William Hill Makes Exciting Cheltenham Festival Betting Prediction

Horse racing fans and punters are bracing themselves for a big week at the Cheltenham Festival. The four-day event, which kicks off today, is also gearing up to be another profitable one for UK betting sites and retail bookmakers.

Forming a huge part of the jumps calendar, the Gold Cup is the centrepiece of the Festival. However, as William Hill has attested, the whole week is likely to see a surge in betting activity.

William Hill banking on a big week

Across the four days, 28 races will be staged, and William Hill are banking on a big week, judging by the latest figures they have divulged. Yes, revered Cheltenham betting sites are set to see a big spike in wagering activity, and William Hill reckons approximately £450 million will have been bet come the end of the festival.

William Hill, meanwhile, has the honour of sponsoring a race. Yes, the William Hill Country Hurdle, a premier handicap race, will be staged on Gold Cup Day (Friday), and it seems that Cheltenham is shaping once again to be a huge battleground among operators.

Discussing the potential amount that could be wagered at Cheltenham, William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps, said:

“The battle between us and the punters over the four days of the Cheltenham Festival is unveiled in Jumps racing. We’re expecting around £450m to be wagered over the four days, which makes it the most bet-on racing festival of the year, and it’s a hugely important week for us.

“One day the fancied runners can go and get beaten, and everyone on the trading floor is cheering, and the next it can swing right back to the punters. Bring it on!”

What’s behind the betting surge?

Alongside Cheltenham, you will find that the Grand National and the Scottish National generate strong betting turnover results. However, the drama provided by Cheltenham is almost unmatched.

Indeed, celebrated rivalries such as those of Kauto Star and Denman during the Gold Cup, have provoked feverish interest over the past few years. This was underlined by Entain’s Racing Trading Director, James Knight.

He said:

“The races that really get the pulse racing are when we get two or three superstars heavyweights slugging it out. Probably the best example of that in my lifetime was the Kauto Star vs Denman clash in the 2008 Gold Cup - punters were arguing for months about which horse would prevail, and you simply don’t get that level of engagement and excitement at other big horse racing Festivals.

“This year probably lacks a Kauto Star v Denman, but there are extremely talented horses going head-to-head for the first time.”

No immediate sign of budget worries

For now, at least, there doesn’t appear to be any immediate worries about how the November budget will impact operators at Cheltenham. A general betting duty (GBD) rate paid on online sports bets will be applied in April 2027, where it will rise from 15% of gross gambling yield (GGY) to 25%, but horse racing is currently exempt.

Some operators have been tightening their belts in recent months, and that has included withdrawing sponsorship of races. But as far as Cheltenham is concerned, it could be a bumper week.

With greater attendance levels expected this year along with a raft of fresh promotions and offers advertised, it remains to be seen whether William Hill nails its betting forecast.