Betting Guides

The final day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival has arrived. Day 4 is the biggest date on the racing calendar, headlined by the Cheltenham Gold Cup at 16:00. If you are looking to place a bet on the “Blue Riband” of National Hunt racing, Paddy Power has refreshed its offers to help you finish the festival on a high.

Here is everything you need to know about the Paddy Power promotions for Friday, 13 March 2026.

Offer 1: Bet £5 get £30 in free bets

Paddy Power sports sign up offer, bet 5, get 30
Claim £30 in free bets

The Paddy Power sign up offer is £30 in free bets for new customers who sign up and place a qualifying wager on the final day of action. The Gold Cup at 16:00 is the main event, and this offer is a great way to back your favourite in the race.

To be eligible for this offer, you must sign up for a new Paddy Power account and follow these steps:

  1. Sign up for a new account using the current promo code on the landing page.
  2. Deposit a minimum of £5.
  3. Place a £5 stake on any Day 4 race (like the Gold Cup) with odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater.

Once your qualifying bet is settled, you will receive £30 in free bets. Just like the earlier festival offers, this bonus allowance can be used on any sport for 30 days. You don’t have to use it all in one go, allowing you to spread the balance out across the final races of the day or even the weekend’s football.

Who will win the 2026 Gold Cup? (16:00)

According to the latest from the Paddy Power blog, this year’s renewal is one of the most competitive in years.

  • Gaelic Warrior: The sole runner for the Willie Mullins yard. His raw power makes him a dangerous contender if he handles the stamina test.
  • Inothewayurthinkin: Last year’s winner returns to defend the crown. While his form has been hit-and-miss lately, he is a huge favourite at Prestbury Park.
  • The Jukebox Man: The King George hero is a massive threat and arguably the most consistent runner in the field.

Gold Cup day is famous for massive fields and tough-to-predict handicaps. To give you a better chance of a return, Paddy Power is paying Extra Places on five of the seven races today, including the County Hurdle (14:00) and the Martin Pipe (17:20).

Day 4 Schedule & Times (Friday, 13 March 2026)

TimeRaceThe One to Watch
13:20JCB Triumph HurdleSir Gino
14:00County Handicap HurdleExtra Places apply
14:40Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ ChaseGrade 2 Action
15:20Albert Bartlett Novices’ HurdleGrade 1
16:00Boodles Cheltenham Gold CupThe Big One
16:40Open Hunters’ ChaseAmateurs’ Event
17:20Martin Pipe Handicap HurdleThe Finale
Ground Report: The going is currently good, good to soft (in places). With a sunny forecast for the afternoon, the ground should be good for the Gold Cup.

Offer 2: Bet £10 get £50 in football bet builders

paddy power football sign up offer get 50 in bet builder bets

If you’re planning to switch from the races to the weekend’s football once the action at Cheltenham wraps up, this is the better value play. Here’s how the bonus works:

  • Register and deposit £10.
  • Place a £10 bet on any football market (odds 1/2 or higher).

You’ll get £50 in Bet Builder bets. Since these are valid for 90 days, many UK punters are using their Gold Cup winnings to set up their football bets for the rest of the month.

Claim £50 in bet builder bets

Paddy Power existing customer offer: £250,000 Cheltenham Eliminator (Free to Play)

Paddy is giving away a massive £250,000 daily top prize for Gold Cup day. This is a free-to-play game available to both new and existing customers. You just need to get through the six rounds of predictions to claim a share of the quarter-million-pound pot.