Fitzdares are marking the start of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival with a special free bet offer, giving punters their stake back in Cheltenham free bets should their selection fail to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday.
The Supreme is the traditional curtain-raiser of every Festival, and the Fitzdares Cheltenham offer allows customers to place a bet on the race, safe in their knowledge they will receive a free bet refund of up to £20 if their bet is marked as a loss.
With the first race fast approaching, The Independent have compiled a guide to the Fitzdares Cheltenham betting offer, unpacking its key terms and how to access it.
What is the Fitzdares Cheltenham offer?
The Fitzdares Cheltenham offer is a money-back special, with bettors entitled to a £20 refund in free bets on the opening race of the festival.
Eligible Fitzdares customers will be able to access the race simply by opting in to the offers under the bonus section. Here is a quick rundown of how to claim the offer:
- Step 1: Opt in for the Fitzdares Cheltenham betting offer.
- Step 2: Place a qualifying bet of at least £20 before the start of the first race (13:20) on 10/03/26.
- Step 3: If the qualifying bet settles as a loss, Fitzdares will credit punters with a £20 free bet to use on Cheltenham.
It is important that potential participants are aware that they stake £20 as a qualifying wager. Any less and they will not qualify for a free bet refund from Fitzdares, who have capped this offer at £20.
How do the Fitzdares free bets work?
If your horse doesn’t win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, you will be credited with a £20 free bet. This bet is valid for 24 hours and can only be used as a single wager on another race at Cheltenham Festival.
Free bets with Fitzdares can not be withdrawn as cash and the stake of the free bet is not returned with winnings. Free bets can’t be split and must be used for one bet.
Key terms and conditions
Below is a list of the essential terms for the Fitzdares Cheltenham offer:
- Only singles qualify. Each-way bets do not qualify for the offer.
- A qualifying bet must be placed between 09:00 on 08/03/2026 and the scheduled off-time of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (13.20).
- Minimum stake £/€20 to qualify for this offer.
- Only pre-race bets will qualify.
- If you have multiple qualifying bets, only the first settled qualifying bet will be considered for this offer. In case the bet is settled as a win, no free bet will be credited.
- This offer is only available for fully verified and active Fitzdares members who are eligible for offers and have opted in.
- This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Fitzdares promotions.
Responsible Gambling
Bettors should always gamble responsibly, especially during the Cheltenham Festival, with a number of offers and betting markets widely available.
If you’re planning on using Fitzdares for any Cheltenham betting, you should remember to always stick to a budget and never exceed it.
Never chase your losses. Always remain in control of your time and budget.
Bettors should use responsible gambling tools provided by gambling sites, such as deposit limits, loss limits and self-exclusion, among others.
These safer gambling principles should apply whether you are using online bookmakers, casino sites, bingo sites, or any other gambling medium.
In the UK, there are a number of gambling addiction charities ready and prepared to help you with counselling, support groups and practical advice on how to help you recover if you do lose control:
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