CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2026

Good evening all — we’re now less than two weeks away from the Cheltenham Festival, and the excitement is building fast.

Usually, we head into the four days with four or five short-priced “bankers” that have the bookies worried. This year feels a little more open, with a few question marks still hanging over final entries and which horses will run on which day.

Early signs suggest we’ll need to keep a close eye on the powerhouse combination of Willie Mullins, Paul Townend and owner JP McManus — although it’s not quite as straightforward as in previous years.

Here are a few early thoughts:

Day One – 10 March

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
OLD PARK STAR looks capable of landing the opener.

Arkle Trophy
A fascinating clash in prospect between LULAMBA and KOPEK DES BORDES.

Champion Hurdle
Plenty of twists and turns already:

THE NEW LION

BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD

LOSSIEMOUTH

News that Constitution Hill won’t run could be the right call for the horse. Hopefully we’ll see him thrive in a future Flat campaign.

Day Two – 11 March

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Forgive FINAL DEMAND’s last run — he looks a solid price.

Cross Country Chase
STUMPTOWN could be the one.

Champion Chase
Another race with shifting form lines. Mullins is likely to take this, but the key question is which horse Paul Townend chooses to ride.

We’re hoping IL ETAIT TEMPS lines up — a cracking each-way shout at around 8/1 for HOLLYWOOD. 

MAJBOROUGH (for JP McManus) heads the market, while MARINE NATIONALE is another major contender.

Day Three – 12 March

Ryanair (Novices/Mares division depending on entries)
BAMBINO FEVER has strong claims.

Mares’ Hurdle
If LOSSIEMOUTH goes here, she’ll have WODHOOH to beat.

Stayers’ Hurdle
TEAHUPOO looks capable of continuing his winning run.

Ryanair Chase
FACT TO FILE is likely to head this way, though GAELIC WARRIOR and the outstanding JONBON could also enter the picture.

Day Four – 13 March

Mares’ Chase
DINOBLUE looks the standout for JP.

DOCTOR STEINBERG’s target remains unclear, but he’s capable of picking up a race — possibly the Albert Bartlett.

Cheltenham Gold Cup 🏆
The big one. Competitive and wide open:

JANGO BAIE

GAELIC WARRIOR

THE JUKEBOX MAN

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS

I’m hoping Paul Townend sticks with GALOPIN DES CHAMPS — and at around 10/1 each-way, he makes plenty of appeal.

We’ll keep the updates coming as declarations become clearer.

Add your thoughts below — always good to hear different angles.

Good punting 👍

Dave,
Simply shocking decision not to run Con Hill in Champion Hurdle - he showed he was in great nick at Southwell and deserved the chance to regain his title.
He's nine years old now so who knows what impact he'll have on Flat racing. The one bright spark is that he may go for the Ebor at York in August and - if I'm still on the planet - I'll be there.
Not sure about Gold Cup, but at this stage leaning towards Jukebox Kid who is around 6-1.
Cheers, Molly

Nicky Henderson has described the decision to end  Constitution Hill's  career over jumps and concentrate solely on the Flat as "one of the hardest" of his 48-year training career, but one that has "lifted some of the weight off our shoulders".

One question Mr Scott, has any champion jumper previously gone on to be just as good on the flat 

Final fields declared today and we can start doing our early studying , not a fan of ante post so I have been waiting patiently 

One week to go and the roar of the crowd when the first gets underway is what us jumps followers wait for the whole year 

Craig Pienaar wrote:

One question Mr Scott, has any champion jumper previously gone on to be just as good on the flat 

Morning Craig 
To be honest not sure ?
Normally good  flat horses go to Hurdles and then jumps at 7/8/9 years but unusual to go the other way ?
We have many knowledgeable posters here , so maybe some can remember?

Cheers 🍻 Dave 
 

The  Cheltenham Festival  is looming and the composition of the fields will start becoming clearer when the opening-day confirmations land around midday on Wednesday. But there are still plenty of huge questions that need answering before jump racing's biggest four days next week

Last year's  Champion Chase  hero  Marine Nationale  has been ruled out of a defence of his crown next week by trainer Barry Connell after he was found to have a sore neck on Tuesday morning.

Champion Chase 

Majborough gone money on 
Il ETAIT TEMPS 4/1 

Both Mullins which one will Paul ride ? 🤔 

Notes as we await final fields 

Day one 

Old Park Star 
Kopek Des Bordes vs Lulamba 
The New Lion , Lossiemouth? Brighterdaysahead. In the Champion Hurdle. 

Day two 

Final Demand 
Stumptown 
Majborough vs IL ETAIT TEMPS in the Champion Chase 

Day three 

Bambino Fever 
Lossiemouth? Vs Wodhooh 
Teahupoo 
Fact to File vs Gaelic Warrior and possibly Jonbon 

Day four 

Dinoblue 
Doctor Steinberg 
Galopin Des Champs 

i have a few guinness already getting cold for day 1