The anticipation is palpable as the 2026 Cheltenham Festival gallops into view, promising four days of top-class jump racing, fierce international rivalry, and the kind of sporting drama that has made this event a staple on the global racing calendar. From the first thunderous roar at the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle to the crescendo of Gold Cup Day, Cheltenham’s hallowed turf is set to host legends in the making and stories that will be retold for years to come.
Champion Day, the opening salvo of the festival, kicks off on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Racegoers and punters alike will be treated to a packed card, with the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle getting the action underway at 1:20 p.m. GMT. The day’s centerpiece, the Unibet Champion Hurdle, is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. GMT, a race that never fails to deliver excitement and, sometimes, a surprise or two. The going is officially rated as Good to Soft, a welcome change after a wet winter, and the forecast for Tuesday is mostly dry with highs of 11°C—though a cheeky afternoon shower might keep everyone on their toes.
The Champion Hurdle, run over 2 miles and 87 yards with eight formidable hurdles, is open to horses aged four and older and boasts a purse of £450,000, with a cool £253,215 for the winner. This year’s field reads like a who’s-who of hurdling talent. Lossiemouth, the high-class mare trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, heads the betting at 2/1. She’s looking to add a fourth Cheltenham Festival victory to her growing legend, having previously claimed the Triumph Hurdle in 2023. Mullins has made her the week’s major target, opting for Champion Hurdle glory over defending her Mares’ crown—a decision that’s got punters buzzing.
Hot on Lossiemouth’s heels is The New Lion, trained by Dan Skelton and partnered with Harry Skelton in the saddle. With five wins from six starts over hurdles, The New Lion’s form this season has convinced many that he’s ready for the ultimate two-mile test. Brighterdaysahead, trained by Gordon Elliott and owned by Gigginstown, sits at 9/2 in the betting. Though her defeat to Golden Ace in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle two years ago still lingers in memory, she stormed back by beating Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle, establishing her credentials as a genuine threat.
Defending Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace, trained by Jeremy Scott and ridden by Lorcan Williams, is priced at 8/1. Last year, she capitalized on the dramatic final-flight fall of State Man to end a favorites’ five-year winning streak. However, some believe she’ll need a bit of luck to repeat the feat this year. Other notable contenders include Poniros (14/1), Alexei (20/1), Tutti Quanti (22/1), Anzadam (22/1), and Workahead (66/1), rounding out a field brimming with intrigue and talent.
But Cheltenham is about more than individual glory—it’s a battleground for national pride, embodied by the Prestbury Cup. This coveted trophy, awarded to the nation whose trainers rack up the most wins during the Festival, is a focal point of the week’s rivalry. Named after the nearby village of Prestbury, the Cup is contested between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, with 28 races and 14 wins needed to claim victory. Since its official launch in 2014, the Cup has seen fortunes swing, but recent years have been defined by Irish dominance. In 2025, Ireland cruised to a 20-8 win, with Willie Mullins responsible for a staggering 10 winners. The British, who clinched the first two editions, have found the going tough, with Ireland winning six straight and nine of the last ten Cups.
Yet, there’s fresh optimism in the British camp this year. Paul Nicholls, one of the most successful British trainers, remains bullish: "Nicky [Henderson] has got a good team of horses, and I've got some nice chances and there's all those good young trainers... that are doing really well," he said, referencing the new wave of British talent. "I think things are going to be totally different and probably over the next few years. But you know what Willie [Mullins] is like—he turns up with a huge team and they're all ready to fire for Cheltenham." Nicky Henderson echoed this sentiment: "I think the English squad is definitely stronger than it has been in previous years so I hope between us we can raise a bit of a fight. I think we can. It's going to be very open, and I hope we can do a bit better this year what with all that Paul, Ben [Pauling] and Dan [Skelton] have got."
Despite the optimism, the bookmakers remain unconvinced, with Ireland’s odds to retain the Prestbury Cup as low as 1/6. Still, the British have a few aces up their sleeve. Old Park Star is among the favorites for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and The Jukebox Man, owned by Harry Redknapp and trained by Ben Pauling, is a realistic British shot at Gold Cup glory on Friday.
Speaking of the Gold Cup, Friday, March 13, 2026, marks the grand finale of the Festival. The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, run over 3 miles, 2 furlongs, and 70 yards, is the blue riband event of jump racing. The going is again Good to Soft, but with rain forecast and highs of just 9°C, conditions could get testing. The Gold Cup attracts over 70,000 spectators and nearly two million TV viewers, underscoring its status as one of the most prestigious races in the world.
This year’s Gold Cup field is wide open. Gaelic Warrior (10/3), Jangoe Baie (4/1), and The Jukebox Man (9/2) lead the betting, with The Jukebox Man unbeaten over fences and fresh off a King George win at Kempton. "It's a dream to have a horse run in the Gold Cup and go there with a chance," Redknapp remarked. "I'm not saying we're going to win it, but we've got a serious horse. It's an open race and I think we've got as good a chance as anything." Last year’s winner, Inothewayurthinkin, returns to defend his crown, while two-time champion Galopin Des Champs is ruled out due to health issues—a blow to the Mullins camp.
The Gold Cup offers a total of £625,000 in prize money, with £363,999 to the winner. Recent champions include Inothewayurthinkin (2025), Galopin Des Champs (2024, 2023), and A Plus Tard (2022), each etching their name into Cheltenham folklore.
As the festival approaches, the question on everyone’s mind: will Ireland’s dominance continue, or can the British trainers and their hopefuls stage a long-awaited comeback? With the weather, the going, and the formbook all adding layers of intrigue, one thing is certain—the 2026 Cheltenham Festival is set for another unforgettable chapter.