Star Sports Offer: Bet on Imperial Cup Get Matched Free Bet for Cheltenham
Craig Jones 
It's Imperial Cup weekend at Sandown, on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival, and with a new sign up offer, Star Sports are linking both events together.
If you are looking for Cheltenham free bets then new players who sign up with Star Sports and bet on the Imperial Cup can get a matched free bet up to £50, which is valid for day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival.
Bet on the Imperial Cup, Get a Matched Bet on Cheltenham
The Imperial Cup takes place on Saturday, March 8th, going off at 2:25pm, and is the feature race on what looks to be a highly competitive card at Sandown.
Here are the key terms and conditions for those claiming this offer:
Bet on the Imperial Cup and Get a Matched Free Bet up to £50 to use on Day 1 of Cheltenham!
- Up to £50 Matched Free Bet valid with Promo Code: IMPERIAL50.
- Only bets placed on the Imperial Cup (14.25 Sandown) will be eligible for this offer.
- Offer available to new customers only.
- Promotion valid from 12am on Friday 7th March.
- Win & Each-Way Bets qualify.
- Matched Free Bet up to £50 on first qualifying selection.
- Available on bets placed online and via telephone.
- The Free Bet will be credited on Tuesday 11th March at 10am.
- Free Bet will expire after seven days.
- Void bets do not qualify.
- Cashed out bets do not qualify.
- Free Bet awards can be used online or telephone. If you have any further questions about this promotion, you can contact our customer service team cs@starsportsbet.co.uk
- Star Sports decision is final.
Sandown Imperial Cup: Our Verdict
We've got two resident tipsters here at Freebets, and both have taken a look at the Imperial Cup on Saturday, with selections from them at nice prices in what looks to be a wide open race!
Spirit’s Bay has a career record of 1-2-1-1 going right-handed and has a pull in the weights with Bo Zenith and Wreckless Eric who he finished behind at Cheltenham when making his seasonal reappearance back in November when he was a bit keen, made his ground up quickly going to two out and faded on the run in.
He was beaten just over 5L by Constitution Hill last time which reads well back in handicap company and the handicapper has correctly ignored the form. Sam Twiston-Davies takes over in the saddle for the first time and he holds an entry in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
Afadil tanked his way through his race at Musselburgh last time but the combination of hitting the front too soon and pulling his chance away meant he was a sitting duck coming over the last. He has been nudged up the weights 2lbs for that effort but remains 2lbs lower than winning that same Musselburgh contest in 2024.
While it would not surprise me if that proved to be the case, I would rather back the Chris Gordon-trained King William Rufus (each-way) at around 25/1 and with 5 places available.
Rex Dingle’s mount absolutely bolted-up in a handicap at Ascot just before Christmas and ran better than his finishing position of sixth would suggest in Newbury’s valuable William Hill Hurdle (Premier Handicap) last month.
4lb Better off with runner-up Lump Sum, King William Rufus looks decent each-way value at current odds.
