Bet365 go Non Runner No Bet on all 28 2023 Cheltenham Festival Races!

With Trials Day behind us and the Dublin Racing Festival looming on the horizon, National Hunt racing fans are licking their lips at the prospect of some thrilling racing over the next weeks and months. The main event of the season is of course the Cheltenham Festival and today bookmaker bet365 have gone non-runner-no-bet on all 28 races at this year's extravaganza of jumps racing!

One of the perils of ante-post punting is of course the dreaded news that your long term selection for a big prize is ruled out of the race. Be it through injury, a poor performance on track or simply the horse being redirected for another big race at Cheltenham, the blow always stings. With the innovation of long term NRNB markets, bookmakers have taken the jeopardy away for bettors, so that unless your selection lines up for the race you have backed them for, you will get your stake back.

This is a great opportunity for shrewd horse racing fans to back their Cheltenham Festival Tips in advance in the hope to catch a bigger price than will be available on the day. Bet365 are of course one of the biggest names in betting and horse racing, so to see the firm offering both standard ante-post markets (where the runners are of course a bigger price) or NRNB (with the safety net of a void bet if the horse doesn't turn up), is welcome news. There are plenty of horses right now who look like they will have a cracking chance at Cheltenham glory wherever they line up but their target is still up for debate or unknown to connections.

Willie Mullins is a short priced favourite to be top trainer once again at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and it is punters looking to back his runners who will be most pleased to see bet365 offering non-runner-no-bet. Arguably the most famous switch-a-roo of all time was pulled by Mullins with Vautour back in 2016, after connections promised all season it would be the Cheltenham Gold Cup or bust for the star chaser until the eleventh hour when he was aimed at the Ryanair, which he won as he liked. 

Some horses this year who look ripe for an NRNB bet include star mare Honeysuckle, who connections have confirmed is just as likely to attempt to defend her Champion Hurdle crown against new kid on the block Constitution Hill as she is to attempt to win the Mares' Hurdle once again after claiming that race in thrilling fashion from Benie Des Dieux back in 2020. Other horses with plans very much up in the air, especially this week prior to the Dublin Racing Festival, include Appreciate It who could run in either the Arkle or the Turners. Sir Gerhard is another talented Mullins novice chaser who looks destined for either the Turners or Brown Advisory, so if punters have a sneaky suspicion which direction he will head in but don't want to do their money if he goes elsewhere, this concession is perfect.

In the handicaps there could be even more value to be had if keen bettors have heard whispers of a potential plot for a horse with an unconfirmed target, or just think a certain handicapper suits a certain race over another. The prices will of course be shorter than backing any runners all in, but could still be considerably bigger in the NRNB markets a month or more prior than any firm will be offering on the day.

One thing is for sure, after scanning the markets and seeing the range of markets available on bet365 for the Cheltenham Festival, we really cannot wait for the big week in March!