Betting
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6th March 2026
09:44am GMT
In the National Hunt racing calendar, the Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest highlights and across the UK it draws huge betting attention from racing fans and punters.
During the festival, Paddy Power is especially popular, thanks to its reputation for generous and engaging offers that add extra excitement to the big race days.
This bookmaker typically rolls out a strong lineup of free bet promotions throughout the week, which includes their classic Bet £10, Get £50 in free bets deal, money-back specials if your selection lets you down, and price boosts on selected horses and markets.
Paddy Power is a favourite choice in 2026 due to these promotions, which apply to both casual bettors and seasoned festival punters.
All you need to do if you would like to claim £50 in free bets for Cheltenham Festival 2026, is follow the steps listed below and you’ll have your rewards within minutes:
• CLICK HERE or sign up to Paddy Power via any of links you can see on this page.
• Choose the Join Now option once you’re on the official Paddy Power website.
• Put all the required information to fill out the registration form.
• Manually insert the Paddy Power promo code, YSKASP
• On Cheltenham Festival, make a qualifying deposit at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) or bigger
• You will receive your £50 in free bets, after your bet has settled, after you have met this criteria.
• You’re free to venture into the Paddy Power sportsbook and start betting on Cheltenham Festival.
The Paddy Power sign up offer has these terms and conditions:
New Customers only - Place a £10 Sportsbook bet on any race at the Cheltenham Festival 2026, min. odds 1/2 (1.5) — get £50 in free bets. Free bets awarded on qualifying bet settlement and can be used on any Horse Racing & Football market. Only deposits via Cards & Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply.
To find out how Paddy Power’s Cheltenham free bets work, here’s everything you need to know:
When claiming this generous sign up offer, the first step is to register your account using promo code YSKASP. Then, by using an eligible payment method, you should deposit a minimum of £10.
On any Cheltenham Festival market, next you should make a qualifying bet of £10 or more at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) or bigger.
You will receive £50 in free bets which will be available under the “My Free Bets” tab, after your qualifying bet has settled. This is then ready to use on any market across the festival.
Below you can take a look at all the different special promotions Paddy Power offers for the Cheltenham Festival:
Paddy Power have also provided money back specials on select races previously during Cheltenham. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd to the favourite, for example, you can get your stake returned as a free bet, or in some cases as cash.
On select horse races throughout the year, Paddy Power has also been known to offer extra places, but for the Cheltenham Festival this is normally enhanced further. You are likely to see extra places available for select races at Cheltenham. This means that with each way bets, you have a better chance of seeing a return.
Paddy Power announced in early February that NRNB will once again be available on ante-post markets on all 28 Cheltenham races. This means that as a punter, you will have peace of mind when trying to secure strong early odds this year.
With Paddy Power, another big benefit to betting on Cheltenham is the price boosts that they have offered in the past. Keep an eye out for that, as this is normally available every day of the festival.
Acca Insurance is generally offered by Paddy Power, which can be applied to horse racing including the Cheltenham Festival, provided the accumulator meets the requirements. Your stake is refunded as a free bet if one selection loses.
You can generally apply free bets across the biggest races on the card, when it comes to using them from Paddy Power on Cheltenham Festival 2026.
The biggest races include the Grade 1 showpieces like the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Champion Hurdle and the iconic Cheltenham Gold Cup, to competitive handicaps later in the week.
You’re usually free to use it on your chosen race and market, as long as your free bet stake meets the minimum odds requirements outlined in the offer terms.
You have to remember that certain boosts or special promotions may be race-specific, so before you place your bet, always check the fine print to see which races are included.
In order for you to get best informed before making any wagers, here’s a balanced look at Paddy Power’s Cheltenham offerings:
On Cheltenham Festival pricing, Paddy Power is generally competitive. It offers odds that hold up well against many rivals, particularly on bigger races like the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle.
Its odds are fair and often enhanced with boosts during the festival week, giving you extra value as a punter, even if they’re not always the best on every market.
During major meetings like Cheltenham, one of Paddy Power’s perks is extra places on selected races. In handicaps and other markets this means more place-money paid out, and compared to standard place terms elsewhere, this can significantly improve returns on each-way bets.
The Paddy Power app delivers a smooth and user-friendly betting experience. This is thanks to quick navigation through Cheltenham markets, fast live odds and seamless in-play wagering.
You can find trending markets on the go easily, thanks to its layout and up-to-the-second updates. Live betting is also well supported.
Paddy Power is popular for fast payouts, especially compared with some peers in the industry.
After your bets have settled, whether pre-race or in-play, winnings are usually credited promptly to your account. You can then reinvest them or withdraw without unnecessary delay.
Throughout the festival, Paddy Power consistently delivers generous promotions, and these include bet & get deals, price boosts, and money-back specials, and they can significantly enhance your potential returns and overall value.
Paddy Power’s extra place terms and intuitive app make it easy to find and use these free bets across key races.
The con side, however, is that many free bets come with minimum odds requirements or race restrictions, and boosted prices may only apply to select events rather than universally across all races.
The value of some promotions can also vary compared with rival operators, so it’s worth comparing offers before you place your festival bets.
You should always enjoy betting at Cheltenham Festival as entertainment rather than a way to make money.
Using the Paddy Power free bets is no different, so you should set a clear budget before the festival begins and stick to it, using free bets as a way to add value rather than chase losses.
You should also understand the terms of each promotion, avoid staking more than you can afford, and take regular breaks during a busy week of racing.
Keep in mind that if betting ever stops being fun or feels hard to control, tools such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion can help keep things in check, to make sure that your Cheltenham experience stays safe and enjoyable.
In this section you can find some frequently asked questions about Paddy Power and the Cheltenham Festival:
Yes, you do need a promo code. You will need one when you create your new account, in order to claim most of Paddy Power’s free bet offers.
You should enter YSKASP to opt into the promotion, for their “Bet £10, Get £50” welcome deal.
Keep in mind that these change between sign up offers, so before you complete your registration, you should check the T&Cs.
Yes, they can. It doesn’t apply to just new joiners, so existing customers can typically claim Cheltenham bonuses and free bet promotions.
Usually, Paddy Power runs a variety of offers throughout the festival week that are open to all account holders.
Keep in mind though that some may ask for an opt in or a qualifying bet within a set timeframe.
Yes, they are withdrawable. However, it’s important to note that with free bet offers you generally only keep the profit and not the stake.
If you use a £10 free bet and it wins £40, for example, you’ll usually receive £40 in realisable funds, as the original free bet is not returned.
The minimum odds requirement are specified by each free bet or bonus offer.
Bets may need to be at least 1/5 (1.20) or 1/2 (1.50) depending on the promotion, for example.
Since the minimum odds can vary between deals and markets, you should always check the terms of the specific Paddy Power Cheltenham offer you’re using.
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