The Cheltenham Festival is here for 2026, and I, for one, can’t wait. There are a few comments made about the quality this time around, but the Cheltenham buzz is back, and I, for one, can’t wait.
While we may lack the superstar attraction in a race or two, one thing this year’s festival doesn’t lack is competitive racing. I think this is the most competitive Cheltenham we’ve had for the past few years, from Champion Day to kick us off, all the way through to Gold Cup Day on Friday as a closer.
I’ve got all four days covered here, with selections for every day, hopefully finding you a few winners.
Day 1 – Tuesday 10th March
The Champion Hurdle headlines the opening day, and it’s received a big boost with the news that Lossiemouth will contest it. She’s always looked a likely type, and that 7lb mares allowance is going to give her a strong chance.
But I can’t leave The New Lion out of my picks, a horse I’ve been waiting for all year. Running over the minimum trip is not his strongest point, but this is the first time this season that he’ll get a true test and a strong gallop to aim at.
He’ll be staying on late, coming up the hill and bringing his stamina into play. I think you can forgive every run he’s had this season. They all turned into a sprint, which completely didn’t suit him.
This race will be run to suit him, and I think he can show his quality, albeit over a trip that I still don’t believe is his best, but there’s nothing over two and a half for him here.
Kicking off the day, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, I think El Cairos has become a very backable price after his drift, even from an each-way angle. He’s got a huge engine and all the potential in the world. There’s plenty more to come from him.
I think a few of these need a little further than this two-mile trip, and he could well have too much speed for some of his rivals. Now, each way price, he’s a great bet, and there’s likely to be a few places paying four places in this race too.
To round off day one, I think Kopek Des Bordes wins the Arkle Chase, a pretty substandard renewal not in quality, but in terms of how many of the main contenders are genuine two-mile chasers.
In the handicaps, Ammes catches the eye in the Fred Winter. He was behind a good horse at Wetherby, that form looks good, and he’s weighted nicely, coming here fresh after a spin on the flat recently.
I’ll take Konfusion at a price in the Ultima, and again at a price, Walking On Air in the National Hunt Chase.
Day 1 Tips
- Supreme – El Cairos (EW)
- Arkle – Kopek Des Bordes
- Fred Winter – Ammes (EW)
- Ultima – Konfusion (EW)
- NH Chase – Walking on Air (EW)
Day 2 – Wednesday 11th March
The Champion Chase headlines day two of the Cheltenham Festival, and all eyes will be on Majborough. One of the bankers of the meeting, for many, he is for me too. I think we saw the real Majborough last time out, much the best for Marine Nationale, and a repeat of that would see him dominate this field too.
He’s got his quirks, prone to a mistake here and there. I wouldn’t call him a superstar two-mile chaser, but I don’t think this is a vintage renewal. He should win and will no doubt prove to be popular with punters.
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle kicks off the day, and I think No Drama This End can give Paul Nicholls a superstar to look forward to next season. He’s got better with every run this year, has the right amount of experience, and is a natural at this trip. I don’t think that’s the case for many of his rivals.
This is the best chance Nicholls has had in a Cheltenham Grade One for a while, and I think he wins.
There’s plenty of big-name Irish challengers in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, but batting for the home team, Wendigo looks to have a good each-way chance and a rock-solid standard setter. There might be some better than him, but probably not three, so from an each-way chance, he looks the most sensible pick.
I think Favori De Champdou is a worthy favourite in the Cross Country Chase and should take plenty of beating. His run at this course last time was very impressive, up in the weights, but I’m not sure that’ll be enough to stop him.
Finally, in the Champion Bumper, Noel Meade doesn’t have many bumper types, but I really liked what The Mourne Rambler did on rules debut. I hope he runs here, and whatever he does, he’ll be a lot better with a fence in front of him.
Day 2 Tips
- Turners Novices’ Hurdle – No Drama This End
- Brown Advisory – Wendigo (EW)
- Cross Country – Favori De Champdou
- Champion Chase – Majborough
- Bumper – The Mourne Rambler (EW)
Day 3 – Thursday 12th March
My number one pick of the meeting runs on Thursday, when I think Fact To File is the most likely winner all week when he comes back to try and defend his Ryanair Chase title from last year.
I think this race is just the same as last year’s, and he was much the best when landing last year’s Ryanair. You could argue since then, he’s performed at an even higher level, his win last time out in the Irish Gold Cup was very impressive, with a whole host of top-quality horses behind him.
Swerving the Gold Cup for this, I think he’s the banker of the week.
A race early, the joint-headline for the day is the Stayers Hurdle, where I think Ballyburn is each way value against this field, especially if he remains double figure odds.
Back over hurdles, he was a nose off favourite here Teahupoo when they first met this season. Second time, much further behind, but Willie Mullins’ horses weren’t at their best then, and I’ll forgive him that run.
He can go well at what should be a decent each-way price.
With Fact To File being odds on, I think the double between him and Bambino Fever in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle to open the card will be popular, and it’s something I’ll be placing myself.
She won the bumper last year, and she’s another that was beaten when the Mullins horses weren’t at their best. I’ll forgive her that. Since then, she’s won without much trouble, and I think she remains a really nice prospect.
I like Regent’s Stroll for Paul Nicholls in the Jack Richards. I think he’s got a very similar profile to Cadwell Potter, who won this race for the Nicholls team last year.
Day 3 Tips
- Mares Novices’ – Bambino Fever
- Jack Richards – Regent’s Stroll
- Stayers Hurdle – Ballyburn (EW)
- Ryanair Chase – Fact to File
Day 4 – Friday 13th March
Gold Cup day, and I think this is the most wide-open Cheltenham Gold Cup we’ve seen for many years. It promises to be a cracker, both on the track and from a betting point of view.
My pick is Haiti Couleurs for the Rebecca Curtis team. I think when you look down the likely winners here, he’s the only one where you can be certain that he will really relish the trip on offer here.
Others will get it, only just, I’m hoping he’s storming up the hill at the end, going back tiring runners, and does enough to at least place, if not better.
Whatever you pick in the Gold Cup, I think every runner has a question mark against them for something, and that’s what is making this a fascinating renewal.
Elsewhere, to kick us off with the Triumph Hurdle opener, I think Maestro Conti has a great chance for Dan Skelton. He’s perfect so far, has improved every time, and has won over course and distance.
Should Ammes go well in the Fred Winter on day one, an earlier tip of mine, then his form ties in strongly with Minella Study in the Triumph.
I like Panic Attack in the Mares Chase, she’s a win bet for now, but if she drifts any further, becomes a great each way bet, with essentially money back or small profit, if she places.
She’s gone from strength to strength this year for Dan Skelton and looks in the form of her life right now.
For two final darts after the Gold Cup, Panda Boy in the Hunter Chase and Air Of Entitlement in the Martin Pipe should both give a run for your money at each-way prices.
Day 4 Tips
- Triumph – Maestro Conti
- Mares Chase – Panic Attack
- Gold Cup – Haiti Couleurs (EW)
- Hunter Chase – Panda Boy (EW)
- Martin Pipe – Air of Entitlement (EW)
As always, enjoy the greatest horse racing week of the year, and be lucky.