Cheltenham Festival 2026: Tips, Predictions & Race-by-Race Guide

Two weeks out. The entries are in. The declarations are looming. And no matter how many times you tell yourself you won't get drawn into ante-post betting, here you are again.

Welcome to Cheltenham 2026.

This year's Festival runs from Tuesday 10th March to Friday 13th March and it shapes up as one of the most open, dramatic, and genuinely unpredictable renewals in years. There is no odds-on favourite for any of the five championship races. Constitution Hill might not even run. The defending Gold Cup champion can barely complete a race. And Willie Mullins has entered 87 horses.

Let's break it all down.

The Schedule: What's Changed for 2026

Before we get into the horses, a quick note on schedule changes. The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle has moved from Day 1 (Tuesday) to Day 3 (Thursday), creating a monster triple Grade 1 header on St Patrick's Thursday alongside the Stayers' Hurdle and Ryanair Chase. The Ryanair itself shifts to a 4pm slot.

Here's how the big four days break down:

Day 1 - Champion Day (Tue 10 March): Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Arkle Chase, Champion Hurdle
Day 2 - Ladies Day (Wed 11 March): Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, Queen Mother Champion Chase
Day 3 - St Patrick's Thursday (Thu 12 March): Stayers' Hurdle, Ryanair Chase, Mares' Hurdle
Day 4 - Gold Cup Day (Fri 13 March): Triumph Hurdle, Cheltenham Gold Cup

Champion Hurdle 2026 Tips (Tuesday)

Where do you even start with this one?

Remember last year? Constitution Hill fell. State Man fell at the last when the race was at his mercy. And 25/1 shot Golden Ace picked up the pieces. This year's renewal is just as chaotic, but for entirely different reasons.

Sir Gino, the horse many fancied as the likely winner, suffered a season-ending pelvic injury on Cheltenham Trials Day. That's blown the whole thing wide open.

The New Lion (5/2) - The Form Pick

Dan Skelton's star has been faultless this season. Three from three over hurdles, including an impressive victory in the Unibet Hurdle on Cheltenham Trials Day - the very race where Sir Gino got injured. Skelton himself says the horse has "a full armoury that makes him good enough to win a Champion Hurdle." This is the trainer's biggest-ever Festival hope, and on form, he's the one to beat.

Brighterdaysahead (3/1) - The Irish Raider

Gordon Elliott's mare won the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, beating Lossiemouth decisively. She's clearly top class. But here's the nagging doubt: she ran in last year's Champion Hurdle at 5/2 and finished a flat fourth - last of those who completed - when the race fell apart around her. If you can't capitalise when your two main rivals fall, when can you? She needs to prove Cheltenham brings out her best, not her worst.

Constitution Hill (5/1) - The Wildcard

And then there's him.

Constitution Hill won the 2023 Champion Hurdle by nine lengths. He was rated 175 over hurdles. People genuinely debated whether he was the best hurdler ever trained. And then... he fell. And fell again. And fell again. Three falls in his last four starts.

Nicky Henderson tried something radical: he ran the horse on the Flat at Southwell on February 20th, purely to rebuild his confidence without jumps to worry about. He won by 9.5 lengths. But Henderson says it's "50-50" whether he even lines up at Cheltenham.

If he runs and stays on his feet, he could still be devastating. If he falls again, it's probably the end. Either way, it's the most compelling storyline at the Festival.

Our lean: The New Lion. The form is rock solid, the course form is there, and Skelton has him in peak condition. Brighterdaysahead is the danger but needs to answer the Cheltenham question.

Queen Mother Champion Chase 2026 Tips (Wednesday)

This might be the best race of the week.

Majborough (13/8) - The Demolition Man

Willie Mullins' seven-year-old destroyed the field by 19 lengths in the Dublin Chase at the DRF. Nineteen lengths. In a Grade 1. That's not winning, that's humiliation. He's the clear market leader and on that evidence alone, he should be unbeatable.

Marine Nationale (5/2) - The Cheltenham Horse

But here's the thing about Marine Nationale: he's a different animal at Cheltenham. He won the 2023 Supreme. He won the 2025 Champion Chase by 18 lengths. His Festival record is a perfect two from two. In Ireland he can look ordinary. At Prestbury Park, he transforms. If any horse can reverse that Dublin form, it's him.

Our lean: Majborough on the raw form, but Marine Nationale at the prices. His Cheltenham record demands respect and 5/2 is a fair price given what he's done at the track.

Stayers' Hurdle 2026 Tips (Thursday)

Teahupoo (7/4) - The Comeback King

Gordon Elliott's star won this race in 2024, finished second in 2025, and has been absolutely electric this season. He won the Hatton's Grace, won the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, and comes here with three wins in a row. At his best over three miles, Teahupoo is a machine. The concern? He was beaten here last year when it mattered most. But the form this season says he's better than ever.

The Challengers

Bob Olinger (12/1) is the defending champion but has questions to answer about his form this season. Ballyburn (5/1) is an exciting Mullins prospect emerging as a serious player, and Honesty Policy (4/1) gives Mullins another strong hand.

Our lean: Teahupoo. Three wins in a row, proven in this race, and his trainer is having a belting season. He's short in the betting but for good reason.

The Ryanair Chase 2026 Tips (Thursday)

This race is impossible to assess properly until one question gets answered.

Where Does Fact To File Run?

This is the biggest tactical decision of the entire Festival. Fact To File won the Ryanair in 2025. He then destroyed the field in the Irish Gold Cup. He's currently only entered in the Ryanair - but JP McManus and Willie Mullins are considering supplementing him into the Gold Cup at a cost of £25,000.

If he stays in the Ryanair, he's a clear favourite at around 2/1. If he goes to the Gold Cup, the Ryanair opens right up for Gaelic Warrior (who beat Fact To File in the John Durkan earlier this season) or potentially Jonbon from the Henderson yard.

We need to wait for this one. The decision reshapes two races.

Cheltenham Gold Cup 2026 Tips (Friday)

The big one. And genuinely, this is the most competitive Gold Cup in years. Six horses between 4/1 and 10/1. No clear standout. Absolute minefield.

Fact To File (4/1) - If He's Supplemented

The Irish Gold Cup was devastating. If McManus pays the £25,000 supplement fee, he instantly becomes favourite. He's young, he's improving, and that Leopardstown performance was Gold Cup quality. The unknown: he's never raced beyond 2m4f at Cheltenham. The Gold Cup demands stamina over 3m2f on a stiff, undulating track.

Jango Baie (7/1) - The British Hope

Nicky Henderson's exciting youngster won the Arkle in extraordinary fashion last year as a novice. He was a close fourth in the King George over Christmas. Henderson is seeking a third Gold Cup win (after Long Run in 2011 and Bobs Worth in 2013) and Jango Baie could deliver it. He's still unexposed over this trip and has plenty of improvement in him.

The Jukebox Man (8/1) - The King George Winner

Paul Nicholls won the King George with this horse and should be better suited to Cheltenham's stiffer, hillier test than Kempton's flat track. A solid each-way contender at the prices.

Galopin Des Champs (8/1) - One Last Dance?

This is the emotional pick. The dual Gold Cup winner in 2023 and 2024, denied a historic hat-trick by Inothewayurthinkin last year. He's 10 years old now and finished third in the Irish Gold Cup behind two younger stablemates. The form says his best days are behind him.

But Cheltenham has always brought out the best in this horse. A third Gold Cup would put him alongside Best Mate in the history books. Don't write him off completely.

Gaelic Warrior (9/1) - The Versatile One

Another Mullins runner who placed in both the King George and Irish Gold Cup. Paul Townend reportedly favours him for the Gold Cup, which tells you something. He's adaptable and consistent - the type who could outrun his odds in a messy race.

What About the Defending Champion?

Inothewayurthinkin made history as the first supplemented horse to win the Gold Cup in 2025. Twelve months on, he's been tailed off twice and fell in the Irish Gold Cup. From hero to 16/1 afterthought. Gavin Cromwell admitted: "We're not in a great position now." A successful defence looks extremely unlikely.

Our lean: Jango Baie each-way. He's unexposed, improving, and Henderson knows how to train a Gold Cup winner. At 7/1, there's enough value if he takes the step up. Fact To File is the obvious threat if supplemented.

The Novice Races to Watch

Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Tuesday) - "The Roar"

Old Park Star (9/4) from the Nicky Henderson yard is the one everyone's talking about. Perfect three from three over hurdles and he's recorded the same RPR (152) that Constitution Hill did before winning the Supreme. That comparison might be a burden or a prophecy. Either way, he's the clear favourite and looks a potential superstar in the making.

Arkle Novices' Chase (Tuesday)

Lulamba (6/4) is another Henderson inmate who impressed in the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury. He's the market leader and looks the real deal over fences. Kopek Des Bordes is the Mullins challenger to watch.

Triumph Hurdle (Friday)

Proactif leads the Mullins charge after beating stablemate Macho Man on debut. This is typically Mullins territory - he's won this race repeatedly - and the yard looks strong again.

Mares' Hurdle (Thursday - New Slot)

Lossiemouth (11/10) goes for an unprecedented hat-trick. She won this in 2024 and 2025, and also won the 2023 Triumph Hurdle. Her Festival record is phenomenal. The decision to come here rather than take on the open Champion Hurdle (after being beaten by Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion Hurdle) tells its own story, but she's a worthy favourite seeking history.

The Storylines That Make This Festival Special

Willie Mullins vs Gordon Elliott

Mullins has been top trainer for seven consecutive Festivals and holds the all-time record with 113 winners. But Elliott is leading the Irish Trainers' Championship this season and has Teahupoo and Brighterdaysahead as genuine headline acts. Mullins has entered 87 horses (54 individuals). Elliott has the quality. This could be a proper battle.

Britain Fights Back?

Ireland has dominated the Prestbury Cup in recent years, winning 23-5 in 2021 at the peak. But Britain has rising stars this year: The New Lion (Champion Hurdle), Old Park Star (Supreme), Lulamba (Arkle), The Jukebox Man and Jango Baie (Gold Cup). Dan Skelton is favourite for the British Trainers' Championship and could lead a genuine resurgence.

The Post-Rachael Blackmore Era

Rachael Blackmore retired in May 2025 after a career that transcended the sport. The first woman to be leading rider at the Festival (2021) and first woman to win the Gold Cup (A Plus Tard, 2022). Her absence will be felt this year - she was a trailblazer whose achievements changed perceptions of what was possible.

Cheltenham 2026 Quick Tips Summary

Champion Hurdle: The New Lion (5/2) - rock solid form, course winner
Champion Chase: Marine Nationale (5/2) - perfect Cheltenham record, value at the price
Stayers' Hurdle: Teahupoo (7/4) - three wins in a row, proven in this race
Gold Cup: Jango Baie (7/1) each-way - unexposed, improving, trainer knows how to win this
Supreme: Old Park Star (9/4) - potential superstar, shades of Constitution Hill
Arkle: Lulamba (6/4) - impressive and progressive
Mares' Hurdle: Lossiemouth (11/10) - going for history with a hat-trick

Obviously, these are ante-post picks. Things change. Horses get injured, the ground shifts, trainers change plans. The Fact To File decision alone could reshape two races overnight.

The best thing you can do is your own homework. Look at the form. Check the stats. Understand why a horse is fancied, not just that it is fancied.

That's where RaceBrain comes in.

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