Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Chase & Ryanair 180/1 TREBLE

The latest Cheltenham entries are out for the championship chase races – the Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase – and to mark the occasion Andy Newton has a 180/1 TREBLE with three big fancies.

Latest Cheltenham Gold Cup Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase Entries Revealed

Tuesday 6th January might be just over two months away from the start of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival – but the excitement is already building.

This is because the latest entries for the three main championship chase races – the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase – are out.

Of course, a lot can still change between now and March, while any horses not entered can still be supplemented.

For these three races, horses can be taken out up until February 3rd, or owners pay the next entry instalment of £1,000.

Then confirmations will take place six days before each race, with supplement fees £15k for the Ryanair, £16k for the Champion Chase and £25 for the Gold Cup.

Don’t forget, last year’s Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin was supplemented at this late stage, so a lot can still happen.

You can see the latest Cheltenham entries below for the Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase.

With the winners of each race – Inothewayurthinkin (Gold Cup), Marine Nationale (Champion Chase) and Fact To File (Ryanair) all standing their ground.

Cheltenham Festival Dates 2026? 🗓️

This year’s Cheltenham Festival 2026 dates will see the four-day meeting run from Tuesday 10th March to Friday 13th March.

With the first six races each day covered on the ITV Racing schedule.

While this season there is also a slightly new Cheltenham Festival 2026 running order – with some of the races having moved days.

🏇Tuesday 10th March 2026: Day 1 – Champion Day
🏇Wednesday 11th March 2026: Day 2 – Ladies’ Day
🏇Thursday 12th March 2026: Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday
🏇Friday 13th March 2026: Day 4 – Gold Cup Day

Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase 180/1 TREBLE

Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Ryanair 180/1 TREBLE

Champion Chase (Weds, 11th March 2026): IL ETAIT TEMPS @ 3/1

Marine Nationale’s trainer Barry Connell, who is often shouting about how his horse is the second coming, might not be happy.

But I think IL ETAIT TEMPS can end his Cheltenham hoodoo this season.

Yes, last year’s winner Marine Nationale is a super horse and unlike El Etait Temps he’s two-from-two at the Festival – having also won the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

He won the Champion Chase by 18 lengths last year too.

However, was taking on Jonbon, who we know hates Cheltenham.

While with Quilixios upsides when falling at the last – there was a chance Marine Nationale might not have won anyway.

In short, this year’s renewal is setting up to be a tad stronger.

Connell has also pointed to the fact his horse (Marine Nationale) slammed Il Etait Temps in the 2023 Supreme.

But, come on Barry – that was three years ago and over hurdles.

Il Etait Temps Is A Better Chaser, Than Hurdler

I think it’s also fair to say Il Etait Temps has since made into a much better chaser.

Winning seven of his nine starts and also had Marine Nationale over 10 lengths back (5th) when winning the 2024 Irish Arkle at the DRF.

Okay, there is still a niggle about Cheltenham and Il Etait Temps and, as we know – some horses just don’t like Prestbury Park.

Take Jonbon for example. If the Champion Chase was run at Sandown, Ascot or Aintree – Jonbon would probably have two wins to his name.

Il Etait Temps is 0-3 at the Festival, after running 5th in the Triumph, 5th in the Supreme and 3rd in the Arkle.

However, since that Arkle defeat in 2024, he’s undefeated with five wins (four in Grade Ones).

While that Arkle was won by Gaelic Warrior, who is obviously no slouch – and after some errors actually did well to finish third (albeit 13 lengths back).

He was an impressive winner of the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December (watch below) – which has been a good guide to finding the Champion Chase winner over the years.

With the likes of Altior, Dodging Bullets, Sire Du Grugy, Sprinter Sacre and Moscow Flyer all winning both races.

So, I’m sticking with Il Etait Temps – he was a horse I put up on the Ginger Joe podcast back in October at 6/1 and he’s now half those odds.

BEST BET: IL ETAIT TEMPS @ 3/1

WATCH: Il Etait Temps Winning The 2025 Tingle Creek Chase

Ryanair Chase (Thurs, 12th March 2026): FACT TO FILE @ 2/1

I think we can all (well, hopefully) agree that FACT TO FILE just doesn’t quite stay three miles.

After his sixth in the King George VI Chase over Christmas this has firmed things up on this score for me.

But full marks for connections trying as JP McManus has never won that big Christmas Kempton race.

Anyway, he still did well to finish just under 10 lengths off the winner The Jukebox Man that day.

And prior to that only went down a neck next in a dust-up with his stablemate Gaelic Warrior in the John Durkan at Punchestown.

The good news with Fact To File, and with all the Cheltenham entry unknowns, is we know were Fact To File is going.

As he’s ONLY entered in the Ryanair Chase – the race he bolted up in last season, and it will be a brave punter that says it won’t be more of the same in 2026.

Fact To File is already as short as 7/4, but mainly 2/1 for the race.

The 2026 Ryanair Chase Could Cut Up

But the Ryanair is likely to cut up quite a lot before March 12th – with the likes of Jango Baie and Gaelic Warrior probably Gold Cup bound.

Majborough is also more likely to take in the Champion Chase, but you never know.

Banbridge would want the ground good or better. While Romeo Coolio could be a danger if turning up here – but he’s another that might head to the Champion Chase.

In short, the challengers could be very thin in the ground by the time this race comes around – and if so, FTF could even go off odds-on.

Fact To File is the call to become the first ‘back-to-back’ Ryanair Chase winner since Allaho (2021-22) and before him Albertas Run (2010-11).

BEST BET: FACT TO FILE @ 2/1

WATCH: Fact To File Winning The 2025 Ryanair Chase

Cheltenham Gold Cup (Fri, 13th March 2026): HAITI COULEURS @ 14/1

Onto the ‘BIG ONE’ – The Cheltenham Gold Cup and the race all owners, jockeys and trainers want on their CV.

And if all the main players stand their ground we could be in for a crackerjack of a renewal.

Last year’s first and second – Inothewayurthinkin and the two-time winner Galopin Des Champs are both still in the entries.

Plus, we could also get the King George first, third and fourth – The Jukebox Man, Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie all back for more.

The last horse to win both the King George and the Gold Cup in the same season was Kauto Star in 2008-09.

All of the above are respected – especially Jango Baie, who I think should have a lot more improvement to come.

But the value call at this stage for me is the recent Welsh Grand National winner HAITI COULEURS.

Yes, he’s still got a bit to find at the ratings with the likes of Gaelic, Galopin and the current champ – but what we do know is he loves Cheltenham.

Haiti Couleurs Is Unbeaten At Cheltenham

He’s two-from-two at the course and was a nice winner of the NH Chase at the Festival last season.

Haiti Couleurs has since gone onto add the Irish Grand National and Welsh Grand National to his CV – with that proven stamina sure to be a big plus come Gold Cup Day on Friday 13th March.

The 9yo also acts well on all ground – having won on heavy, soft and good in his career.

While with only seven career runs over fences (five wins), you still feel there might be more to come.

The Welsh National is also a race that’s thrown up Gold Cup links in the past.

Native River and Synchronised took both races in their careers – just not in the same seasons.

But the 1995 Gold Cup winner Master Oats did take both races in the same campaign – winning the Welsh National on New Year’s Eve earlier that season when it was rerouted to Newbury.

So, overall – this Rebecca Curtis runner has a bit to find, but the plusses are we know he likes Cheltenham, will stay, acts on any ground.

Oh, and will also have a certain Sean Bowen in the saddle.

In short, the Gold Cup doesn’t always go to the classiest horses in the race.

With the likes of Synchronised (2012), Lord Windermere (2014) and Native River (2018) examples that Grand National and top-level staying handicap chases also have chances.

Haiti Couleurs could easily be the next.

BEST BET: HAITI COULEURS @ 14/1