The countdown to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival has begun. From 10th to 13th March, all eyes will firmly be on the Cheltenham Festival for four days that define the National Hunt season.
The Cheltenham Festival is a meeting like no other. It’s where legacies are made. Stars old and new will look to be the first up the famous hill and past the post. Led by the best trainers, it’s four days of the highest-class National Hunt racing, and it’s all anyone can talk about in the lead-up to the first race.
For Irish racing fans in particular, this week carries enormous weight. Irish trainers have dominated recent renewals, regularly returning home with the Prestbury Cup secured.
With powerhouse operations led by Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott once again assembling deep squads for 2026, anticipation is building around which horses will come out on top.
Cheltenham is a unique test where only the true warriors will be victorious. So, who will be the star of the show in 2026? And which horses might just spring a surprise? Let’s go through the major races set to take place next week.
Check out the odds on the 2026 Cheltenham Festival right here.
Champion Day race schedule – 10th March
The Cheltenham Festival opens with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, where the famous roar from the crowd helps to kick-start the racing in style, getting everyone pumped for the day ahead.
All the talk is around Nicky Henderson’s Old Park Star, who heads to the Supreme 3-3. Although this is his first time at this level, there’s optimism that Old Park Star is, in fact, a superstar in the making.
This strong traveller and neat jumper has a similar RPR to when Constitution Hill ran riot in this race – and he’s very much the one to beat.
Joseph O’Brien’s Talk The Talk is Ireland’s best hope, and his trainer has been quoted as saying that he’s “the best young jumping horse he has ever trained” – a bold statement indeed.
The Arkle Challenge Trophy, run over two miles for novice chasers, is led by Willie Mullins’ Kopek Des Bordes. The previous course and distance winner is the clear favourite to come out on top, though he will have competition from Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba, who heads into the Festival having won four on the bounce.
The Irish dominate the top of the market, with Mullins also entering Kargese and Kappa Jy Pyke, while Gordon Elliott will fancy his chances of a mini upset with Romeo Coolio.
His seven-year-old is unbeaten this season, but whether or not he can unsettle the Irish raiders at the top of the marker is an entirely different task from the ones he has faced.
The main event of the day is the Champion Hurdle. Dan Skelton’s The New Lion is the favourite, having won both trips to Cheltenham to date, including the Turners Novices’ Hurdle last year.
Elliott will once again be hoping to prove that the market is wrong. He enters Brighterdaysahead, who beat Lossiemouth only last month at Leopardstown. Mullins’ runner has been declared for the race but is also entered in the Turners, and a late call will be made as to where the seven-year-old runs.
Mullins does also have Poniros in the field, but although a previous course winner, the five-year-old would have to deliver one of his best performances of all time to beat those at the front of the market.
Take a look at the Cheltenham odds at Tonybet.
Ladies Day race schedule – 11th March
Next up is Ladies Day, which combines fashion with ferocious competition on the track, and the 2026 card features several races where Irish runners are expected to play a leading role.
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle, often a stepping stone to future championship races, is likely to attract improving middle-distance novices from both sides of the Irish Sea. Horses that have shown strong finishing efforts at Leopardstown or Punchestown through the winter often translate that form well to Cheltenham’s stiff finish.
However, despite their best efforts, the Irish will have to beat a British horse in order to claim the prize. Paul Nicholls’ No Drama This End, who won convincingly at Cheltenham back in November, is the market favourite.
Willie Mullins’ Mighty Park is a close second favourite despite only having had two runs to date, though he did win at Fairyhouse over 2m by 38 lengths.
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase follows, where once again Mullins is leading the market – this time with Final Demand. Although he only finished third when favourite in the Turners last year, the seven-year-old has dominated three of his four races since and has come back fitter and stronger than he was 12 months ago.
If Final Demand is to fall short, there’s a possibility that Henry de Bromhead’s The Big Westerner will be waiting to pick up the pieces. Second in the Albert Bartlett last term, this powerful seven-year-old has shown what it takes to go one better over in Ireland this season.
The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle – now sponsored by BetMGM – is one of the most competitive handicaps of the week. Previous renewals have demonstrated how important course form can be. Horses that have already shown that they can cope with Cheltenham’s gradients frequently outperform their handicap marks.
Irish trainers have traditionally targeted this race, plotting campaigns carefully to arrive well weighted and peaking in March. This time around, Mullins sends Storm Heart after finishing fifth in the Triumph Hurdle last year. He’s the one to beat according to the market.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature race on Wednesday, and once again, day two is all about Mullins. Majborough is the clear favourite to win despite losing the Arkle last year when odds-on. However, form over in Ireland since has been next level, and Mullins has stated that this is one of his more confident horses of the week.
St. Patrick’s Thursday – 12th March
St. Patrick’s Thursday carries a unique atmosphere each and every year, particularly when Irish-trained runners dominate the betting markets. The Ryanair Chase often attracts high-class horses stepping slightly away from Gold Cup distances, and previous Cheltenham winners frequently return to contest this intermediate championship.
However, we start with the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, where, to no one’s surprise by now, Mullins has two horses at the top of the market. Selma De Vary will be a popular punt, but it may well be worth looking at Adam Nicol’s Minella Study.
An emphatic course winner back in December, this four-year-old is 3-3 this season and has been well supported in the build-up to this race. If you want to take on Mullins, this could be the race to do it in.
Over in the Mares’ Chase, yes, you’ve guessed it, Mullins has another favourite. Dinoblue leads the field after comfortably winning this race by over eight lengths last season. She’s been targeted to keep hold of her crown once more.
However, Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack can give her a scare. Three for three this year, including an impressive win at Cheltenham, she also has experience on her side, which could see her get close to the market principle.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Day – 13th March
Gold Cup Day is – and always will be – the most talked-about day of the Festival.
Opening with the JCB Triumph Hurdle, Dan Skelton’s Maestro Conti is the only previous course winner in the field ready to serve it up to the Irish raiders. The four-year-old has been targeted for this race for quite some time, and may be a clever pick away from the usual Mullins contenders.
The Albert Bartlett is one of the main attractions on the final day. Paul Nolan’s Thedeviluno has been very well supported in recent weeks. Two impressive runs at Gowran Park and Doncaster as recently as January saw many punters place ante-post bets on this seven-year-old, hoping to beat yet another Mullins favourite, Doctor Steinberg, who has been rather formidable in the build-up to the Festival.
However, let’s now jump straight to the feature race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is always the show stopper and why the day is the first to sell out.
This time around, Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie is a popular bet. Jango Baie’s class and tactical versatility make him one of the strongest horses in the field, and his staying power could be what sees him get his head in front as the post arrives.
Having won the Arkle last year, Jango Baie showed that he had the stamina that’s required for the Blue Riband of Jumps Racing when staying on to finish a close fourth in the 1965 Chase at Ascot.
Henderson clearly believes that he has a chance of winning a third Gold Cup – and that could well be with Jango Baie.
Stand-out races and key contenders
Several races across the Cheltenham Festival look set to shape the story of the week.
The Champion Hurdle on Tuesday is one of the most anticipated contests, and Dan Skelton’s The New Lion arrives with a perfect Cheltenham record. He certainly has the profile of a horse built for the occasion. However, do keep an eye on Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead, who cannot be ignored after her impressive Leopardstown win earlier this year.
Wednesday’s feature, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, centres on Willie Mullins’ Majborough. After falling short last year at the Festival, his performances in Ireland this season suggest that he could return to Cheltenham ready to deliver on that early promise. Banker of the week? He is for some.
Everything then builds to Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup where Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie looks a leading contender after side-stepping Newbury to focus on this race. He’s proven to handle Cheltenham’s demanding finish, and so he could add his name to the Festival’s most prestigious honour roll.
Keep up to date with Tonybet
As the 2026 Cheltenham Festival approaches, markets will continue to shift right up until flag fall, and no doubt there will be a fair few shock results along the way. However, the Irish head to Cheltenham looking to dominate once more – and there are plenty of strong horses from various yards ready to scoop the biggest prizes of all.
If you’re looking to bet on the Cheltenham Festival, Tonybet has each and every race covered with competitive odds throughout the week. Look out for extra places and promotions that you won’t find anywhere else.
Keep up to date with the odds for the Cheltenham Festival here.
