Bet365 and Sky Bet go Non-Runner No Bet for all 28 Cheltenham Festival races

The revelations on Monday that Thistlecrack and Death Duty will miss the Cheltenham Festival reminded all punters how precarious National Hunt racing can be.

On the back of the news, however, both Bet 365 and Sky Bet announced that they will be Non-Runner No Bet for all 28 races at the Festival, which starts on March 13.

Punters will now get the money back concession on every ante-post Cheltenham wager with both firms, including multiples.

"Into the New Year and, if they weren't already, all eyes are now looking towards the Cheltenham Festival in March so seeing as we're already betting on all races at the meeting, we've decided to add the non-runner, no bet offer too,” Sky Bet's Michael Shinners said.

"The Cheltenham Festival continues to grow and grow as National Hunt racing's jewel in the crown and punters have never had it so good!"

Last week Bet 365, Betfair and Paddy Power all went Non-Runner No Bet for the five Championship races; the Unibet Champion Hurdle, the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Sun Bets Stayers Hurdle, Ryanair Chase and the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Bet 365 have bowed to pressure from their customers, however.

"We went Non-Runner No Bet on the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase and Stayers last week but have since had many requests to do so on other races as well," the firm's Patrick Cooney said.

"So we decided to offer on them all! It;s a month earlier than usual for us, but we're more than happy to go from now."