Cheltenham Gold Cup: Cheltenham Festival RaceCheltenham, UNITED KINGDOM: Racegoers follow the action on the final day the annual Cheltenham Race Festival at Cheltenham race course, in Gloucestershire, west of England, 16 March 2007. (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most prestigious Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase , and the highlight of the Cheltenham Festival. Apart from the Grand National, no other horserace in Great Britain attracts such interest from punters and fans alike.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase run on the new course at Prestbury Park. The race is traditionally run as the third race of the last day of the festival, and sees racehorses taking on a 3-mile, 2½ furlong course featuring 22 fences.

Unlike the Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is not a handicap race, which means form horses are not weighted down to level the field. This means that the horses that win at Cheltenham are not always entered into the Grand National, as trainers may choose to specialise their horses for the event.

The absence of handicaps also has an important influence on the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting markets, where Cheltenham Gold Cup odds are frequently far lower than for handicap events such as the Grand National. It is somewhat easier to pick a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, however the Cheltenham Gold Cup odds are shorter than the Grand National odds.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the betting highlight of the Cheltenham Festival, and millions are placed on the race.

Cheltenham Gold Cup betting is a favourite with punters as the race is less of a lottery than the Grand National.

When placing bets on the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Cheltenham Festival race, it is worth taking into account the fact that the race is long, and that the 22 fence course can only be conquered by the best of jumpers. Horses that win the Cheltenham Gold Cup tend to have decent records over long distances, and reputations as stayers.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup betting markets are a good indication of the prospects of the racehorses competing in the event. Although horses with long odds have won the race, expect the winner to emerge from amongst the favourites.

At present the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting favourite is 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star to take a second consecutive win in 2008. Other Cheltenham Gold Cup, Cheltenham Festival race, favourites include Denman and Exotic Dancer.

For live horse race betting and daily special offers we recommend William Hill.