We’re well and truly gearing up for Cheltenham Festival 2025 as it’s now just a few weeks away to the biggest festival in jumps racing.
And bet365 have just gone Non-Runner No Bet for the big five races at the meeting: Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle, Ryanair Chase and the Gold Cup!
bet365 – Get NRNB on Cheltenham Festival five major races
Ante-Post backers are always on the lookout for value and that can often come in the shape of NRNB markets with a guarantee you can get your money if they don’t run.
That can be common for certain horses and even more crucial for betting as the weather can sometimes rule horses out on the day of.
One of the biggest markets for this will be the Champion Hurdle as the superstar and the 2023 winner of the race Constitution Hill is now the odds-on favourite for it.
If he does run he will be a heavy odds-on favourite on the day, even with those who will go against him, potentially backing Lossiemouth.
Brighterdaysahead is just behind in the betting along with Sir Gino, Constitution Hill’s stablemate and rising star, who has been impressive for trainer Nicky Henderson.
bet365’s Pat Cooney said: “The countdown to the Cheltenham Festival is now well and truly underway following this news.
“It’s always a popular choice for ante-post backers to have a money back option if you do back a non-runner once the offer applies to each race.
“Potential backers of Constitution Hill in particular can at least get a good night’s sleep now without worrying about his wellbeing!
“The Ryanair Chase is probably the race that will attract the most fresh opinions now we are NRNB, with many of the high-profile entries having other targets.
“The likes of Gaelic Warrior and Banbridge look a couple of NRNB types to consider.
“All told, it’s positive news for the Festival.”
Cheltenham Festival 2025 Five Major Races
- Champion Hurdle – Tuesday, 11th March
- Champion Chase – Wednesday, 12th March
- Stayers’ Hurdle – Thursday, 13th March
- Ryanair Chase – Thursday, 13th March
- Gold Cup – Friday, 14th March
For the big race of the week though, the Gold Cup, it opens it up for many punters who will be looking to side for or against Galopin Des Champs, the reigning champion and two-time winner of the feature contest.
He will be looking to make it three in a row emulate a handful of other horses to win three in a row (or more): Golden Miller (1930’s), Cottage Rake (1947-49), Arkle (1964-1966), Best Mate (2002-2004).
Galopin Des Champs is just about odds-on to replicate those and put him in the history books.
But there’s still many keeping the faith in Fact To File, who is the closest contender in the NRNB market by a long way and could be Galopin Des Champs’s only major contender on the day too.
That said, Banbridge at 12/1 is a huge price considering he’s still unexposed over this kind of trip.
The Joseph Patrick O’Brien-trained horse is nine-years-old but stepped up to 3m for the first time in Kempton’s King George VI Chase and forged clear of Il Est Francais, with both clear of the rest of the field.
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