It’s nearly time for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival! The best horses from the UK, Ireland and a handful of European raiders will lock horns around Prestbury Park for four days of exhilarating horse racing in front of packed grandstands and happy punters.
With Day 1 fast approaching, take a look at the best Cheltenham Festival betting and horse racing odds across the opening day’s racing. There is plenty to study ahead of what promises to be some memorable and fascinating matchups, with the Champion Hurdle the highlight.
Also, take a look at our exclusive Cheltenham Festival Offer for Day 1. Simply place a £10 bet on the first race and get a £5 Free Bet if you lose.
*All odds are correct at time of publication but subject to change, tipped horses may also become non-runners
1.20pm – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
Get ready for the famous Cheltenham roar when the tapes go up for this race, as some of the best two-mile novices in the sport line-up for this thrilling clash. Looking back in history, horses such as Constitution Hill, Shishkin and Vautour have won this race before going onto even bigger and better things, and there are one or two in this line-up who could eventually etch their names into racing folklore. El Cairos, Mighty Park and Talk the Talk have big chances to win this for Ireland, but we believe Nicky Henderson has another potential superstar with Old Park Star. He hacked up here on his penultimate start before trouncing a Grade 2 field at Haydock last time. There are shades of Constitution Hill to his style and he can get favourite backers off to the perfect start.
Selection – OLD PARK STAR – 9/4
Each-way – El Cairos – 7/1
2pm – Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 2m
Only a field of seven are set to go to post for this top-quality race, but it is still a tricky renewal to predict. Last year’s Supreme winner, Kopek des Bordes is a worthy favourite having impressed over the larger obstacles to date with one win at Navan. However, one run over fences is a slight concern as Cheltenham’s sticks at a frenetic pace take some jumping. We think Henderson can get another one over the Irish contingent as his Lulamba sets the standard. He has won all three chases convincingly and can add another Arkle success to the Henderson stable.
Selection – LULAMBA – 13/8
2.40pm – McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – 2m
The first of Cheltenham’s real head-scratching races is here, posing a real puzzler for punters as a maximum field of 22 line-up over two miles. There are plenty of contenders to select from but we have managed to whittle it down to three who we believe will be right there at the finish. Henderson has another great chance to start the Festival on a high as Manlaga has impressed in three runs so far. She stormed to victory at Haydock last time and rates a big danger. However, we believe Ammes can give champion jockey, Sean Bowen, a first Festival winner. He has had a break over hurdles since losing to leading Triumph contender, Minella Study, at Wetherby and can get his nose in front here. For each-way backers, Madness d’Elle, can run well. He won nicely at Gowran Park last time and can pick up some place money for the Mullins clan.
Selection – AMMES – 15/2
Each-way – Madness d’Elle – 16/1
3.20pm – Ultima Handicap Chase – 3m1f
Another handicap and another fascinating renewal of this extended three-mile race, which sees loads of horses in-form and ready to do battle. Jagwar is the worthy favourite here having won at the Festival last season over 2m4f. This step up in trip could be the making of him and we believe that he can bring home the bacon and make it a Festival double for his connections. With plenty of rivals, we think Paul Nicholls’ Quebecois can chase our pick home. He is a consistent type and has been running well without getting his nose in front. His best runs have been over three miles and he could go well at nice odds.
Selection – JAGWAR – 15/4
Each-way – Quebecois – 17/2
4pm – Champion Hurdle – 2m
With the news that the legendary Constitution Hill will not run, and State Man’s injury keeping him out, the race may have lost some of its prestige but there are still some high-quality horses in the field, with a duel set up between Lossiemouth and The New Lion. Both horses are improving youngsters with some great form to their names, and both possess unbeaten Cheltenham records. However, we are siding with The New Lion narrowly, as his speed off a fast pace could prove decisive. The ultra-tough Golden Ace will undoubtedly run a big race again.
Selection – THE NEW LION – 11/4
Each-way – Golden Ace – 15/2
4.40pm – Racing Plate Handicap Chase – 2m4f
Yet another fiendishly difficult handicap to decipher as 22 yet again take to the tape in a bid for Festival glory. Some of these horses have run plenty of times at the Festival, so know all about the thrills and spills of a big field like this. In terms of two we particularly like, we think Zurich can edge out his rivals to win. He won here comfortably in October over course and distance, and is progressive and carries a low weight. He could be a tough nut to crack. For those feasting their eyes on longer odds, Guard Your Dreams should run well. He won at Warwick last time out and goes very well round Cheltenham.
Selection – ZURICH – 10/1
Each-way – Guard Your Dreams – 22/1
5.20pm – National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase – 3m6f
The final race of an exhausting opening day is the National Hunt Cup, run over almost four miles. So a horse that is guaranteed to stay the distance is one to side with. Our selection for this 17-runner race is the Rebecca Curtis-trained, Newton Tornado. There are question marks over his jumping but if he gets into a rhythm, he has a brilliant chance to land this prestigious trophy. We think King of Answers rates a threat to our pick. He won handsomely at Kelso last time and is primed to step up in trip.
Selection – NEWTON TORNADO – 9/2
Each-way – King of Answers – 10/1
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