Cheltenham Festival 2026: A Spectacular Return to Prestigious Racing
The Cheltenham Festival makes its highly anticipated return in 2026, promising another enthralling week of world-class horse racing. Over four exhilarating days, approximately a quarter of a million spectators are expected to descend upon Cheltenham Racecourse, with millions more tuning in via television broadcasts globally. The festival kicks off on Tuesday afternoon, featuring a packed schedule of seven races on the opening day alone, commencing at 1.30PM with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle: A Strong Field Contends
The 1.30PM Grade One race over 2 miles and 87 yards presents a formidable lineup. This year's renewal appears particularly robust, with leading Irish contenders Mighty Park, El Cairos, and Leader d'Allier all entering after securing maiden hurdle victories. According to official ratings, the benchmark is set by Old Park Star and Talk The Talk, with preference leaning toward the latter. Talk The Talk's Grade One triumph at the Dublin Racing Festival deserves recognition, as he made significant ground from the rear—a notable achievement. His performance would have included another Grade One victory at Christmas had he not fallen at the final hurdle.
The anticipated strong pace should benefit Mydaddypaddy, who finished as runner-up in the Grade One Formby Novices' Hurdle on Boxing Day. Trained by Dan Skelton, this runner is likely to travel powerfully into contention descending the hill. However, expectations are high for Talk The Talk to finish strongest.
- Selection: Talk The Talk... 7-2
- Main Danger: Old Park... 2-1
- Live Outsider: Mydaddypaddy... 17-2
Arkle Novices' Chase: Diverse Profiles Clash
At 2.10PM, the Grade One race over 2 miles features just six contenders, with three principal runners bringing distinct profiles. Lulamba has followed the familiar Nicky Henderson route, winning twice in novice company before stepping up to secure the Grade Two Game Spirit Chase. Henderson successfully employed this strategy with champions Sprinter Sacre and Altior prior to their Arkle victories.
Kopek Des Bordes, last year's Supreme Novices' winner, has not raced since an easy win in November, raising concerns about his readiness. It will be intriguing to observe how stablemate Kargese is ridden, as she set a strong gallop at the Dublin Racing Festival when narrowly defeated. Jax Junior and Steel Ally arrive with recent victories and proven stamina, positioning them to capitalise if the favourites falter in the closing stages.
- Selection: Lulamba... 13-8
- Main Danger: Kopek Des Bordes... 5-4
- Live Outsider: Steel Ally... 14-1
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle: Competitive Opening Handicap
The 2.40PM handicap over 2 miles and 87 yards is notoriously competitive, with owner JP McManus holding a strong hand through Saratoga, Mustang Du Breuil, and Manlaga. Manlaga arrived from France with a lofty reputation, making her narrow defeat on her UK debut somewhat disappointing for connections. She rebounded by winning the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle last month, defeating Pourquoi Pas Papa, The Mighty Celt, and Macktoad—all of whom reoppose. An opening handicap mark of 130 could prove lenient.
Ammes began his hurdling career brightly with two wins and was narrowly beaten by Triumph Hurdle contender Minella Study, now rated 139, in October. He appears attractively treated off 128. At longer odds, Harwa warrants attention after winning on his stable debut following two second-place finishes in France.
- Selection: Manlaga... 6-1
- Main Danger: Ammes... 8-1
- Live Outsider: Harwa... 22-1
Ultima Handicap Chase: Novice Chasers Excel
The 3.20PM race over 3 miles and 1 furlong sees novice chasers boasting an excellent record, having won seven of the last twelve renewals. Notably, Quebecois was given a fourth start over fences to qualify for this handicap, sponsored by part-owner Max McNeill. He was narrowly denied by a nose in the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase at the track in January and was unlikely suited by the drop back to two miles at Newbury last time. Having won over 3m½f over hurdles last season, this step-up in trip should play to his strengths, making him a major contender.
Dangers include Jagwar and Iroko for JP McManus, and it is worth noting that Hyland is fitted with first-time cheekpieces—an interesting move, as nine of the previous fourteen winners wore headgear.
- Selection: Quebecois... 10-1
- Main Danger: Jagwar... 4-1
- Live Outsider: Hyland... 11-1
Champion Hurdle: Lossiemouth's Long-Awaited Opportunity
At 4.00PM, the Grade One Champion Hurdle over 2 miles and 87 yards sees Lossiemouth finally get her chance after winning the Mares' Hurdle on the opening day for the past two seasons. Unbeaten in four starts at Cheltenham, including three Festival victories, she boasts an outstanding record of 13 wins from 17 career starts, nine at Grade One level. Trainer Willie Mullins has opted to fit first-time cheekpieces following her runner-up finish behind Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion Hurdle, aiming to help her travel more smoothly early on.
Brighterdaysahead, however, has questions to answer at Cheltenham after being beaten at odds of 5-6 and 5-2 in two track starts. A bigger threat may come from last season's Turners Novices' Hurdle winner The New Lion. Trained by Dan Skelton, this seven-year-old lost his unbeaten record when falling at the second last flight in the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle, where reigning champion Golden Ace beat the reopposing Anzadam. The New Lion bounced back with victory in the Grade Two Unibet Hurdle on Trials Day, with jockey Harry Skelton delivering a confidence-boosting ride from the rear.
Another late runner is Poniros, who won last season's Triumph Hurdle on his hurdling debut at 100-1. He finished behind Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth on reappearance after a 229-day break, but on ratings does not have much to find and could play a part if things fall his way late.
- Selection: Lossiemouth... 13-8
- Main Danger: The New Lion... 11-4
- Live Outsider: Poniros... 14-1
Plate Handicap Chase: Key Equipment Changes
The 4.40PM race over 2 miles, 4 furlongs, and 44 yards could see the reapplication of cheekpieces prove crucial for Madara. The Dan Skelton-trained seven-year-old was favourite for this contest last season but was sidelined for 378 days due to injury before reappearing at Wetherby in December. He then caught the eye finishing runner-up at Kempton in February. Both runs occurred without his regular headgear, and an improved performance is anticipated with cheekpieces reapplied at a track that suits him well.
O'Moore Park also commands respect after outrunning odds of 66-1 to finish third at the Festival last year off 140, now lining up off just a 1lb higher mark. Another contender is Jipcot, who should benefit from this drop back in trip after fading late when attempting to make all over three miles last time.
- Selection: Madara... 9-2
- Main Danger: O'Moore Park... 22-1
- Live Outsider: Jipcot... 18-1
National Hunt Novices' Chase: Stamina Test Concludes Day One
The 5.20PM race over 3 miles, 5 furlongs, and 201 yards features the Emmet Mullins-trained Backmersackme, who ran solidly when finishing second over 3m1f at the October meeting in a contest that has worked out well. He was inconvenienced by the start in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas but showed stamina when staying on strongly to win by a length over 2m5½f at the Dublin Racing Festival last time. A 10lb rise in weights will challenge him, but the step-up in trip should suit.
Newton Tornado appears the principal danger, representing trainer Rebecca Curtis, who won this race last year. He has won both starts over three miles. First-time cheekpieces had a dramatic effect on King Of Answers when he won at Kelso last month. Raised 10lbs for that success, he looks likely to benefit from the extra distance here.
- Selection: Backmersackme... 4-1
- Main Danger: Newton Tornado... 5-1
- Live Outsider: King Of Answers... 12-1
The Wizard of Odds: Trends and Insights by Chris Baker
For the 1.20PM Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, key trends indicate that ten of the last twelve winners won last time out, with seven justifying favouritism. Thirteen of the last seventeen winners came from the top three in the market, and twelve of the last thirteen returned a single-figure price. Many recent winners had Grade One success, often at Leopardstown, with nine of the last thirteen trained in Ireland and nine of the last twelve having an official rating of at least 150.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained Talk The Talk (NAP) ticks many boxes. If not for a stumble after jumping the last in front at Leopardstown in December, he would arrive as an unbeaten dual Grade One-winning hurdler. He gained compensation back at Leopardstown in February with an impressive success, an effort that can be upgraded given the ground he made up late. Biggest dangers include Old Park Star, an authoritative Haydock trial winner, and Mydaddypaddy, likely to bounce back after a below-par performance last time.
For the 3.20PM Ultima Handicap Chase, trends show 21 of the last 25 winners returned at 11-1 or shorter, 19 were novices or second-season chasers, 13 had run at the Cheltenham Festival before, 10 had run at Cheltenham that season, and there have been only two Irish-trained winners since 1967. This looks a good opportunity for Jagwar to return to winning ways after landing the Plate Handicap Chase last year. This seven-year-old matches key trends, with his last four starts at Cheltenham producing form figures of 1132. He was narrowly denied last time but pulled 10 lengths clear of the rest. Unproven beyond two-and-a-half miles, he has shaped as though he will relish this step up, with drying ground also in his favour.
Placepot Selections for Strategic Betting
Talk The Talk, Kopek Des Bordes, and The New Lion are strongly fancied to place in the Grade One contests and serve as reliable Placepot bankers. The handicaps are more open, but a couple at decent prices could make the frame.
- Race One: (11) Talk The Talk
- Race Two: (3) Kopek Des Bordes
- Race Three: (8) Manlaga, (7) Winston Junior, (12) Pourquoi Pas Papz
- Race Four: (4) Jagwar, (15) The Doyen Chief, (11) Imperial Saint
- Race Five: (4) The New Lion
- Race Six: (3) No Questions Asked, (10) Booster Bob
Combination: 1 x 1 x 3 x 3 x 1 x 2 = 18 lines.
