Cheltenham odds 2024: favourites for each day at the races
Cheltenham Festival provides punters with a conveyor belt of horse racing betting markets, and there’s no shortage of bettors willing to snap up what’s on offer. It is held in high esteem in the sporting calendar and sees some of the most considerable gambling activity out of any UK-based sports events throughout the year.
A tsunami of welcome offers and promotions awaits those looking to place a bet this year. Cheltenham odds 2024 will take shape the day before each race as the conditions and big bets begin to play a role in the market. However, we’ve shuffled through the pack to see which horses are the favourites going into each day to give you an idea of some picks.
Last year’s Gold Cup saw the favourite Galopin Des Champs storm to victory, jockeyed by the formidable Paul Townend. Horse racing bettors know that the favourites storming to victory can be few and far between, with many surprises on the way. With that in mind, don’t just accept our picks; remember to do your own research too!
Cheltenham’s first day can be a reserved affair at times, with stables and owners gearing up and getting settled into the rhythm of the event. The Champion Hurdle is always the pick of the first day’s action – and State Man is going into the race as a huge 2/5 favourite. However, as we know, with the level of gambling activity that ensues in the hours leading up to the race, these odds could fluctuate in either direction between now and day one.
With such nailed-on odds, some bettors might be put off by the lack of value. Quilixios could be a good outside punt for the first day – some tipsters have highlighted him as the first day’s pick. With odds ranging between 5/1 and 7/1, he could be the fabled dark horse, considering how well De Bromhead has his team prepared for the big meet in Cheltenham.
As the action picks up, Wednesday’s big race, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, showcases some of the top talent in UK and Irish horse racing – as it does yearly. El Fabiolo is a 1/2 favourite, with the second favourite, Jonbon, miles behind at 7/2, despite their rivalry over the last few months.
Stranger things have happened, and horses with higher odds have upset the status quo at Cheltenham and The Grand National before. Still, there’s a reason that El Fabiolo is such a solid favourite, with the shortest odds out of any race on the second day.
El Fabiolo leads again for the 14:50 on the penultimate day. However, the Ryanair Chase odds are tightly packed together, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Envoi Allen or Banbridge win this one.
Looking at the odds for Thursday, many markets are nip and tuck, and we suspect the fine margins will decide many of these races. Given that El Fabiolo is probably the strongest favourite for any race throughout Thursday but is still 6/4 compared to Banbridge’s 3/1, it shows how competitive it could get.
Final day – Gold Cup 2024 betting odds
Undoubtedly, the biggest race at Cheltenham is the Gold Cup on Friday; for many people, the Gold Cup is the main topic of discussion when discussing Cheltenham. Galopin Des Champs is again the favourite going in, with similar odds to last year when Paul Townend rode him first past the post.
While he’s not as strong a favourite currently, big money will likely pile in as we get closer to the final day. Fastorslow and Shishkin might be causing a slight fanfare, but given that they’re so far behind such a talented and consistent horse, we’d say bet against Galopin at your peril.
Although keen horse racing bettors like to divide their analysis across each of the four days at Cheltenham, all eyes are on the Gold Cup. Not only does it attract the most significant numbers on the box, but it also sees the most gambling activity and attracts the most significant spectator numbers out of any race at the meet.
Part of the appeal of betting on Cheltenham is that it’s very rare for tipsters to get it all right. As with so many horse racing betting markets, excellent value can be found if you know what to look for and what the rub of the green is that day.
Always look into these markets for yourself, and don’t gamble with money you cannot afford to lose. As long as you use these tips as a guide, don’t take them as guarantees, and stay within the parameters of safe gambling, you’ll get a taste of why so many people enjoy placing bets on Cheltenham.
It’s inevitable that curveballs will result in a big hit for the bookies; however, this is what the drama is all about, and it is a significant part of why punters flock to Cheltenham in their thousands. Each day at Cheltenham encompasses half a dozen different races, and with the stage set for another bumper festival, bettors cannot wait for the action to unfold on Tuesday.