Cheltenham Festival 2026: The Complete Race-by-Race Guide
Dates: Tuesday 10 March – Friday 13 March 2026
Venue: Cheltenham Racecourse, Prestbury Park
Total Prize Money: Over £9 million across 28 races
The greatest four days in jump racing starts tomorrow. Four days, 28 races, one winner each. Here’s everything you need to know about every race at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival — favourites, contenders, stats and angles.
📅 DAY 1 — CHAMPION DAY | Tuesday 10 March
Old Course. The most star-studded day in jump racing.
13:20 — Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | £150,000
The curtain-raiser. The best novice hurdlers from Britain and Ireland collide over two miles. Willie Mullins has won this seven times since 2010 — ignore his runner at your peril.
| Horse | Odds | Note |
|---|---|---|
| TBC | — | Markets forming |
Killer stat: Irish-trained horses have won 14 of the last 20 runnings. The jolly from Closutton wins more than it loses.
14:00 — Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | £200,000
The two-mile novice championship chase. Explosive jumping, short-format speed. Often throws up the next superstar two-miler.
| Horse | Odds | Note |
|---|---|---|
| TBC | — | Markets forming |
Killer stat: The Supreme winner has gone on to win the Arkle the following year three times in recent history. Supreme form is worth tracking.
14:40 — Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m½f | £80,000
The juvenile handicap. Classically a race for shrewd connections who’ve found a well-handicapped 4-year-old. Nicky Henderson trains from next door to the racecourse — his juveniles are always worth a look.
Killer stat: Horses rated 130–138 win this disproportionately. The weights bracket matters more than the name on the card.
15:20 — Ultima Handicap Chase | 3m1f | £150,000
A cracking staying chase handicap. Huge field, fiercely competitive. The handicapper earns his money here.
Killer stat: Top weights (officially the highest-rated runners) have a poor record. Look for horses rated 148–153 — the sweet spot.
16:00 — Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | £450,000 ⭐ FEATURE
The championship of hurdling. The big one on Day 1.
| Horse | Odds | Trainer | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| The New Lion | 9/4 FAV | Dan Skelton | Top-rated British hurdler. Strong Grade 1 form. Most backed |
| Lossiemouth | 11/4 | Willie Mullins | Grade 1 winner. Major Irish danger |
| Brighterdaysahead | 5/1 | Gordon Elliott | Won Irish Champion Hurdle last out, beat Lossiemouth |
| Golden Ace | 7/1 | Jeremy Scott | Defending champ. 25/1 last year. Each-way value |
Killer stat: The Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton combination have been building toward this. The New Lion is unbeaten in three starts this season. Defending champions win the Champion Hurdle less than 25% of the time — Golden Ace’s odds reflect that.
16:40 — Festival Plate Handicap Chase (TrustATrader) | 2m4f | £150,000
A quality staying handicap chase. Often a warm consolation for horses beaten in the bigger races earlier in the week.
Killer stat: Previous Festival runners (horses who’ve run at Cheltenham before) win this at a significantly higher strike rate than Festival debutants.
17:20 — National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Chase) | 3m6f | £200,000
The marathon of Day 1. Amateur riders, staying novice chasers. Gordon Elliott dominates this — four wins in the last decade.
Killer stat: Gordon Elliott has saddled the winner four times since 2014. Mullins is dangerous too. Ignore British trainers in this one — Irish domination is real.
📅 DAY 2 — LADIES DAY | Wednesday 11 March
Old Course. The fashion stakes rival the racing stakes.
13:20 — Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m5f | £150,000
The intermediate-distance novice hurdle Grade 1. Last year’s Supreme runner-up often reappears here. A race for horses with more stamina than speed.
Killer stat: Horses who ran in the Supreme but weren’t placed have won this twice in the last five years — a classic regroup-and-win angle.
14:00 — Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 3m | £200,000
Three miles for the best staying novice chasers. Arguably the most reliable guide to a future Gold Cup winner — multiple Brown Advisory winners have gone on to win Cheltenham’s blue riband.
Killer stat: Willie Mullins has won this five times. His representative here is always live, regardless of price.
14:40 — Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m5f | £100,000
One of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the week. Massive fields, tight handicapping, genuine puzzle.
Killer stat: Horses making their handicap debut at the Festival — first run under a handicap mark — have a strong record here. Fresh horses, fresh assessments.
15:20 — Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase | 3m5½f | £75,000
The unique one. Banks, ditches, fences you don’t see anywhere else in Britain. Tiger Roll made this race his own with five consecutive wins. A completely different skill set from regular chasing.
| Horse | Odds | Note |
|---|---|---|
| TBC | — | Specialist market |
Killer stat: Course experience is everything in this race. Horses making their cross-country debut at Cheltenham have a terrible record. Favour proven course winners or placed horses.
16:00 — Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | £400,000 ⭐ FEATURE
The championship of two-mile chasing. Speed, jumping precision, class.
| Horse | Odds | Trainer | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Majborough | 5/6 FAV | Willie Mullins | Career best Dublin Chase win over Marine Nationale. Odds-on |
| L’Eau Du Sud | 9/2 | — | Clear second in market |
| Il Etait Temps | 5/1 | — | Each-way interest |
| Quilixios | 8/1 | — | Cheltenham form |
| Jonbon | 10/1 | Nicky Henderson | Former Arkle winner |
Killer stat: Majborough is a 6-year-old. The last five Queen Mother winners averaged 7.2 years old — younger horses can and do win it. The Mullins machine is firing.
16:40 — Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Johnny Henderson) | 2m | £150,000
The two-mile handicap chase. High-class horses tucked away in a handicap. Often produces big-priced winners.
Killer stat: Horses drawn high (wide) in the stalls — actually horses with higher racing numbers — have won this more than lower numbers. Traffic matters in a big field at Cheltenham.
17:20 — Champion Bumper (Weatherbys) (Grade 1) | 2m | £80,000
The National Hunt Flat race. No jumps, just quality. The best unraced or lightly-raced bumper horses. Willie Mullins has won this a record nine times. It’s almost his.
Killer stat: Mullins has won 9 of the last 15 runnings. His bumper horses are routinely the best in training. If he runs one, it’s the one to beat.
📅 DAY 3 — ST PATRICK’S THURSDAY | Thursday 12 March
New Course. Green everywhere. The party intensifies.
13:20 — Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) | ~2m | Prize TBC
The opening race of Day 3. Quality mares’ novice hurdle. Mullins typically has the pick of the Irish mares’ talent pool.
Killer stat: Willie Mullins has dominated mares’ races at the Festival. His mares’ runners are underestimated by casual punters.
14:00 — Novices’ Chase (Jack Richards) | 2m4f | Prize TBC
Key contenders: Koktail Divin, Regent’s Stroll, Meetmebythesea
An intermediate novice chase over 2m4f on the New Course. A stepping stone for horses heading for bigger targets.
Killer stat: New Course form counts — horses who’ve run well at Cheltenham on the New Course (used Thursday/Friday) translate well.
14:40 — Mares’ Hurdle | ~2m4f | Prize TBC
Key contenders: Lossiemouth (if not Champion Hurdle), Wodhooh, Brighterdaysahead
A quality mares’ hurdle. One of the most competitive mares’ races of the week.
Killer stat: If Lossiemouth runs here instead of the Champion Hurdle, she’s a near-certainty. The Irish mares are dominant in this division.
15:20 — Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | £325,000 ⭐ FEATURE
The staying hurdle championship. Three miles of lung-busting effort.
| Horse | Odds | Trainer | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teahupoo | 6/4 FAV | Gordon Elliott | Two-time Stayers winner. Course specialist |
| Honest Policy | 10/3 | — | Consistent stayer |
Killer stat: Teahupoo won this in 2024. Bob Olinger won in 2025. Back-to-back winners at this race are rare — but Teahupoo’s Festival record speaks for itself. Gordon Elliott has now trained five Stayers’ Hurdle winners.
16:00 — Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) | 2m4f | £375,000 ⭐ FEATURE
The “third” championship chase — between the two-mile Champion Chase and the three-mile Gold Cup. For horses who want more than 2m but less than 3m2f.
Key contenders: Watch for Gold Cup-entered horses dropped back in trip, and horses who’ve previously excelled over 2m4f at Grade 1 level.
Killer stat: The Ryanair often produces more competitive markets than the Gold Cup because the division is less clear-cut. Shrewd punters find value here annually.
16:40 — Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) | 3m | £100,000
The Pertemps Final — a qualifier-based race where horses must have run in a Pertemps qualifier to enter. Unique pathway creates a defined pool.
Key contenders: Supremely West, C’est Different, Electric Mason
Killer stat: Only horses who’ve qualified through Pertemps Network series races can run. This creates information advantages — horses’ recent form in qualifiers is the key data.
17:20 — Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase | 3m2f | £75,000
Amateur riders, staying handicap chase. Cheltenham’s other marathon. Competitive and often eventful.
Killer stat: Front-runners do better than the market suggests in this race. Long-distance amateur races often see tactical errors — a horse that dictates terms can steal it.
📅 DAY 4 — GOLD CUP DAY | Friday 13 March
New Course. The greatest day in jump racing. Everything builds to 16:00.
13:20 — JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m1f | £150,000
The 4-year-old hurdle championship. Juveniles only. These horses have typically had shorter campaigns — form is fresher and more recent than older horses.
Killer stat: French-bred juveniles (often purchased and pointed toward the Triumph) have a strong record. The French form book is the key guide.
14:00 — William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 2m1f | £110,000
The County Hurdle. A cavalry charge of 20+ runners in a big-field handicap hurdle. Chaotic, competitive, brilliant.
Killer stat: Top weights struggle. Horses rated 140–148 with course form win this disproportionately. Fresh horses (first Festival run) outperform festival veterans in this specific race.
14:40 — Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4f | Prize TBC
A Grade 2 for the best mares over fences. A growing, high-quality division.
Killer stat: Mares’ racing has exploded in quality over the last decade. The Grade 2 designation undersells the quality of this field — watch for horses who’ve been competitive at Grade 1 level against males.
15:20 — Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | Prize TBC
The staying novice hurdle championship. Three miles for horses with real staying potential. Often a pointer to future Gold Cup horses — multiple winners have gone on to win the big one.
Killer stat: Gordon Elliott has trained four winners of this race. Horses with point-to-point experience (run in Irish pointing) outperform horses who’ve only run on the flat or in bumpers.
16:00 — Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) | 3m2f | £625,000 🏆 THE BIG ONE
The one everyone’s been waiting for. Jump racing’s greatest prize.
| Horse | Odds | Trainer | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fact to File | 4/1 FAV | — | Market leader with some firms |
| The Jukebox Man | 9/2 | — | Tipped win selection by multiple experts |
| Jango Baie | 9/2 | — | Consistent contender throughout |
| Galopin Des Champs | 11/2 | Willie Mullins | Former Gold Cup winner. Back again |
| Inothewayurthinkin | 6/1 | — | Strong staying form |
| Gaelic Warrior | 11/2 | Willie Mullins | Mullins double-handed |
| Haiti Couleurs | 15/2 | — | Dark horse, improving |
| I Am Maximus | 25/1 | — | Each-way value |
Killer stat: The Gold Cup field has had at least one Willie Mullins runner in the first three home for the last six consecutive years. Mullins runs Galopin Des Champs (former champion) and potentially Gaelic Warrior — one of them typically fires.
Expert tip: The Jukebox Man is the value call at 9/2 — multiple tipsters’ top selection.
16:40 — Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase | 3m2f | £50,000
Hunters — point-to-pointers and hunter chasers competing at the Festival. Amateur riders. A race for the genuine enthusiast and grassroots of jump racing.
Killer stat: Previous Festival hunters’ chase experience is decisive. Horses making their debut in this race at Cheltenham struggle against course-hardened rivals.
17:20 — Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle | 2m4½f | Prize TBC
The Festival closer. Conditional (apprentice) jockeys on a staying handicap hurdle. Often a race won by a horse giving a young jockey their Festival moment.
Killer stat: The Martin Pipe is named after the legendary trainer. Connections who target this race specifically (not just supplementing a horse) have a much better record — look for horses declared early with clear Festival entries.
🎯 Five Key Festival Angles
Willie Mullins dominates. He’s the most successful trainer in Festival history and gets better every year. His runners deserve respect at any price.
Course form matters. Cheltenham’s undulating track, stiff finish and festival atmosphere filter out horses who don’t act here. Previous Festival runs and course wins are a genuine edge.
Favourites hold up in Grade 1s. The championship races (Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup, Queen Mother) see short-priced favourites win more than market-bashers want to admit. Don’t overcomplicate the headliners.
Value lives in the handicaps. Fred Winter, Coral Cup, County, Ultima — these races routinely produce 16/1 and 20/1 winners. The market can’t price 20-horse fields accurately.
Irish-trained horses win the Festival. Approximately 60-70% of Grade 1 winners are Irish-trained. The British are catching up, but the numbers still favour the raiders.
📊 Cheltenham Festival 2026 — Quick Reference
| Day | Feature Race | Favourite |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Champion Hurdle 16:00 | The New Lion (9/4) |
| Wednesday | Queen Mother Champion Chase 16:00 | Majborough (5/6) |
| Thursday | Stayers’ Hurdle 15:20 | Teahupoo (6/4) |
| Friday | Cheltenham Gold Cup 16:00 | Fact to File (4/1) |
Odds correct as of 9 March 2026. Prices fluctuate — always check current odds before betting. The Race Lab recommends betting responsibly. 18+.
For daily tips, previews and value picks across all 28 races, bookmark The Race Lab and check back each morning of the Festival.