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The day that starts it all is the first day of the Cheltenham Festival! As crowds gather after a year of waiting, it is time to watch the best in action. The battle of Britain and Ireland returns, along with the first feature race of the festival taking place at 16:00. 

With so much taking place, we have compiled everything you need to know to get the most out of your Cheltenham Day 1 betting experience. Stick with us as we look at how you can claim some Cheltenham Day 1 free bets from the best bookmakers, the schedule ahead of the day, key races, where and how to watch, and more!

Best Cheltenham Day 1 Betting Offers and Free Bets 

1. Betway – Get a £30 Matched Free Bet
2. Copybet – Bet 20 Get 60
3. Spreadex – Bet £10 Get £40
4. William Hill – Bet £10 Get £30
5. Betfred – Bet £10 Get £50
6. Ladbrokes – Bet £5 Get £20 
7. Tote – Bet £10 Get £40
8. Fitzdares – Bet £50 Get £25
9. Netbet – Bet £10 Get £10
10. Coral – Bet £5 Get £20 
11. Priced up – Bet £40 Get £20 Free Bets

18+ Gambling Can Be Addictive. Please Play Responsibly. Registration Required GambleAware GamStop Gambling Commission.

DISCLAIMER: All the offers displayed in this article are correct as of the day of publishing and are subject to change without notice. The terms and conditions for offers are displayed at the bottom of the page.

Step By Step Guide: Claiming Cheltenham Day 1 Free Bets 

Want to claim some Cheltenham betting offers, including free bets for the first day? We have got you covered! Follow our step-by-step guide below to help you choose the right one and get signed up.

1. Explore the Cheltenham Day 1 betting offers above and pick out the right one for you.
2. Once you are happy, click the link to head to the site and locate the sign-up page.
3. Register for an account with the site, entering your details including full name, date of birth, mobile number and address.
4. Create your login details for the site, making your username and password.
5. Verify your account through a link sent to your email address.
6. Now, sign into your account and enter your promo code when prompted if you have one.
7.  Make your first deposit, checking that it meets any requirements in the promotion to qualify. 
8. Go ahead and explore the Cheltenham Day 1 betting markets and make your selection(s).
9. Confirm and place your bets, and wait for them to settle.
10. Finally, enjoy!

Race Schedule for Cheltenham Day 1 2025

Hear the iconic Cheltenham roar as the day’s first race and the festival gets underway! Seven races are to take place, including the first feature race, the Champion Hurdle, at 16:00. We have included the full Cheltenham Day 1 race schedule below:

Day 1: Champion Day – Tuesday 11th March

• 13:20 – The Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
• 14:00 – The My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
• 14:40 – The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
• 15:20 – The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) 
• 16:00 – The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
• 16:40 – The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)
• 17:20 – The National Hunt Novices Chase (Novices’ Steeple Chase) (Novices’ Handicap)

Cheltenham Day 1 Feature Races 

If you are after the best races to take advantage of your Cheltenham Day 1 free bets, we have included some key ones below.

The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)

The first race of the festival and perhaps the loudest, the Novices’ Hurdle, kickstarts the four-day festival. The sound of the hooves hitting the ground combined with the roar of the crowd is unmatched, as a year of anticipation and excitement finally is able to be unleashed again. The race is two miles of fast and furious action, with pinpoint accuracy required to clear all of the jumps. The 2024 edition saw victory for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore with a stunning run from Slade Steel.

The My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Labelled as one of the premier races held during the jumps season, this is where the fast novice chasers come into their own. It’s a fierce contest over two miles jumping at speed, with many of its past winners going on to feature and even win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, such as Sprinter Sacre and Altior. It was the Irish duo Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend who triumphed last time out with Gaelic Warrior.

The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 

The main spectacle of Cheltenham Day 1, the Champion Hurdle is the first feature race of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Described as the biggest hurdle race on the calendar, it features some of the best in the business, from trainers to runners to jockeys. Run over 2 miles and 87 yards. It is sheer determination from the off until the line. It has become a great battle between Britain and Ireland, with Nicky Henderson and Henry De Bromhead running the show. Although it was Mullins who most recently took the win last year with State Man.

Top Tips for Making the Most of Your Day 1 Free Bets

To help you make the most out of your Cheltenham Day three free bets, we have put together some top tips below!

• Check out key horses, trainers and jockeys

Before placing any bets on the festival, it is worthwhile doing some research on some of the runners, including the trainers and jockeys. This can help to identify potential strong performers in a field and help you to make your selections based on previous form and appearances. Check out top trainers such as Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson, and Gordon Elliott and whether they have any entries going in the race.

• Spread out your free bets

We can not recommend enough considering splitting your Cheltenham Day 1 free bets across multiple races taking place that day. This means that instead of following just one race, you can get involved and invested in more! It creates more excitement and anticipation on the day and provides more opportunities to be in with the chance of having a successful bet!

• Identify the most competitive fields

Look at the different races taking place on Day 1 and identify the ones with the most competitive fields. These can provide some of the best Cheltenham Day 1 odds, as there could be upsets on the cards, underdogs and heavy favourites involved that could open up opportunities to grab valuable odds on the favourites to be beaten.

For more information on how to make the most of your Cheltenham Free Bets, whether you’re betting on Day 1 or not, click here. 

How to Live Stream Cheltenham Festival 2025

If you want to keep up with the action from Cheltenham Day 1, there are many ways to watch it live without being at the racecourse.

• On TV & Online 

Thanks to ITV, Cheltenham Day 1 can be viewed live and for free on your TV. This year, the free-to-air broadcaster will show six of the day’s seven races live, with more coverage throughout the festival day. The action will also be available on the ITV website and via the ITVX app, so you can take it wherever you go, ensuring you do not miss a thing!

Live coverage of the festival will also be available on RacingTV and online. All seven races of the day will be shown alongside extended race day coverage.

• Betting Apps Live Streams

Also available to fans and punters are exclusive live streams at betting sites. These will provide full coverage of the day’s races and are simple to access! Simply register with any of the top Cheltenham betting apps and make a deposit or place a bet on the race or day you wish to watch live to receive access to the live stream.

Responsible Gambling

It is important to remember to gamble responsibly, especially during an event such as the Cheltenham Festival. Ensure you are using only licensed betting platforms to protect you. Also, practice responsible gambling wherever you can to keep track of your gambling habits. This includes setting yourself a budget you will stick to and avoiding chasing losses. 

There are several responsible gambling tools available at betting platforms to help you with this too, including setting deposit limits, time limits, reality checks, and self-exclusion tools, should you wish to utilise them. If you or someone you know are growing concerned regarding online gambling habits and would be interested in further support, there are various helplines available, such as GamCare and GambleAware, that can be reached via your preferred betting platform.

Offer Terms and Conditions:

Betway – New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Cricket or Basketball multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ GambleAware.org. Bet the Responsible Way. Full Terms apply

Copybet – Full T&Cs apply. New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £20, have 1.9 or greater odds and must be settled within 7 days of opt-in. 3 Free bets include: 1 x £20 Free bet Racing (Horse Racing or Greyhound Racing); 1 x £20 Free Bet Live Football; 1 x £20 Free Bet Live. Max payout – £500. 7-day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app (Open banking). 18+. GambleAware

Spreadex – Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. 18+ http://www.gambleaware.org. Place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and get 2 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 4 x £5 free spread bets + £1 Race Index spread bet.

William Hill – 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #ad

Betfred – New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.

Ladbrokes – 18+. UK & ROI. New customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excluded. Min 1st £/€5 deposit. Bet £/€5 at 1/2+ odds withing 14 days of registration & get 1 x £/€5 Bet Builder, 1 x £/€5 Cheltenham Ante-Post & 4 x £/€5 Free Bets (selected sportsbook markets, valid 7 days, stake not returned0. Restrictions and T&Cs apply.

Tote – New customers only, aged 18+. Min deposit £10. Place a £50 bet on any sport at at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater to qualify for three free bets on settlement: £10 on Football, £10 on Greyhounds and £5 on Virtual Sports, plus 10 Free Spins on Reel King. Free Bet & Spins expire in 7 days. Additional T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly.

Fitzdares – New customers only, aged 18+. Min deposit £10. Place a £50 bet on any sport at at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater to qualify for three free bets on settlement: £10 on Football, £10 on Greyhounds and £5 on Virtual Sports, plus 10 Free Spins on Reel King. Free Bet & Spins expire in 7 days. Additional T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly.

Netbet – New players only. Bet £10 min. odds 1/1 (2.00). No cash-out. Free Bet available on Bet Builder. 25 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash, each valued at 10p without wagering requirement. Terms apply.

Coral – 18+. UK & ROI. New customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excluded. Min 1st £/€5 deposit. Bet £/€5 at 1/2+ odds withing 14 days of registration & get 1 x £/€5 Bet Builder, 1 x £/€5 Cheltenham Ante-Post & 4 x £/€5 Free Bets (selected sportsbook markets, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions and T&Cs apply.

Priced Up – 18+. New customers only. Place a minimum £40 bet on any selection with minimum odds of Evens (2.00) and receive a £20 free bet upon bet settlement. Free bet expires after 7 days. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply.

The pair have previously denied having any bad blood.