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9th March 2026
12:47pm GMT
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 promises four days of topclass racing from 10–13 March, and you don’t need to be in Gloucestershire to feel every roar from the stands. In truth, the best seat in the house might be your own sofa back home. With the live action on your smart TV, a phone or tablet in hand for secondscreening, and your favourite betting apps ready to go, watching from Ireland has never been more immersive.
This guide covers everything you need to enjoy the Festival from this side of the Irish Sea, where to watch live, how to check the latest odds and racecards, and how to claim the best Cheltenham free bet offers. Whether you’re new to Cheltenham betting or a regular punter who knows every Irish raid inside out, this guide has you covered.
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 runs from 10–13 March, a four-day celebration of National Hunt racing that builds towards the iconic Gold Cup on Friday. Each day follows a familiar rhythm, with the opener around 13:20 and the last race usually at 17:20, giving fans a perfect afternoon slot to settle in for the action.
What makes Cheltenham special, particularly for Irish fans, is the prestige. 28 races packed with Grade One contests, the fierce Ireland vs Britain rivalry for the Prestbury Cup, and an atmosphere that pulls in hundreds of thousands to Prestbury Park every year. But you don’t need to travel to feel part of it, as office sweepstakes, pub watchparties, family traditions, and lively debates have made Cheltenham week a national event in its own right across Ireland.
In the ensuing scuffle, Robinson appeared to stick his fingers in Docherty's eyes.
Playing JOE x BOYLE Sports' Free To Play Predictor game for the Cheltenham Festival is simple - we’ve picked out one horse running in each of the first five races every day of Cheltenham, and all you need to do is decide if it will Win, Place or finish Unplaced!
In this section, we’ll show you how to watch the Cheltenham Festival live in Ireland, so you can keep up with the action as it unfolds at Prestbury Park.
Irish viewers can watch the Cheltenham Festival live and free on Virgin Media One, which will carry the same live broadcasts shown on ITV in the UK. Coverage generally runs from 12:45pm to 5pm each day, showing the first six races before the final race switches exclusively to subscription services.
You can also stream Virgin Media’s coverage through the Virgin Media Player app or website, which works across smart TVs, phones, tablets, and laptops — ideal for following the action on the go.
Because streaming demand spikes around race time, it’s worth signing in to the Virgin Media Player a few minutes before the opening race at 1:20pm.
For fans who want every single race — including the seventh and final race each day — Racing TV is the only service that broadcasts the entire Festival live in Ireland.
Racing TV is available through:
Subscribers get full, uninterrupted coverage of all 28 races, plus expert previews, analysis, replays, pundit insights, and extended commentary. If you want true walltowall Cheltenham coverage, and guaranteed access to every Irish runner, Racing TV is the top choice.
Next, we’ll break down the best way to check Cheltenham odds, because comparing prices across bookmakers is one of the most important steps during Festival week.
When it comes to Cheltenham betting, comparing prices is essential. Small differences in odds can make a big impact over four days, especially if you’re placing several bets or backing multiple Irish contenders across the card.
Oddschecker’s Cheltenham pages make this easy by showing sideby-side prices from all the major bookmakers, including boosts, free bet incentives, and enhanced terms. For example, one bookmaker may offer 4/1 on a runner while another offers 9/2, those small boosts can really add up. Using oddschecker ensures you always get the best available value before you place your bet.
Racecards are the essential prerace guide, listing the horses, jockeys, trainers, form, and ground conditions. You’ll find full Cheltenham racecards on Oddschecker’s racing pages, complete with live odds comparisons.
What to look for on a racecard:
• Horse name & number – Your key ID for the runner.
• Jockey & trainer – Especially important for assessing Irish hopes.
• Form – Recent results shown as letters and numbers.
• Going – Ground conditions (soft, heavy, good) that suit certain horses.
• Distance & class – Helps gauge race suitability.
• Entries & odds – Useful for both antepost and ontheday betting.
These details help you get a better read on the race and spot value before betting.
Cheltenham week is one of the biggest periods of the year for bookmaker promotions, especially for Irish punters who often see enhanced offers tailored for the Festival. Expect boosted odds, moneyback specials, extra places, and generous signup deals as bookmakers compete for attention during the busiest betting week of the calendar.
Oddschecker gathers all the top Cheltenham free bet offers in one place, meaning you don’t need to check each bookmaker individually. Their Festival hub includes:
• Welcome offers
• Odds boosts
• Enhanced place specials
• Price promotions on feature races
• Always read the terms, especially minimum odds, expiry times, and wagering rules.
• Use multiple bookmakers so you can claim a wider range of promos across the week.
Even a small bit of planning can significantly boost your overall value during Cheltenham.
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