Cheltenham Festival 2026: Day 1 (Champion Day) — Full Race-by-Race Preview

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | Cheltenham Racecourse

Champion Day. The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival sets the tone for the whole week, and 2026 promises to be one of the most compelling openers in years. Seven races, from the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle through to the National Hunt Chase, feature a cast of horses that have been building to this moment all season. Here’s our full breakdown — race by race, horse by horse.

Race 1 — Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1:20pm, 2m, Grade 1)

The Supreme is the traditional curtain-raiser and, year after year, it delivers one of the most electric atmospheres in jump racing. The 2026 renewal has a strong favourite in Old Park Star, the Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old who has been imperious over hurdles this season, including a demolition job in the Rossington Main Hurdle. With Nico de Boinville in the saddle, he goes off around 5/2.

Willie Mullins, as ever, has the market well covered. Mighty Park (Mark Walsh, 10/3) is his main hope and was deeply impressive on his rules debut. He has the big-occasion profile that Mullins horses tend to thrive in, but he’s slightly unexposed compared to the favourite.

Talk The Talk (JJ Slevin, 9/2) represents the Gordon Elliott squad after winning at the Dublin Racing Festival — strong form at a track known to produce Cheltenham winners. He’s third in the market for good reason.

El Cairos (Jack Kennedy, 7/1) made a striking hurdles debut for Elliott and can’t be discounted at a double-figure price, while Mydaddypaddy (Harry Skelton, 9/1) will carry the hopes of British trainers against a largely Irish-dominated field.

Interesting each-way value lies with Leader d’Allier (Paul Townend, 10/1) — the Paul Nicholls-trained French bumper graduate has been tipped as a NAP by several respected analysts and Townend’s booking is a compelling pointer.

Verdict: Old Park Star looks the real deal — three wins from three over hurdles, dominant when asked to quicken — but the price is skinny. If you’re staking, Mighty Park each-way offers safety in case Henderson’s horse stumbles, while Leader d’Allier at 10/1 is our value play. Selection: Old Park Star (NAP), Leader d’Allier (EW)

Race 2 — Arkle Novices’ Chase (2:00pm, 2m, Grade 1)

The Arkle is where this generation’s two-mile chasers announce themselves, and 2026 has a potentially dominant favourite. Lulamba, trained by Nicky Henderson and unbeaten over fences, has been relentless in his chasing campaign and goes to post at around 13/8. His jumping is electric, his pace is genuine, and he’s the sort of horse this race was made for.

The main danger comes from Mullins’ camp. Kopek Des Bordes (2/1) was pushed out in the market after missing a key prep race, but the talent is undeniable. Mullins has won this race eight times — you do not dismiss his runners lightly.

Steel Ally is identified by several tipsters as a value selection in the place market, while the rest of the field look like they’re running for minor honours unless either of the top two disappoint.

The key question is whether Lulamba’s unbeaten record over fences represents genuine superiority or a soft schedule. His Racing Post Ratings suggest the former — he has put rivals away decisively rather than simply winning.

Verdict: Lulamba is short but he’s short for a reason. Two miles around Cheltenham on good ground is his optimum. Kopek Des Bordes is the one to beat him if he’s sharp enough after his prep issues. Selection: Lulamba (Win), Kopek Des Bordes (EW)

Race 3 — Mares’ Hurdle (2:40pm, 2m 4f, Grade 2)

The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Hurdle has developed into one of the most competitive races on the card, and 2026 looks wide open. Sources suggest the entire field is available at 5/1 or bigger, with Winston Junior and Saratoga sharing market prominence at around 5/1 apiece. Manlaga is next at 7/1.

This is a race that rewards horses with class who are running against their own sex — fillies and mares often improve significantly in these conditions. The key trends point to horses who have been placed at Grade 1 level but haven’t quite cracked the very top grade against the boys.

Saratoga’s Naas form should be respected — the Naas Rated Hurdle has an excellent record as a Cheltenham prep and Joseph O’Brien’s record in juvenile/mares’ races at the Festival is outstanding.

Verdict: Open race with no standout. Saratoga each-way at 5/1 appeals based on trainer form and prep. Selection: Saratoga (EW)

Race 4 — Ultima Handicap Chase (3:20pm, 3m 1f, Grade 3)

The Ultima is the big betting handicap of Day 1 — a competitive 3-mile-plus slog that often produces a dramatic finish and a winner at a juicy price. Jagwar (JP McManus) tops the market at around 4/1, looking to defend strong ante-post form, while Iroko (also McManus) and Wendigo share second billing at 8/1.

Handstands and Myretown are available around 10/1 each and worth tracking for each-way purposes.

The McManus yellow-and-green silks are always prominent in races like these, and Jagwar’s form entitles him to be favourite — but 4/1 for a wide-open 20-plus runner handicap is short enough to be risky.

The Ultima traditionally rewards horses with course experience, ability to travel well through the race (it’s run at a furious gallop), and jumping that holds up under pressure over three miles.

Verdict: Impossible to be confident at the prices, but Wendigo each-way at 8/1 offers appeal as a horse with genuine stamina and jumping ability. Jagwar is the form pick but too short for a handicap of this nature. Selection: Wendigo (EW)

Race 5 — Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter, 4:00pm, 2m 87y)

The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is restricted to four-year-olds and has been dominated by Irish trainers for nearly a decade — the last British winner came in 2017. Joseph O’Brien (three wins in the last seven) and Gordon Elliott (four Festival wins total) are the trainers to follow.

Key trends are rigid: all 12 winners since 2013 had at least three prior hurdle runs; none had a previous Cheltenham run; none had a prior Graded win. Winners are typically rated 122–134 and carry 11st 6lb or less. The favourite has won just once in the last 12 renewals — this race rewards the second or third string in any market.

Winston Junior (6/1) and Saratoga (6/1) share favouritism, with Selma De Vary at 9/1, Manlaga at 11/1, and Madness D’Elle at 13/1.

The standout value pick is Highland Crystal (15/1, Gordon Elliott) — winner at Naas (three of the last seven winners came from that prep), Elliott trainer record, unexposed, and ideally profiled at the weights. Munsif (15/1, Donnacha O’Brien) also fits the unexposed improver profile.

The Naas Rated Hurdle is the golden prep — Highland Crystal, Saratoga and Munsif all come from that route and deserve priority. Ignore it at your peril.

Verdict: This is a race to be on at bigger prices. Highland Crystal each-way at 15/1 is our selection — perfectly fits every key trend. Selection: Highland Crystal (EW)

Race 6 — Champion Hurdle (4:40pm, 2m, Grade 1)

The Champion Hurdle is the centrepiece of Champion Day and 2026 delivers a mouthwatering rematch-style scenario. Constitution Hill (Nicky Henderson) goes off as favourite at around 7/4 — a comeback story that has captured the imagination all season. His 2023 performance in this race remains one of the greatest Champion Hurdle displays in recent memory, and if he’s back to anything close to that level, he wins.

The New Lion (9/4) pushes him closest in the market — a talented, progressive hurdler whose rapid improvement has been the story of the novice hurdling season. He’s unexposed at this level and represents the emerging generation threatening the established order.

Golden Ace (7/2), the defending champion from the 2025 renewal, is not going away quietly. Back-to-back Champion Hurdle winners are relatively rare but not unprecedented, and he’s a proven Grade 1 performer at this course.

The rest of the field are largely making up the numbers at the likely market prices unless one of the big three disappoints badly.

Constitution Hill is the key horse. He has missed time, but Henderson’s preparation of horses for this race is unmatched. When he was right, he was freakish. The question is whether he’s recaptured that level.

Verdict: This is the headline race of the week and it’s live. Constitution Hill at 7/4 is thin for a horse with a question mark, but the talent is undeniable. The New Lion each-way at 9/4 offers minimal each-way value at those odds. On balance, Constitution Hill is our Champion Day NAP — if Henderson has him right, he’s unbeatable. Selection: Constitution Hill (NAP), Golden Ace (EW)

Race 7 — National Hunt Chase (5:15pm, 3m 5f, Amateur Riders)

The National Hunt Chase closes Champion Day and it’s always a spectacle — amateur riders, marathon stamina test, and a race with a distinct character all its own. At 3 miles 5 furlongs, it’s the longest race of the week’s opening day.

Carefully Selected is listed as the current bookmakers’ favourite, with Backmersackme available at around 6/1 after his Dublin Racing Festival win. Now Is The Hour (Gavin Cromwell, 7/1) adds serious claims — he won at the Cheltenham November Meeting and finished second over 3m 1f in December, ticking the course-form box that trends demand.

The standout stat is that nine of the last 13 winners had previous Cheltenham experience — the unique demands of the track, the hill, and the atmosphere cannot be replicated. It puts a premium on horses who have navigated the course before.

Seven-year-olds have won eight of the last eleven renewals — both Backmersackme and Wendigo (also entered here, though primarily aimed at the Ultima) fit that age profile.

The value angle is Wendigo at 21/1 if he runs here rather than the Ultima — trainer Jamie Snowden has a horse with proven finishing speed and Cheltenham form from the 2025 Albert Bartlett. If the ground is soft (as often at Cheltenham in March), his Kempton Boxing Day run — described as running on ground he dislikes — becomes even more impressive.

Verdict: Now Is The Hour each-way at 7/1 is the solid each-way play — course form proven, stamina proven, trainer in form. If Wendigo runs here, he’s a lively each-way dart at the bigger price. Selection: Now Is The Hour (EW)

Day 1 Summary — Our Selections

Key Stable Form Coming Into Day 1

• Willie Mullins: Dominant at the Festival for five consecutive years. Leads ante-post market in five of the seven races. Respect everything he runs.
• Nicky Henderson: Holding his best hand in years with Old Park Star and Lulamba. Constitution Hill is the headline act.
• Gordon Elliott: Strong team, particularly in the juvenile division. Highland Crystal could be his dark horse of the week.
• Paul Nicholls: Leader d’Allier is his main Day 1 hope and represents solid each-way value.

Betting Tips

• NAP of the Day: Constitution Hill (Champion Hurdle, 7/4)
• Each-Way Value Pick: Highland Crystal (Juvenile Hurdle, 15/1)
• Dark Horse: Leader d’Allier (Supreme, 10/1)

All odds correct at time of writing. Prices will move — check latest before placing. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org

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