The announcement comes as anticipation builds for the prestigious National Hunt event, scheduled to begin on 11 March.
Key points:
- Non-Runner No Bet offer applies to all five Cheltenham Festival championship races, providing security for ante-post bettors
- The 2025 Festival features 28 races across four days, including 14 Grade 1 events
- Key championship races include the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase, Stayers' Hurdle and Gold Cup
Operator bet365 has confirmed the implementation of Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) for all five championship races at the upcoming 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
The NRNB offer provides additional security for ante-post bettors, ensuring stake returns if selected horses do not participate in their intended races.
This protection applies to the festival's premier events: the Champion Hurdle (Tuesday), Champion Chase (Wednesday), Ryanair Chase (Thursday), Stayers' Hurdle (Thursday) and Gold Cup (Friday).
Bet365's trading representative Pat Cooney highlighted the popularity of NRNB among ante-post bettors, stating: “The countdown to the Cheltenham Festival is now well and truly underway following this news. It’s always a popular choice for ante-post backers to have a money back option if you do back a non-runner once the offer applies to each race.
Good to know: The timing of this announcement is particularly significant for those considering backing Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle, where the Nicky Henderson-trained horse is expected to start as favourite
“The Ryanair Chase is probably the race that will attract the most fresh opinions now we are NRNB, with many of the high-profile entries having other targets. The likes of Gaelic Warrior and Banbridge look like a couple of NRNB types to consider. All told, it’s positive news for the Festival.”
The announcement follows a strong financial performance from bet365, which recently reported a 9% increase in turnover to £3.72bn for the fiscal year 2024, with notable improvements in profitability across both sports betting and gaming operations.
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