The Master Guide to Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Extra Places

When navigating the fiercely competitive handicaps and Grade 1 contests of the Cheltenham Festival's final day, the "each-way" market is often a punter's best friend. Bookmakers use enhanced place terms to attract business, and understanding how to leverage these can be the difference between a profitable afternoon and a frustrating one.

The Bookmaker Breakdown

Across the board, the three major players—Sky Bet, Betfair, and Paddy Power—are offering significant enhancements on standard place terms.

• Sky Bet: They are arguably the most aggressive firm for each-way bettors on Friday. They are paying an exceptional 6 places in both the County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe , provided 16 or more runners take part. Crucially, they are also paying an extra place (4 places instead of 3) in the Gold Cup itself if 8 or more runners start.
• Betfair: A brilliant option for the handicaps, Betfair is paying 6 places in the County Hurdle and 5 places in the Martin Pipe. They are also offering 4 places in the Triumph Hurdle , Albert Bartlett , and Hunters' Chase.
• Paddy Power: Matching their rivals closely, Paddy Power is paying 6 places in the County Hurdle and 5 places in the Martin Pipe , while offering 4 places in the Triumph Hurdle , Albert Bartlett , and Hunters' Chase.

The Strategy

The optimal way to play these enhanced terms is to look past the top of the betting forecast. If a bookmaker is paying 5 or 6 places, backing a horse at 16/1 or 20/1 ensures a handsome profit even if they only manage to scrape into the frame.

 

Looking for the best Cheltenham betting offers?

Head to our Free Bets Hub for the latest offers from our bookmaker partners. Whether you want a Bet and Get offer of an enhanced price on today's headline runners, you can find the latest offers right here on Sporting Life.

SAFER GAMBLING NOTICE

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.