Cheltenham Trials Day: FIVE Interesting Things We Could See On Saturday

This Saturday will see the last Prestbury Park meeting before the Festival in March – with the Cheltenham Trials Meeting set to also give punters many clues and pointers ahead of the biggest four days of jump racing on the planet in just under two months. 

There will be EIGHT races, with FIVE of these being shown LIVE on the ITV Racing schedule.

And this year Andy Newton highlights some interesting facts building up that we could see happen.

Cheltenham Trials Day 2026: A Day Full Of Festival Clues 🕵️

On the day there are big races that include the Cotswold Chase, that has in the past been billed as a Gold Cup trial – but is it really?

Then the Cleeve Hurdle is meant to help unravel the Stayers’ Hurdle puzzle.

While the Unibet International Hurdle should give us some pointers to the Champion Hurdle.

More so this year with the first and second favourites Sir Gino and The New Lion clashing.

However, ahead of the meeting there are also several things we could see happen for the first time in a while – or for the first time EVER.

1. Nicky Henderson Could Win the Cleeve Hurdle For The FIRST Time 🏇

Former champion trainer Nicky Henderson had Champ run second in the Cleeve Hurdle back in 2022.

While he’s had six runners in the race since 2017 – but barring Champ, they’ve all been unplaced.

However, Hendo has a top chance of putting that right on Saturday, with two of the seven runners in action for Seven Barrows.

These are his last season’s Pertemps winner Doddiethegreat and also IMPOSE TOI, who will be his main fancy.

This JP McManus-owned 8yo has been a revelation since stepping up trip and heads here having won the Long Walk and Long Distance Hurdles already.

Nicky Henderson’s Cleeve Hurdle Runners (Since 2017) 

2. Impose Toi Looking To Be First Long Walk, Long Distance and Cleeve Hurdle Winner Since Thistlecrack🏇

Sticking with the Nicky Henderson runner in the Cleeve Hurdle – Impose Toi.

As having already won this season’s Long Walk Hurdle and Long Distance Hurdle – he will now look to add Saturday’s Cleeve Hurdle (3:35pm).

If this 8yo can win the Cleeve, then he’ll be the first horse since Thistlecrack in 2015/16 to win all three races in the same season.

Oh, and Thistlecrack also went into win the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival that year.

Before that the mighty Big Buck’s was the last horse to win all three in 2011/12 – and he also went onto land the Stayers. Or the World Hurdle as it was known back then.

Impose Toi is around 11/2 for the Stayers’ Hurdle. But these odds are sure to contract if he wins the Cleeve Hurdle on Saturday.

3. We Might Get The FIRST EVER ‘Back-to-Back’ Cotswold Chase Winner 🏇

Next up is the Cotswold Chase (2:25pm) – a race last year we had a thrilling finish in (watch below).

With the popular L’Homme Presse just getting the better of the Paul Nicholls-trained Stage Star.

Presse is back for more on Saturday aged 11 to try and defend his Cotwold Chase crown. However, this is something no horse is yet to do.

Since the contest was first run in 1980, Many Clouds and See More Business have won the race twice – just not in ‘back-to-back’ campaigns.

Meaning L’Homme Presse could be the first.

But he’ll face a stern challenge with Betfair Chase winner Grey Dawning in the race too. Who is also two years his younger and rated 4lbs higher.

On a plus, we know L’Homme Presse likes it at Cheltenham, with form figures that read 1-1-4-1-2 here.

4. Sir Gino or The New Lion Look To End 24-Year Unibet/Champion Hurdle Record 🏇

At 3pm, the focus will switch to the Champion Hurdle contenders with the Unibet International Hurdle.

Which, this year, will see the first and second favourites in the Champion Hurdle betting – Sir Gino and The New Lion – do battle.

They will also face Nemean Lion and last year’s second Brentford Hope. But barring accidents this should be between Gino and Lion (new) – shouldn’t it?

Whichever camp you are in, the winner will, of course, shorten in the Champion Hurdle market.

With Gino 5/4 and Lion 4/1 – but the winner will also have to try and end a 24-year run.

As the last horse to win the International Hurdle and then follow-up in the Champion Hurdle in the same season was ROOSTER BOOSTER back in 2002/03.

Back then the Bula was run at the December Meeting.

So Booster won that race just before Christmas and then added the Champion Hurdle in 2003.

5. The Last Cotswold Chase Winner To Win The Cheltenham Gold Cup Was In 2000 🏇

Okay, with the hot Cotswold Chase favourite Grey Dawning not certain to take in the Gold Cup, with Dan Skelton saying they might wait for Aintree – then this last one might not be relevant.

However, they might change their mind after Saturday – and their good-looking grey is still 12/1 for the Gold Cup.

If they do decide on another trip to Presbury Park on Friday 13th March, they will be hoping to be the first winner of both races since 2000.

Of course, Grey Dawning might not even win the Cotswold Chase on Saturday.

But if he doesn’t – really, it’s unlikely L’Homme Presse, Spillane’s Tower of Flooring Porter will be good enough for the Gold Cup.

But, hey, you never know.

The last horse to win both the Cotswold Chase and Gold Cup in the same season was LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE in 2000.

Then before that, it was Master Oats in 1995, who was trained by Kim Bailey.

Cheltenham Trials Day 2026 Race Times, TV Schedule and Running Order ⏱️

You can also get Andy Newton’s daily FREE horse racing tips and cheat sheet, with his hot trainers, NAP, NB and value e/w picks.