Cheltenham Festival | Road To The Roar: Championship races preview, traders' picks and quotes from key connections
02 Mar 2026
With only one week to go before the best week of the year gets underway, our final Cheltenham Festival preview includes a deep dive into the five Championship races, the top fancies from the Coral trading team, plus a handful of quotes from key connections of some of the biggest runners of the week – let's dive in!
CHAMPIONSHIP RACES
In what has been one of the more volatile years for long term betting, not many could have expected some of the markets we currently see at the start of the season. This is neatly reflected in the fact we offer 100/1 that at least four of last year's five winners retain their crowns, while none of the current reigning champions to retain their title is only 13/8.
The Champion Hurdle market has recovered from the Constitution Hill news to see The New Lion currently 9/4 favourite (from 5/2). He has always been towards the front of the market since last March and given all the defections, the price is perhaps surprisingly generous, although Lossiemouth's unclear participation will likely see movement one way or the other. Last year's Triumph Hurdle winner, Poniros, has been well bet in the last week or so and is a stand out 10/1 with Coral (from 12/1).
The Champion Chase looks a likely select field, with headgear mooted for last year's winner, Marine Nationale. If he jumps, Majborough looks a strong favourite, but that is an if, and last year's Arkle defeat does stick in the back of the mind. The rest will have to find improvement to get near the market leaders for us though.
The Ryanair Chase is a guess at present and in honesty, it could well be worth waiting for the final declarations to understand exactly who is running. Fact To File is yet to be confirmed in either this race or the Gold Cup, but if he does run here he will prove hard to beat.
The Stayers' Hurdle is shaping up to be a fascinating renewal. Last year's 1-2 for Robcour return in Bob Olinger & Teahupoo, but could there be a change of the guard? We have kept Dan Skelton's Kabral Du Mathan on side for months and now the trainer has committed him to the race he feels like a big runner. He was deeply impressive in both of his runs this year, and following the exact same path of winning a 2m3f Haydock handicap in November and the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham, as Stayers Hurdle winner More Of That did back in 2014.
Onto the big one, the 2026 Gold Cup, which is looking the most open it has for years. It looks like it will shape up into an amazing betting heat with or without Fact To File. It's always our second highest turnover race of the year behind the Grand National and this could smash records given the open nature of the race. Representation from both sides of the channel mean it really is a race to savour, and we can see it being a 5/1 the field on the day. Recent money has been for last year's victor Inothewayurthinkin, into 6/1 (from 16/1) in the last week, but it would be some performance for him to turn around what has been a bad season in Ireland thus far.
FESTIVAL PICKS FROM THE TRADING FLOOR
Talk The Talk (Supreme Novices' Hurdle – 9/2, Turners Novices' Hurdle – 3/1)
First up is Talk The Talk in either the Turners or Supreme, whichever he runs in. Joseph O'Brien has become adept with his jumps runners peaking at the festival in recent years, and I was really taken with his DRF win over two miles on heavy ground. Giving two well fancied rivals serious ground under a conservative ride, he flew home and really should be two for two in Grade 1 novices after his very unlucky fall at Christmas. The lack of a Willie Mullins superstar in either of the novice hurdles increases confidence and I'm sure his trainer will pick the best spot.
Highlands Legacy (Grand Annual – 10/1)
A dark horse for the festival could be Highlands Legacy in the Grand Annual. He reminds me of Jonjo O'Neill's previous Grand Annual winner, Sky Pirate, as a horse who dabbled with longer distances before really finding his metier at two miles. He is two from four this term with his runner-up efforts behind Mambonumberfive and Mighty Bandit arguably coming in the strongest two mile handicap chases run either side of the Irish sea all season. He only got home by a head in the Great Park Handicap Chase on the Winter Millions card but tanked through the race and seemed to be idling in front – we think there is much more to come.
Mydaddypaddy (Supreme Novices' Hurdle – 10/1)
And last but by no means least, Mydaddypaddy in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Dan Skelton’s runner had been the market leader for this contest through much of the first half of the season, only to be beaten on Boxing Day by the talented Idaho Sun. Harry Skelton was still educating his mount that day, conceding ground at the start and not giving him an overly hard race once his chance had gone. Several hurdles were omitted because of the low sun, yet the overall time remained notably strong. A truly run two miles around Cheltenham on decent spring ground should play far more to his strengths, and he looks capable of taking another step forward.
SPECIALS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Where else can we start but with the Prestbury Cup, the official name of the contest between Britain and Ireland that many pundits expect to be closer than recent years this time around. We're not so sure though, with Ireland 1/7 to have most winners, Britain are 9/2 and a tie is 14/1, and my own guess is the 'home team' will run the Irish closer this time around, so keep an eye out for handicap betting on this market as that could be the way to get involved in a bet that should provide interest over the four days.
Another market that will run for the duration of the Festival is top trainer, or more specifically top trainer without Willie Mullins, as the Closutton maestro is 1/4 to take the honour once again. The betting without Mullins market is far more interesting. We make Gordon Elliott 11/8 favourite, but Dan Skelton and Nicky Henderson lead the home challenge and I can't resist backing the former at 3/1. Dan is running away with the UK trainers' championship, he's assembled his strongest ever March team and will hopefully enjoy a successful week.
Mullins' main man Paul Townend is unsurprisingly favourite to be crowned top rider, but choosing the 'right' one from the yard's big team is not always easy and as a result, Mark Walsh looks the value at 2/1. This will be his last Festival riding as retained jockey to JP McManus and the powerful owner will be providing Walsh with plenty of ammunition across the four days. I expect the pair to be regular visitors to the winners' enclosure.
At the time of writing, all five Championship race winners from 2025 – Golden Ace, Marine Nationale, Fact To File, Bob Olinger and Inothewayurthinkin – are on track to defend their titles. Cheltenham is very much a 'horses for courses' track, so big runs from this quintet would be no surprise, but the odds suggest it could be hard going for them to reach last year's highs, with one winner from the five 11/10, and a blank 13/8. I'm more optimistic about their chances, and the 20/1 that three of them can repeat the feat looks big enough to tempt me in.
Finally, a couple of odds-on shots that stand out. Coral Ambassador Sean Bowen is still seeking his first Festival winner, but the champ will have a strong book of rides this time around and is correctly priced at 4/5 to end his hoodoo, while an official going description of good to soft for the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle can be expected, as odds of 1/3 confirm.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL SPECIALS – LATEST ODDS HERE
WHAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE SAYING
Trainer Gavin Cromwell isn't entirely convinced by the Gold Cup gamble on Inothewayurthinkin
"I'm much happier with him now. That said, I think a few people might be losing the run of themselves with the way his price is shortening up. It's still a very big ask, make no mistake about it, but I'm happy enough that he's finally going in the right direction and, please God, if we keep going in the right direction he'll run in the race anyway. He's starting to look a lot better in his coat and we're more optimistic than we were a couple of weeks ago, that's for sure. It's still a big ask, to come from where he was lying down at the back of the last fence at Leopardstown to winning a Gold Cup, but I'm definitely happier and fingers crossed he'll get there and give a good account of himself."
Owner Harry Redknapp is living the dream with his Gold Cup contender, The Jukebox Man
"I love it. It's a dream to have a horse to run in the Gold Cup and go there with a chance. I've had an awful lot of horses, and I still do, but this one has taken us places that you can only dream about as a racehorse owner. It'd be great, fantastic to win. I probably get more nervous watching a race than I was on the touchline; every jump I hold my breath. When you're watching a race there's nothing you can do, it's out of your hands, you want them to come back safe and sound. When you're a football manager, you know you've got half-time to have a chat or change things around, but you can't in a race. I'm feeling quite relaxed but I've found myself dreaming about him winning and I get all caught up, it'd be a great feeling. I keep seeing different scenarios of him coming to the last and I hope we're there."
Jockey Harry Skelton is very much looking forward to riding Champion Hurdle favourite The New Lion
"He's my best chance, definitely. I'll be honest, as a three-year-old he was backward and we wondered if he was any good. But every week he got better and better and the pace he showed when he won his bumper, we weren't expecting that. He was pretty flawless over hurdles and going into the Challow Hurdle last season I thought, ‘He’ll win, he'll just win; there ain't nothing going to beat him,’ and when I got off him I just thought: ‘Champion Hurdle'."
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – LATEST ANTE-POST BETTING
Members of Coral's Racing Trading Team and head of Coral PR, David Stevens, contributed to this article. All odds referenced are accurate as of 2pm 02/03/2026.
CHAMPIONSHIP RACES
In what has been one of the more volatile years for long term betting, not many could have expected some of the markets we currently see at the start of the season. This is neatly reflected in the fact we offer 100/1 that at least four of last year's five winners retain their crowns, while none of the current reigning champions to retain their title is only 13/8.
The Champion Hurdle market has recovered from the Constitution Hill news to see The New Lion currently 9/4 favourite (from 5/2). He has always been towards the front of the market since last March and given all the defections, the price is perhaps surprisingly generous, although Lossiemouth's unclear participation will likely see movement one way or the other. Last year's Triumph Hurdle winner, Poniros, has been well bet in the last week or so and is a stand out 10/1 with Coral (from 12/1).
The Champion Chase looks a likely select field, with headgear mooted for last year's winner, Marine Nationale. If he jumps, Majborough looks a strong favourite, but that is an if, and last year's Arkle defeat does stick in the back of the mind. The rest will have to find improvement to get near the market leaders for us though.
The Ryanair Chase is a guess at present and in honesty, it could well be worth waiting for the final declarations to understand exactly who is running. Fact To File is yet to be confirmed in either this race or the Gold Cup, but if he does run here he will prove hard to beat.
The Stayers' Hurdle is shaping up to be a fascinating renewal. Last year's 1-2 for Robcour return in Bob Olinger & Teahupoo, but could there be a change of the guard? We have kept Dan Skelton's Kabral Du Mathan on side for months and now the trainer has committed him to the race he feels like a big runner. He was deeply impressive in both of his runs this year, and following the exact same path of winning a 2m3f Haydock handicap in November and the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham, as Stayers Hurdle winner More Of That did back in 2014.
Onto the big one, the 2026 Gold Cup, which is looking the most open it has for years. It looks like it will shape up into an amazing betting heat with or without Fact To File. It's always our second highest turnover race of the year behind the Grand National and this could smash records given the open nature of the race. Representation from both sides of the channel mean it really is a race to savour, and we can see it being a 5/1 the field on the day. Recent money has been for last year's victor Inothewayurthinkin, into 6/1 (from 16/1) in the last week, but it would be some performance for him to turn around what has been a bad season in Ireland thus far.
FESTIVAL PICKS FROM THE TRADING FLOOR
Talk The Talk (Supreme Novices' Hurdle – 9/2, Turners Novices' Hurdle – 3/1)
First up is Talk The Talk in either the Turners or Supreme, whichever he runs in. Joseph O'Brien has become adept with his jumps runners peaking at the festival in recent years, and I was really taken with his DRF win over two miles on heavy ground. Giving two well fancied rivals serious ground under a conservative ride, he flew home and really should be two for two in Grade 1 novices after his very unlucky fall at Christmas. The lack of a Willie Mullins superstar in either of the novice hurdles increases confidence and I'm sure his trainer will pick the best spot.
Highlands Legacy (Grand Annual – 10/1)
A dark horse for the festival could be Highlands Legacy in the Grand Annual. He reminds me of Jonjo O'Neill's previous Grand Annual winner, Sky Pirate, as a horse who dabbled with longer distances before really finding his metier at two miles. He is two from four this term with his runner-up efforts behind Mambonumberfive and Mighty Bandit arguably coming in the strongest two mile handicap chases run either side of the Irish sea all season. He only got home by a head in the Great Park Handicap Chase on the Winter Millions card but tanked through the race and seemed to be idling in front – we think there is much more to come.
Mydaddypaddy (Supreme Novices' Hurdle – 10/1)
And last but by no means least, Mydaddypaddy in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Dan Skelton’s runner had been the market leader for this contest through much of the first half of the season, only to be beaten on Boxing Day by the talented Idaho Sun. Harry Skelton was still educating his mount that day, conceding ground at the start and not giving him an overly hard race once his chance had gone. Several hurdles were omitted because of the low sun, yet the overall time remained notably strong. A truly run two miles around Cheltenham on decent spring ground should play far more to his strengths, and he looks capable of taking another step forward.
SPECIALS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Where else can we start but with the Prestbury Cup, the official name of the contest between Britain and Ireland that many pundits expect to be closer than recent years this time around. We're not so sure though, with Ireland 1/7 to have most winners, Britain are 9/2 and a tie is 14/1, and my own guess is the 'home team' will run the Irish closer this time around, so keep an eye out for handicap betting on this market as that could be the way to get involved in a bet that should provide interest over the four days.
Another market that will run for the duration of the Festival is top trainer, or more specifically top trainer without Willie Mullins, as the Closutton maestro is 1/4 to take the honour once again. The betting without Mullins market is far more interesting. We make Gordon Elliott 11/8 favourite, but Dan Skelton and Nicky Henderson lead the home challenge and I can't resist backing the former at 3/1. Dan is running away with the UK trainers' championship, he's assembled his strongest ever March team and will hopefully enjoy a successful week.
Mullins' main man Paul Townend is unsurprisingly favourite to be crowned top rider, but choosing the 'right' one from the yard's big team is not always easy and as a result, Mark Walsh looks the value at 2/1. This will be his last Festival riding as retained jockey to JP McManus and the powerful owner will be providing Walsh with plenty of ammunition across the four days. I expect the pair to be regular visitors to the winners' enclosure.
At the time of writing, all five Championship race winners from 2025 – Golden Ace, Marine Nationale, Fact To File, Bob Olinger and Inothewayurthinkin – are on track to defend their titles. Cheltenham is very much a 'horses for courses' track, so big runs from this quintet would be no surprise, but the odds suggest it could be hard going for them to reach last year's highs, with one winner from the five 11/10, and a blank 13/8. I'm more optimistic about their chances, and the 20/1 that three of them can repeat the feat looks big enough to tempt me in.
Finally, a couple of odds-on shots that stand out. Coral Ambassador Sean Bowen is still seeking his first Festival winner, but the champ will have a strong book of rides this time around and is correctly priced at 4/5 to end his hoodoo, while an official going description of good to soft for the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle can be expected, as odds of 1/3 confirm.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL SPECIALS – LATEST ODDS HERE
WHAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE SAYING
Trainer Gavin Cromwell isn't entirely convinced by the Gold Cup gamble on Inothewayurthinkin
"I'm much happier with him now. That said, I think a few people might be losing the run of themselves with the way his price is shortening up. It's still a very big ask, make no mistake about it, but I'm happy enough that he's finally going in the right direction and, please God, if we keep going in the right direction he'll run in the race anyway. He's starting to look a lot better in his coat and we're more optimistic than we were a couple of weeks ago, that's for sure. It's still a big ask, to come from where he was lying down at the back of the last fence at Leopardstown to winning a Gold Cup, but I'm definitely happier and fingers crossed he'll get there and give a good account of himself."
Owner Harry Redknapp is living the dream with his Gold Cup contender, The Jukebox Man
"I love it. It's a dream to have a horse to run in the Gold Cup and go there with a chance. I've had an awful lot of horses, and I still do, but this one has taken us places that you can only dream about as a racehorse owner. It'd be great, fantastic to win. I probably get more nervous watching a race than I was on the touchline; every jump I hold my breath. When you're watching a race there's nothing you can do, it's out of your hands, you want them to come back safe and sound. When you're a football manager, you know you've got half-time to have a chat or change things around, but you can't in a race. I'm feeling quite relaxed but I've found myself dreaming about him winning and I get all caught up, it'd be a great feeling. I keep seeing different scenarios of him coming to the last and I hope we're there."
Jockey Harry Skelton is very much looking forward to riding Champion Hurdle favourite The New Lion
"He's my best chance, definitely. I'll be honest, as a three-year-old he was backward and we wondered if he was any good. But every week he got better and better and the pace he showed when he won his bumper, we weren't expecting that. He was pretty flawless over hurdles and going into the Challow Hurdle last season I thought, ‘He’ll win, he'll just win; there ain't nothing going to beat him,’ and when I got off him I just thought: ‘Champion Hurdle'."
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – LATEST ANTE-POST BETTING
Members of Coral's Racing Trading Team and head of Coral PR, David Stevens, contributed to this article. All odds referenced are accurate as of 2pm 02/03/2026.
Share
