Last Updated on 09/03/2026 by Andy Clark
Virgin Bet are running a money-back offer for every day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Place a cash bet on the selected race each day, and if it loses, you’ll get your stake back as a free bet — up to £50, with the exact amount revealed when you log in to your account. Run it across all four days, and it’s a worthwhile cushion for the week.
Log in to your Virgin Bet account before placing to see your personal maximum free bet value — it varies between £1 and £50 per member.
Claim the Virgin Bet Cheltenham offer →
How the Offer Works
Each day of the Festival, Virgin Bet will refund your stake as a free bet if your qualifying bet loses. The selected race changes each day — it’s the 14:40 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the 14:00 on Thursday and Friday.
Step by step:
- Log in to your Virgin Bet account to see your personal free bet value (between £1–£50)
- Place a single cash bet on the selected race — win market only, no each-way bets
- The bet must be placed within 48 hours of the selected race
- If your bet loses, a free bet token is credited to your account within 24 hours (allow up to 48 hours)
- Use the free bet on any sportsbook market within 7 days
| Day | Date | Selected Race | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion Day | Tuesday 10th March | TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase | 14:40 |
| Ladies Day | Wednesday 11th March | Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle | 14:40 |
| St Patrick’s Thursday | Thursday 12th March | Pertemps Network Final | 14:00 |
| Gold Cup Day | Friday 13th March | Cheltenham Gold Cup | 14:00 |
Selected races confirmed at time of writing — check your Virgin Bet account for the confirmed race each day.
Visit Virgin Bet for Cheltenham 2026 →
Key Things to Know Before You Bet
Your free bet value is personal. Unlike most offers with a fixed amount, Virgin Bet’s daily refund varies per account — between £1 and £50. Log in before placing to see exactly what you’ll get back if your bet loses.
Win bets only. Each-way bets do not qualify. Place a straight win single on the selected race.
First qualifying bet only counts. Only your first cash bet on the selected race counts towards the offer. Don’t accidentally place a bet before checking your qualifying amount.
The free bet lasts 7 days. Unlike LiveScore Bet’s same-day restriction, Virgin Bet give you a full 7 days to use the free bet token — so there’s no rush to deploy it immediately.
It’s open to existing customers. This isn’t a sign-up offer. If you already have a Virgin Bet account, you’re eligible to run this every day of the Festival.
Cancelled or cashed-out bets don’t count. If you cash out your qualifying bet, you lose eligibility for the free bet that day.
Also running a daily free bet offer at Cheltenham: Betfred give all customers a £10 free bet each day and LiveScore Bet offer a £10 free bet each day on the opening race.
How to Get the Most From the Offer
Target a horse with each-way potential in the selected races. The 14:40 and 14:00 slots on each day tend to fall on the big handicaps and feature races — competitive fields where a longer-priced selection is easier to justify. If your qualifying bet lands, great. If not, you get your stake back to use elsewhere.
Use the free bet on a later race the same day. Once the selected race settles, you’ll have races still to come on the card. A free bet is best deployed on a selection where you have a genuine view — check our tips pages for each day before committing it.
For tips on every race at the Festival:
- Cheltenham Day 1 Tips — Champion Day, Tuesday 10th March
- Cheltenham Day 2 Tips — Ladies Day, Wednesday 11th March
- Cheltenham Day 3 Tips — St Patrick’s Thursday, 12th March
- Cheltenham Day 4 Tips — Gold Cup Day, Friday 13th March
Summary — Virgin Bet Daily Refund at Cheltenham 2026
| Day | Selected Race | Time | Max Free Bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion Day (Tue 10th) | TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase | 14:40 | Up to £50 |
| Ladies Day (Wed 11th) | Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle | 14:40 | Up to £50 |
| St Patrick’s Thursday (Thu 12th) | Pertemps Network Final | 14:00 | Up to £50 |
| Gold Cup Day (Fri 13th) | Cheltenham Gold Cup | 14:00 | Up to £50 |
Claim the Virgin Bet Cheltenham offer →
Free Bet amount revealed on log-in. 1st cash bet must be placed within 48hrs of selected race (main market, ex-ante post & specials). Win part e/w bet. Free Bet: use in 7 days on sports. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers.