Cheltenham Festival 2026 Results

The Cheltenham Festival turned a corner in 2026.  Following years of declining attendances the meeting saw a reverse in fortunes with 226,223 attending the over the four days, up from 218,093 in 2025.

In terms of the racing things were even more exciting.  More outsiders won than any time in the previous decade, which of course is good for the bookies but it also made for some exciting races to watch for the purists.  The battle between the Brits and the Irish was also closer than any time in the previous 8 years.  The Irish won 15-13 but it is far more competitive than in 2025 when the Irish won 20 out of 28 races.  Willie Mullins was top trainer again with 8 wins, that is the eighth Festival in a row he has done so, while his stable jockey Paul Townend was again top jockey with 4 wins, for the sixth time overall and for the fifth time in a row.

It may be too early to say that the meeting is back to where it was before Covid but given years of declining fortunes most are crossing fingers that this spells a new phase in the history of the Festival.  More people wanting to go and watch with more competitive racing and a tighter battle between UK and Ireland.  Below you can see all the results for the 2026 Festival.  To read more about the highlights, such as Willie Mullins and Paul Townend becoming record Gold Cup winners, then see our Cheltenham Festival 2026 review.

10th March 2026 – Day One (Champion Day)

Day one kicked off with an impressive performance from Old Park Star, which got favourite backers off to the perfect start.

He’s still an improving horse, and should summer well, and this looked a very strong renewal, so there’s plenty of hope that he can turn into a star of the future.

Nicky Henderson said chasing is more likely for him in the future, and that he’ll need more than two miles with time, so perhaps it’ll be the Arkle Chase next year, before a step up in trip the year after. It’s a route Henderson has followed with Jango Baie and Lulamba recently.

Kargese landed the Arkle, and it was a race where, to put it quite simply, jumping won the day. She was foot perfect, never missed a beat, while Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba in behind, both made mistakes throughout.

I think you can argue she’s the third best from those in terms of talent, but to win, you have to jump, and she did that on the day to take the prize.

The day one feature went to Lossiemouth, a late decision to run in the Champion Hurdle instead of the Mares’ Hurdle paid off, and she was a very impressive winner of the race.

Some will argue that she was in a substandard renewal, and that may be the case, but she was top class, a six and a half length winner, and that’s her fourth Cheltenham Festival win.

Two JP McManus runners won in handicap company, on his birthday too, as Saratoga took the Fred Winter and Johnnywho won the Ultima. The day ended with Madara winning the Plate and Holloway Queen taking the National Hunt Chase.

11th March 2026 – Day Two (Ladies Day)

The second day, and the second time that Willie Mullins had the winner of the feature race, this time with Il Etait Temps, as he landed the Champion Chase.

He deserves a ton of credit, especially how he’s reacted to the bad fall he suffered last time. Majborough came in as a heavy favourite, but his jumping failed him again, just like it did in the Arkle Chase last year. It’s back to the drawing board with him.

Willie Mullins was also responsible for the first two winners, having three on the day in total as he took the two Grade One novice contests.

King Rasko Grey was surprisingly sent off at 11/1 but came home nicely in the Turners Novice’s Hurdle for Paul Townend. 40 minutes later, it was Mullins again, but this time Harry Cobden, who led Kitzbuhel home ahead of Paul Townend, who was second on Final Demand.

The Mourne Rambler gave flat jockey Colin Keane a win in the Champion Bumper, he was excellent and smoothly cut through the field, clearing away to win by just under three lengths.

As for the handicaps on the day, Final Orders kept on best to win the Cross Country Chase, beating favourite Favori De Champdou into second place.

Nicky Henderson took the BetMGM Cup with Jingko Blue, and there was a shock in the Grand Annual, with 66/1 outsider Martator landing that contest.

12th March 2026 – Day Three (St. Patrick’s Day)

The biggest day three talking point was a horse that didn’t run, as Fact To File was withdrawn from the Ryanair Chase due to the quick ground, with both Willie Mullins and JP McManus criticising Cheltenham racecourse for their lack of watering.

That left last year’s second behind him, Heart Wood, to land the Ryanair in great style, romping home by 10 lengths.

Home By The Lee made it fifth time lucky for his Cheltenham visits to cause a shock in the Stayers Hurdle, beating the perhaps unlucky Ballyburn, who didn’t get a run.

Wodhooh made favourite backers happy as she landed the Mares’ Hurdle. She was much the best in that race.

Two big handicap talking horses both ran and won on Thursday, Supremely West landed the Pertemps Handicap Final, while Meetmebythesea took the Jack Richards.

Big-priced runners bookended the card: White Noise in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at 40/1 and Ask Brewster in the Kim Muir at 22/1.

13th March 2026 – Day Four (Gold Cup Day)

Gaelic Warrior put in a massive performance to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup in great style, coming over the final fence on the bridle.

He put to bed any doubts about his stamina, and, if anything, the additional trip here was a positive for him. He took off up the hill, and nothing was near him at the end.

Jango Baie was a distant second, and Inothewayurthinkin stayed on well to be third, looking much more like the horse we saw when winning this last year.

The final day began with a shock in the Triumph Hurdle, fresh after landing it with a 100/1 shot last year, Willie Mullins landed it with a 50/1 shot this year, as Apolon De Charnie took the race on debut for the yard.

Dinoblue was excellent in the Mares’ Chase, dominating the field, while Johnny’s Jury landed the Albert Bartlett for Jamie Snowden.

In one of the last races, Barton Snow took the Hunters Chase, and it could’ve been the ride of the week from Henry Crow, sitting tight until the last minute on a horse clearly reluctant to go forward.

The festival came to a close with the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, and Air Of Entitlement won that race for Henry de Bromhead, 12 months after she won the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.