star of the future.
(L’Homme Presse) - He is a big outsider after his setback with injury but I am sure Venetia Williams can get him back. I don’t think it was a huge problem he had. He could run very well in the Gold Cup. He is one of those horses who has been perhaps overlooked by some people. As a novice he was very good and he could still be better than we have seen. He will be a massive price in what looks like a really open Gold Cup. The favourite is obviously very strong but take him out and I think it is a wide open race, so L’Homme Presse has a good each way chance.
Looking for the best Cheltenham ante-post odds? You’ve come to the right place. Our team of experts have scoured the markets for the best ante-post bets for every race of the Cheltenham Festival.
Here at The Winners Enclosure, we’ve been providing Cheltenham ante-post tips for more than a decade and we have a proven track record of success. So, whether you’d like to bet ante-post on the Champion Chase or the Champion Hurdle, take a look at our full list of Cheltenham ante-post tips below.
Remember though, as new information becomes available, the best ante-post bets for Cheltenham will change. As news breaks, we’ll update this page with the latest and best Cheltenham ante-post bets for each day of the Festival. So, be sure to check back regularly.
Ante-post betting is incredibly popular. It involves placing a bet before the on-course betting market is open. As Cheltenham ante-post bets are placed well in advance of the race starting, they’re made on the assumption that the odds are more favourable at the time than they will be when the course opens its own betting market.
For example, at the start of the jumps season, your horse may be 10/1 for the Gold Cup. But, if it wins a couple of races prior to the Cheltenham Festival, its odds may drop to 3/1. In this scenario, if you place your bet early rather than waiting for the course to open its market, you receive much better odds.
Ante-post betting is popular at Cheltenham because the rewards can be great. This is usually because the odds are longer than the ones you’ll receive on the day of the race.
However, ante-post betting is fraught with risks. For example, your stake usually won’t be refunded if your horse doesn’t take part in the race (this means you’re also betting that it will take part). Similarly, your horse may suffer from a loss of form before the Festival.
Added to this, by betting further in advance, you’re also betting without the same level of knowledge as everyone else. After all, as well as not knowing about the form of your own horse, you also won’t know about the form of others or the going for the race and the field size.
That said, if you’re certain your chosen horse will win and you want to guarantee the best possible odds, ante-post betting remains a good option, as long as you also understand the risks involved.
There’s no limit to how early you can place a Cheltenham ante-post bet. So, if you’re looking to place an ante-post bet for the 2024 Festival, then you can do so right now.
Generally speaking, the majority of bookmakers will offer ante-post betting markets for Cheltenham until the final declarations stage, which is usually 48 hours before the off.
This depends on when you place your bet. With the vast majority of ante-post bets, you will not get your stake returned if your horse doesn’t run. This level of risk is factored in when the bookmaker gives you higher odds for your selection.
Cheltenham ante-post bets are slightly different in this regard. Betting ante-post on the Festival is so popular that some bookmakers will offer no-runner no-bet (NRNB) selections as the Festival gets closer. With this form of Cheltenham ante-post betting, you will get your stake returned if your horse doesn't run. However, the odds at this point will also reflect this reduced level of risk.
Generally speaking, the ante-post markets change for Cheltenham (and some other large horse racing meetings) around a month before the Festival gets underway. At this stage, they switch from being purely ante-post (where your stake isn’t returned for a non-runner) to NRNB (where your stake is returned). However, not all bookmakers do this and you should check before you place your bet.
Most bookmakers offer Cheltenham ante-post odds because the markets are so popular. Added to this, the Betfair Exchange is another popular way of betting on the ante-post markets, as this can offer great value.
But, before you act on our Cheltenham ante-post tips and sign-up with a bookmaker to place your bet, be sure to check who is offering incentives like free bets for the Festival.
