Cheltenham Day 4 Tips
The Cheltenham Festival is the highest level of National Hunt racing in Britain and one of the most iconic sporting events in the UK. The action on day 4 – Gold Cup Friday – includes the most famous race at the festival, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
To help you make the most of day four at the Cheltenham Festival, here are some key Cheltenham day four (Friday) betting tips.
Tips for Betting on the Cheltenham Festival
Whether you bet on the Cheltenham Festival every year or this is your first time, it’s important to have the right betting strategy in place. When picking your runners, think about the following:
• Look into the recent form of horses in previous National Hunt races this season. It’s a good indicator of potential success at Cheltenham.
• Analyse previous performances at Cheltenham betting . Often horses that have placed or won here before do well again.
• Consider the jockey and trainer. Certain trainers seem to have developed a formula to win here.
• Check how well horses perform on the predicted ground conditions for your chosen race and across the festival.
As well as these general Cheltenham betting tips, it’s key to understand the tips and trends for each individual race you want to bet on.
Cheltenham Day 4 Races
Day four of the Cheltenham Festival includes the most iconic race of all, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Here’s what you can expect on Gold Cup Friday, alongside some Cheltenham day four betting tips.
Triumph Hurdle: 13:20
The Triumph Hurdle is the first race of the final day at the Cheltenham Festival, and the top race for juvenile jump horses aged four years. It’s run over a distance of 2 miles 1 furlong. Tips for betting on the Triumph Hurdle include:
• Focus on leading juvenile hurdlers (four-year-olds). The race often features strong Irish and French challengers.
• Look at the horses’ form in key juvenile hurdle races leading up to the festival.
County Hurdle: 14:00
The County Hurdle is a Grade 3 contest run over 2m 1f on the final day of the festival. It’s open to horses aged five years and up. Tips for betting on this race include:
• Study the weights and recent form carefully.
• Look for trainers with recent success at Cheltenham and in this event. Both Millie Mullins and Dan Skelton have dominated in the last decade.
Mares’ Chase: 14:40
The Mares’ Chase is run over 2m 4.5f and is a Grade 2 contest open to mares aged five years or older. It’s only been running at the festival since 2021. Tips for betting on this event include:
• Look for horses with great jumping skills to tackle the 17 jumps in the race.
• Analyse the form of the top mares in chasing. Consider their jumping ability and Cheltenham form.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: 15:20
Also known as the Spa Novices' Hurdle, this is the top race of the season’s top long-distance novice hurdlers. The Grade 1 race is run over 3 miles on the fourth day of the festival and is open to horses aged five and up. Tips for betting on the race include:
• Focus on staying novice hurdlers who appreciate the three-mile trip.
• Look for horses with good stamina and a strong finish. A strong stayer is often needed to win the race.
• Look for previous wins at this year’s festival and past festivals.
Cheltenham Gold Cup: 16:00
The big one! The Cheltenham Gold Cup is of course the top race at the Cheltenham Festival. Not only that but it’s also the most valuable non-handicap chase in the UK. The Gold Cup is a 3m 2f 70y race with 22 fences that crowns the best steeplechaser in the sport each year. Tips for betting on the Cheltenham Gold Cup include:
• Analyse the form of the leading staying chasers throughout the season.
• Consider their jumping, stamina, and experience at Cheltenham.
• Look for trainers with past successes in this event. Willie Mullins, Henry De Bromhead, and Dan Skelton are all adept at picking the right horses for the Gold Cup.
• Pay attention to the conditions. The course often favours horses that thrive on good-to-soft conditions.
• Look for horses that have performed well in recent National Hunt races leading up to the Gold Cup.
• Consider horses that have placed in recent years. Plenty of Gold Cup winners have finished in the top spots in previous seasons.
Festival Hunters’ Chase: 16:40
The Festival Hunters Chase is a Class 2 contest restricted to amateur riders and run over a distance of 3m 2.5f. Tips for betting on the race include:
• Look at the experience of the jockeys as this is an amateur race, so experience really can count.
• Consider the horses' form in hunter chases.
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle: 17:20
This is the final race of the Cheltenham Festival, for conditional jockeys and open to horses aged four years and older. It’s run over a distance of 2m 4.5f and traditionally closes the festival. Tips to bet on the final race of the Cheltenham Festival include:
• Consider the jockeys' claims and the horses' form and weights.
• Look for value bets. This is often a good race for finding value in the bookies’ odds.
Bet on the Cheltenham Festival with BoyleSports
Whether you want to bet on the Cheltenham Gold Cup or another race on the final day of the festival, put our Cheltenham Day 4 tips into practice and bet on Cheltenham with BoyleSports. Sign up today to make the most of our Cheltenham betting markets and Cheltenham odds