Cheltenham Open Meeting Preview

The Cheltenham Open Meeting is one of the premier early season national hunt meetings and one that fans of the sport look forward to each year. This weekend we have racing taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the iconic venue. Headlining the weekend is the BetVictor Gold Cup on Saturday, a competitive handicap with some top class animals taking part.
Improving Mister Whitaker to take BetVictor Gold Cup
Mister Whitaker is aiming to land his fourth victory in a row on Saturday when he goes for the main prize of the meeting, the BetVictor Gold Cup. He is a rare national hunt runner for Mick Channon, but the flat man is clearly doing something right and getting the very best from this horse.
He has won his last three races, including two at Cheltenham and one at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, giving him experience of the course which is vital around here. A reappearance win in a good race at Carlisle came two weeks ago and that will have put him spot on for this one, a race which has been his target ever since he won at the festival in March.
He looks to be more than capable of defying yet another rise in the weight due to that Carlisle win, and assuming he runs a big race here, it seems it is only a matter of time before the horse is stepped up and he runs in graded company. He is extremely consistent, with four wins and two placed efforts from his six runs over fences so far, and he could go to the very top of the chasing ladder, with the Ryanair Chase at the festival a realistic target.
Sceau Royal to Star in Sunday’s Shloer Chase
The highlight of Sunday is certainly the return of Sceau Royal after a break since the turn of the year. Injury cut short last season for him, preventing him from running in the big races towards the end of the season. He looked a natural chaser, and has the ability to challenge the very best over two miles, he is an exciting returnee on Sunday.
The Shloer Chase will be his first step out of novice company into open company but the race looks to be a great opportunity for him to get back, and get a win on the board. He won four of his five chase starts last season, and those included wins in Grade Two and Grade One company, so he did mix it with some of the best before injury ended his season.
With horses such as Brain Power and Le Prezien making up the field against him, he will have to come back close to his best if he is to win this race on reappearance, but trainer Alan King is sure to have got him spot on, and certainly isn’t afraid to put him in at the deep end here. This horse could be the closest we have to a challenger to Altior’s two mile crown this season, and he is a fascinating name on the card on Sunday.
Cheltenham Open Meeting Tips
- Mister Whitaker to win the BetVictor Gold Cup (Saturday) @ 6/1 with SportNation
- Sceau Royal to win the Shloer Chase (Sunday) @ 6/4 with 10Bet
Cheltenham Betting Offers

SportNation – Free Bet for 4/1+ Winners on Cheltenham Televised Races
If you are placing a bet on the televised races from Cheltenham this weekend be sure to check out this offer from SportNation. When you back a winner with them and the SP of that winner is 4/1 or bigger, you will receive a free bet from them to the value of your stake, up to a maximum of £50. This is valid on your first bet in the race only, and you must opt in to be eligible for the promotion but this is a great way to bag some free bets when you fire in the winners this weekend.
10Bet – Mobile Faller Insurance
This offer is only available to those who place their bets with 10Bet through a mobile device this weekend. They are offering faller insurance up to a maximum of £10 for any customer who bets through their mobile and backs a faller in any race at Cheltenham on all three days of the meeting. It is never nice to see a horse fall in a race, but with this offer you could get yourself a free bet back from 10Bet so you can place another bet and try to win again.
Top 20 Betting Offers
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18+ New customers only. Place a £10+ bet at min odds 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £30 in Free Bets, valid for 7 days on selected bets only. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org |
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T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. Money back as £10 in free bets. Free bet is credited the day after the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account. |
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New customers only. Register, 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. |
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New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. |
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18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet up to £40 (min. £20) via mobile or app on any football (odds 1/1+) within 7 days of registration. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets, which expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
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New players. Choose bonus at signup. Wager bonus 10x. Any withdrawals void bonus. Valid 30 days. Deposit used 1st. Odds, bet & payment limits. T&Cs apply. 18+. |
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New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Bet min of £/€10 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £/€10 Win + £/€10 Place) within 7 days of registration. Receive £/€20 Tote Credit and £/€10 Free Sports Bet. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to the bet slip. 7-day expiry. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org. |
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18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€10 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 5x £/€10 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
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18+, UK only. Deposit and place a £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater and we will give you £10 in free bets. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 Void or 'Draw No Bet' wagers do not qualify for this promotion. Available once per customer. Free bets will be credited at bet settlement and will expire 7 days after being credited. Full T&Cs apply. |
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18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
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*New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
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New Customers Only. To qualify, deposit and place a minimum £10 bet on any sport. Then, place two additional qualifying bets, each worth at least 50% of your largest initial stake. Quinnbet will credit your account with a Free Bet up to £25, the following day 18+ T&Cs Apply. Gamble Responsibly. |
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New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accepted in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
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Place a £10 fixed odds single or £10 each-way bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and get 3 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets and 3 x £5 Winning Favourites spread bets and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet. 18+ www.gambleaware.org. |
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New sportsbook customers only. Place £10 first bet at min odds 1/2 to get £20 Free Bet. Stake not returned. Free Bet valid 7 days, min odds 1/2. Settled bets only. One welcome offer per customer (not with 50% Net Loss Refund). 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
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18+| GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Opt in. Deposit and Bet £10+ on sports at min odds of 2.0+ (1/1) for £30 in Free Bets within 7 days. Debit cards or instant bank transfers only. Free bets expire within 7 days of issue. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply.#AD |
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#AD | Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £10 | No max cash out | Wagering is 40x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded for welcome bonus | Cashback when offered, applies to deposits where no bonus is included | Cashback is cash with no restrictions | T&C's apply |Free bet: Min odds: 2.0 - Free bet value will be deducted from free bet winnings | 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | Gambling is addictive, please gamble responsibly! |
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Offer valid for new Betgoodwin customers aged 18 years and over. Min qualifying stake £10 at odds of 6/4+. Excludes horse & greyhound racing. Min 4 legs at odds of 2/5+ for £10 free acca. Full Terms apply. begambleaware |
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18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 at odds 2.00+ within 10 days, no cashout. Get 6x £5 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. 7 day bonus expiry. T&Cs apply, see below. gambleaware.org | Please Gamble Responsibly. |
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New customers only. To qualify for free bets, the new user must place and settle £20 on easyBet markets. The user must bet on at least 2 different events to qualify. The user must place and settle bets at odds of 2.0 or more. An event is classed as two different sporting events. Bets can be placed on singles, multiples and Bet Builders. The user must place and settle bets before the closing date of the promotion to qualify. Users making their first deposit by Skrill, Neteller or PaySafe card will not qualify for this promotion. T's and C's Apply. Be Gamble Aware. 18+ |