Cheltenham Festival fever is taking over, with many bettors gearing up to place their first bet of the year – including plenty of people are looking to bet on Cheltenham Gold Cup markets.
Before getting stuck in, it’s imperative to have an understanding of just how to bet on the Cheltenham Gold Cup, including the different bet types, how to read odds, and where to place your wagers.
How to place a bet on the Cheltenham Gold Cup
It’s easy to bet on Cheltenham Gold Cup markets with Betway. To sign up in moments; simply enter your details on our registration page, verify your age and address, and deposit funds in your account.
What’s so great about betting on the Cheltenham Gold Cup is that the markets and odds will be very familiar if you’ve wagered on horse racing in the past. And, if you’ve not, the terms are relatively straightforward to learn. Though, if you’re looking for a more detailed guide, explore our complete guide to betting on horse racing.
How to read Cheltenham Gold Cup odds
Fractional odds are the most common format in UK sports betting and the standard odds used at Betway. Odds presented in a fractional format show a theoretical stake on the right-hand side of the fraction with the potential returns from that stake on the left-hand side.
For example, if you wagered £4 at 5/4, you would win £5, and receive a total of £9 in return. If you wagered £8 at these odds, this would lead to potential winnings of £10 (plus your £8 stake).
Typically, it is easy to identify if a horse favoured through fractional odds: for instance, a horse is odds-on if the number on the left is lower than the number on the right.
Example of a Cheltenham Gold Cup bet
Galopin Des Champs, for example, might be 5/1 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. A £10 wager on Galopin Des Champs would have potential winnings of £50 plus your stake. This is because the number on the left indicates the potential return per pound wagered i.e. £10 x 5 = £50.
Different types of Cheltenham Gold Cup bets
The different types of Cheltenham Gold Cup bets are easy to get to grips with, and the markets aren’t nearly as daunting as they might seem.
Accumulator
An accumulator (or acca) is when multiple selections are combined into one wager. All of the picks must land for the bet to pay out.
Accumulators across the week of Cheltenham Festival are very popular. You may opt to include the Gold Cup alongside other races like the Champion Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle.
Winner
A race winner bet is as simple as it sounds. This is a wager on a horse to win the Gold Cup. The bet only pays out if the horse finishes in first place.
To place
A place bet is a wager on a horse to finish within a certain number of positions in the race. For headline races like the Gold Cup, extra places will usually be paid out.
If four places are being paid out, a horse only has to finish in the top four for this bet to win. It doesn’t matter if they are first, second, third or fourth.
Each way
An each-way bet is a wager split into two parts. Each-way bets are made up of a ‘race winner bet’ and a ‘place bet’. The number of places paid out depends on the number of horses in the field – keep an eye out for how many places Betway are paying in the Gold Cup.
If the horse wins, both parts of the bet win. If the horse places but doesn’t win, you win one part of the bet. If the horse fails to place, you lose all of your stake.
Antepost
Antepost betting refers to outright or future wagers placed on the Gold Cup. These are bets placed on the outcome of the race well in advance of race day.
Betway’s Gold Cup betting markets go live well before the Gold Cup, giving you ample time to back your antepost picks.
Where to bet on the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Check out our Gold Cup odds if you’re looking to place a bet on Cheltenham Gold Cup. Here at Betway, we also provide a wide range of alternative betting markets throughout Cheltenham Festival, with odds consistently updated for the Gold Cup.
Who to bet on at the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Our blog is packed with expert tips on the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with our highly experienced team of horse racing analysts delivering their best-value selections. Here, you can access daily picks throughout the Festival, helping you to weigh up and decide who to bet on Cheltenham Gold Cup.
