Festival Hunters’ Chase Tips, Odds, Free Bets, Betting Offers & Preview
Updated: January 30, 2026 at 11:52 am GMT+0
Fact Checked by
Craig Jones
Craig Jones
The Festival Hunters’ Chase is run over the same gruelling three-mile two-furlong distance as the Gold Cup and is the amateur’s version of the race. It’s open to qualifying amateur riders and horses aged five and over.
In fact, its full name is actually the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters Chase, although has been more commonly known as the Foxhunters’ Chase in recent times.
For a horse to be eligible for the race, it must have - finished first or second twice in hunter chases, won two open point-to-point races or won one open point-to-point race and finished second or first in a hunter chase.
Cheltenham Free Bets
The Cheltenham Festival is here, a huge horse racing event that we give plenty of focus to. Our dedicated page showcases the latest free bets and betting offers Cheltenham Festival throughout the week.
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Read on for Festival Hunters’ Chase betting odds, tips and Cheltenham free bets for the 2026 renewal.
| Race Details | |
|---|---|
| When: | Friday, March 13th - 4:40pm |
| Winner’s Prize: | £50,000 |
| Distance: | Three-miles & two-and-a-half furlongs |
| Race Type: | Hunter Chase |
| Age: | 5-Years+ |
| Course: | New Course |
| Weights: | 11st 12lbs (5yo), 12st 0lb (6yo+), 7lb allowance for mares |
| Where to Watch? | ITV Racing, Racing TV, Bookmaker Streams |
Festival Hunters’ Chase Betting Offers & Free Bets
The penultimate race of the Cheltenham Festival sees a number of free bets to be used only for new accounts in top bookmakers.
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#ad. 18+. New Players Only. Min deposit £20. Offer is 3x £10 free bets when you bet a total of £10 on any Sports market at odds of 1.75 or higher. Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement. Qualifying bets must settle before 23:59 on 13/03/2026. Free Bets can be redeemed on any sports market and used in one single transaction per Free Bet. Winnings credited as cash and immediately withdrawable. Free bets expire 7 days after being credited. Free Bets non withdrawable. Free Bet stakes not included in returns. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org.
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New Customers. First bet of £10+. Odds of Evens (2.0) or Greater. 2x £10 Free Bets credited within 72 hours of settlement. Plus 100% Odds Boost token. Paypal & Paysafe excl. T&Cs apply.
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New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £40, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply.
18+ New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £5 on any Horse Racing Markets (Odds 1/1+) within 7 days of sign up. Get 2 x £10 in Free Bets for set Horse Racing markets. Free Bets expire in 30 days. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org. Please gamble responsibly.
New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Free bets and Bonuses are valid for 7 days. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply
18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs Apply 18+. UK/IRE online. 9 Feb-8 Mar. Place & settle £/€10+ bets, min odds 1/1 on selected sports. Bet 4 days weekly to earn £/€5 Cheltenham Free Bet (FB). 5 days = £/€5 Cheltenham FB + £/€5 FB next week (NW). 6 days = £/€5 Cheltenham FB + £/€10 FB NW. 7 days = £/€5 Cheltenham FB + win a share of the £/€10k weekly jackpot (paid as cash NW). Cheltenham FBs credited 10-13 Mar, expire 13 Mar at 23:59. Free/void/cashed-out bets don’t qual. Account/bet type/settlement/payment restrictions apply. T&Cs Apply.
15
Coral Sports
Sean Bowen to Ride a Winner at the Cheltenham Festival - Was Evens now 33/1
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Foxhunters’ Chase Betting Odds
A chance for some lesser known names of the sport to make a name for themselves, and latest odds from betting sites can be found below.
Festival Hunters’ Chase Tips
Check back nearer the time for our Foxhunters' Chase tips.
However, we have daily horse racing tips courtesy of our top tipping team, Charlie McCann and Alan Kelly - click on their links below.
Charlie McCann Tips
Get exclusive daily horse racing tips from Charlie McCann here at Freebets.
Alan Kelly Tips
Get exclusive selections from Alan Kelly on daily horse racing here at Freebets.
What Happened in 2025?
It was one for Oasis fans in 2025, as Wonderwall came home in front to lift the Foxhunters' Chase trophy.
Festival Hunters’ Chase Key Stats
- 11 of the last 12 winners were aged eight or older
- Eight of the previous 12 winners of the Foxhunters’ Chase had at least one previous run at Cheltenham
- Ten of the last 12 winners had a rating of 134 or higher
Previous Winners of the Foxhunters’ Chase
Check out the most recent winners of the Festival Hunters’ Chase in the table below.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wonderwall |
| 2024 | Sine Nomine |
| 2023 | Premier Magic |
| 2022 | Billaway |
| 2021 | Porlock Bay |
FAQs
When is the Festival Hunters' Chase?
The Festival Hunters' Chase takes place on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival. It’s the sixth race on the card and takes place immediately after the Cheltenham Gold Cup. In 2026 it is scheduled for Friday, March 13th, at 4:40pm.
More Cheltenham Tips
Check out our tips for all the other Cheltenham Day 4 races:
