The stage is set for an electrifying few months in the world of National Hunt racing, with trainers, pundits, and fans alike turning their attention toward the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. The build-up is already reaching fever pitch, as both horses and connections plot their routes to the biggest prizes in the jumps calendar. From the resurgence of Haiti Couleurs under Rebecca Curtis to the sharp-eyed selections of racing experts Johnny Dineen and David Jennings, anticipation is mounting for what could be a historic Festival in March.
Rebecca Curtis, the accomplished Welsh trainer, has made no secret of her ambitions for her stable star, Haiti Couleurs. After a triumphant campaign last season that saw the eight-year-old land both the National Hunt Chase and the Irish Grand National, Curtis is now eyeing even greater glory. The Gold Cup at Cheltenham, widely regarded as the blue riband event of steeplechasing, is firmly in her sights. But how did Haiti Couleurs arrive at this pivotal moment?
The road has not been without its bumps. After a winning return over hurdles at Newbury in November 2025, Haiti Couleurs was sent off as favourite for the Betfair Chase at Haydock. However, he failed to deliver the expected performance, leaving connections scratching their heads. Curtis quickly identified a back issue as the culprit—a setback, but not a showstopper. The horse’s response was emphatic: he bounced back in style with a sensational weight-carrying run to claim the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, once again under jockey Sean Bowen. The performance not only restored faith but prompted the handicapper to raise his mark by 5lb, bringing him up to a revised rating of 159.
"He’s come out the race really well, I’m very happy with him and he’s very fresh," Curtis told the Press Association, her confidence palpable. She continued, "I thought it was a really, really good performance. The National is very tempting, but we really want to give him a go in the Gold Cup, that’s not to say he won’t run in the two." It’s a tantalising prospect for racing fans: could Haiti Couleurs be about to etch his name alongside the greats?
Of course, the road to Cheltenham is rarely straightforward. Curtis is considering one more run before the Festival to ensure her charge is at peak fitness. The Denman Chase at Newbury in February 2026 is the likely stepping-stone, with the earlier Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January deemed "possibly a bit too soon." As Curtis explained, "I’d like to give him another run, as the Gold Cup is one of those races you need to be so fit for and I don’t think he’s the type of horse you need to wrap up in cotton wool and mind. He does thrive on his racing, so it would be nice to give him one run in between now and March."
While Curtis plots her course, the punditry world is abuzz with its own Festival forecasts. On December 31, 2025, the ever-popular duo of Johnny Dineen and David Jennings returned with episode seven of Upping The Ante, dissecting festive form and casting an expert eye over the ante-post markets for Cheltenham. Their insights are always eagerly awaited, and this episode was no exception.
Dineen was quick to highlight Koktail Divin, who produced what he called a "fierce effort" to defeat established Graded horses. Dineen believes Koktail Divin could give Final Demand a real run for his money in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase come March. Meanwhile, Narciso has shot to the top of the Triumph Hurdle betting, and Dineen is bullish about his prospects, stating, "He deserves to be a Festival favourite." Jennings, for his part, suspects Narciso could be overpriced given his achievements so far.
Another horse on everyone’s lips is El Cairos, who, despite an unlucky fall at Leopardstown, left a lasting impression. Dineen was effusive: "He has a turn of foot you don't often see in a jumps horse." Connections believe El Cairos could be extraordinary, and he is widely considered the one to beat in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
The festival squads of Dineen and Jennings are shaping up with both value and vision. Dineen’s picks include Romeo Coolio (9-2 for the Arkle Novices' Chase), Doctor Du Mesnil (14-1 for the Turners Novices' Hurdle), Jade De Grugy (25-1 for the Mares' Chase), and Its On The Line (9-1 for the Hunters' Chase). Jennings, meanwhile, is pinning his hopes on Skylight Hustle (50-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle), Sir Gino (9-2 for the Champion Hurdle), Desertmore House (10-1 for the Cross Country Chase), Bob Olinger (14-1 for the Stayers' Hurdle), and Sortudo (25-1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle).
Bob Olinger, in particular, is attracting attention. Jennings remarked, "I thought he beat Teahupoo fair and square last season, and there was a little bit of spark in his run at Leopardstown. He'll come on for it a lot, he comes alive in the spring and I think he's far too big a price." Dineen also tipped Its On The Line to go one better in the Hunters' Chase at Cheltenham, noting, "He’s been touched off at Cheltenham and he won the other day without cheekpieces on, which is a good sign."
The New Year’s Day action at Cheltenham is also generating plenty of excitement. Kabral Du Mathan is the hot favourite for the Relkeel Hurdle at 2:35 PM, with Dineen declaring, "He’s a certainty. I don’t think he’s too short because he’s taking on nothing." Riskintheground is Jennings’ pick for the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (2:00 PM), while Dineen favours Twinjets. The duo also split on the 2m4½f novices' chase (12:50 PM), with Dineen backing Regent's Stroll and Jennings siding with Califet En Vol. For the 3m1½f handicap chase at 1:25 PM, Inch House (Jennings) and Excello (Dineen) are the selections. Across the Irish Sea at Naas, Sortudo is expected to shine in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle at 2:25 PM.
With so many storylines unfolding and a rich tapestry of talent on display, the 2026 Cheltenham Festival promises to be a classic. Whether it’s Haiti Couleurs’ quest for Gold Cup immortality, the emergence of new stars like Narciso and El Cairos, or the shrewd selections of racing’s sharpest minds, the next few months are sure to deliver drama, excitement, and perhaps even a few surprises. For now, all eyes remain fixed on the road to Cheltenham, where dreams of glory are made—and sometimes, against all odds, realized.
