{"id":70061,"date":"2026-02-03T09:42:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T09:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=70061"},"modified":"2026-02-25T11:16:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T11:16:30","slug":"cheltenham-festival-favourites-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/cheltenham-festival-favourites-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Are The Current Cheltenham Festival Favourites 2026 For ALL 28 Races?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the new jumps season now in full swing there will be many Cheltenham Festival clues and trial races that will impact the markets between now and March 2026. <\/strong><\/p>\n

So, with that in mind, we look at ALL 28 races and showcase which horses are currently the 2026 Cheltenham Festival favourites in the ante-post betting.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

With most of the markets recently being shaken up by the results at the Dublin Racing Festival<\/a> at Leopardstown.<\/p>\n

Did you know? There were NINE winning Cheltenham Festival favourites (or joint) at the 2024 and 2025 meeting – meaning a 32% strike-rate over the last two seasons.<\/p>\n

How many Cheltenham bankers will win this season in 2026?<\/p>\n

When Is The Cheltenham Festival 2026? \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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

With the first six races each day covered on the ITV Racing schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n
    \n
  • <\/i> \ud83c\udfc7Tuesday 10th March 2026: Day 1 – Champion Day<\/li>\n
  • <\/i> \ud83c\udfc7Wednesday 11th March 2026: Day 2 – Ladies’ Day<\/li>\n
  • <\/i> \ud83c\udfc7Thursday 12th March 2026: Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday<\/li>\n
  • <\/i> \ud83c\udfc7Friday 13th March 2026: Day 4 – Gold Cup Day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/div>\n

    Ante-Post Cheltenham Festival Favourites 2026 – Day One (Tuesday 10th March 26): Old Course<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Cheltenham day one is normally a great opener for the Irish with nine winners over the last two years.<\/p>\n

    However, looking at the current state of play – the Irish only have ONE day one Cheltenham Festival favourite.<\/p>\n

    Which is recent DRF winner Backmersackme in the NH Chase for trainer Emmet Mullins.<\/p>\n

    Then it’s a wave of British-based runners – that include two Nicky Henderson hot-pots – Lulamba in the Arkle and Old Park Star in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.<\/p>\n

    The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained Jagwar, who landed the Plate 12 months ago, is also the current favourite for the Ultima.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Time
    \n<\/b><\/td>\n    		Race Name & Class
    \n<\/b><\/td>\n    		Distance
    \n<\/b><\/td>\n    		FAVOURITE\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nCountry\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nTrainer\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nOdds\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    1:20pm<\/td>\nSupreme Novices\u2019 Hurdle (Grade 1)<\/td>\n2m<\/td>\nOLD PARK STAR<\/strong><\/td>\n\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/td>\nNicky Henderson<\/td>\n2\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    2:00pm<\/td>\nArkle Challenge Trophy Novices\u2019 Chase (Grade 1)<\/td>\n2m<\/td>\nLULAMBA<\/strong><\/td>\n\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/td>\nNicky Henderson<\/td>\n6\/4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    2:40pm<\/td>\nHallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)<\/td>\n2m<\/td>\nWINSTON JUNIOR<\/strong><\/td>\n\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/td>\nFaye Bramley<\/td>\n5\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    3:20pm<\/td>\nUltima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)<\/td>\n3m 1f<\/td>\nJAGWAR<\/strong><\/td>\n\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/td>\nOliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero<\/td>\n7\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    4:00pm<\/td>\nChampion Hurdle (Grade 1)<\/td>\n2m<\/td>\nTHE NEW LION<\/strong><\/td>\n\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/td>\nDan Skelton<\/td>\n5\/2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    4:40pm<\/td>\nTrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)<\/td>\n2m 4f<\/td>\nMADARA<\/strong><\/td>\n\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/td>\nDan Skelton<\/td>\n10\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    5:20pm<\/td>\nNational Hunt Chase (Novices’ Handicap) (Class 2)<\/td>\n3m 6f<\/td>\nBACKMERSACKME<\/strong><\/td>\n\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea<\/td>\nEmmet Mullins<\/td>\n8\/1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    <\/div>\n

    WATCH: Golden Ace Winning The 2025 Champion Hurdle\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n