Cheltenham Festival 2026 Betting Tips & Betting Offers

The New Lion 15/8 (Bet365)

Lossiemouth 5/2 (Ladbrokes)

Brighterdaysahead 4/1 (BetFred)

Golden Ace 7/1 (BetFred)

 

The Champion Hurdle is the big feature race of day one, and looks set to be an open one this year. In 2023, Constitution Hill started as the 4/11 favourite and won by 9 lengths from State Man. In the 2024 renewal, Constitution Hill was injured, so State Man took advantage winning the race himself as the 2/5 odds on favourite.

 

And then last year, we had the showdown, the rematch. Only Constitution Hill, the 1/2 favourite fell, leaving the race there for the taking for 8/1 State Man, but he fell too. The mare, Brighterdaysahead, 5/2 second favourite, was hampered but was already weakening anyway, and the race opened up kindly for 25/1 outsider, Golden Ace who took her chance well.

 

It was a race described as, “The most dramatic Champion Hurdle you will ever see”

 

Go and watch it here, if this drama doesn’t get you ready for Cheltenham, nothing will.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK9nTkquE6k

 

But to this year’s renewal. Constitution Hill is out, after falling in 3 of his last 4 races over jumps. He has been switched to the flat and absolutely cruised home on his debut at Southwell. State Man has been ruled out for the season with injury.

 

We think connections of Lossiemouth have finally decided to aim for the Champions Hurdle; a flurry of bets on her makes it seem that way. The New Lion has been installed as favourite, and Brighterdaysahead and Golden Ace complete the first four in the market.

 

We fancy Brighterdaysahead to get the job done this time. We know that connections are extremely excited about her chances this time, and we don’t believe it is misplaced confidence. She defeated Lossiemouth in the Irish Champions Hurdle back in February and we expect her to confirm that form.

 

Do not rule out last year’s winner, Golden Ace, though, and at odds of 6/1 she is a live each way chance at the very least. 

 

 

Majborough 4/5 (Bet365)

L’Eau du Sud 7/2 (Ladbrokes)

Il Etait Temps 5/1 (Coral)

Qulixios 7/1 (BetFred)

Jonbon 12/1 (Ladbrokes)

Solness 33/1 (Bet365)

 

Majborough is the correct favourite for this race. He has never finished outside the top 3 in his career and has winning form at Cheltenham. That is often a key indicator. L’Eau du Sud could be a danger. The one to look out for at a price is Solness. You can get 33/1 about him and he looks to have a very good chance of at least running into a place.

 

Majborough 4/5 Champions Chase (Bet365) – 8 points

Solness 33/1 Champion Chase (Bet365) – 1 point EW

Fact To File 8/13 (Ladbrokes)

Banbridge 6/1 (Bet365)

Heart Wood 7/1 (Bet365)

 

We think Fact To File is as much of a banker as you will get at this festival. The decision to not supplement him for the Gold Cup means connections were not convinced he would have won that. But WE are certain he will successfully defend his Ryanair crown instead.

 

Selection: Fact To File 8/13 Ryanair Chase (Ladbrokes) – 10 points

 

Gaelic Warrior 7/2 (BetFred)

Jango Baie 4/1 (Ladbrokes)

The Jukebox Man 4/1 (Coral)

Haiti Couleurs 13/2 (Bet365)

Inothewayurthinkin 13/2 (BetFred)

Grey Dawning 11/1 (Bet365)

 

The greatest race of all, in the greatest festival of all; the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The race is a real pickle this year, though. The big news of course, is that Galopin des Champs, the runner-up last year and winner of the race in 2023 and 2024 has been ruled out through injury. As already mentioned, Fact To File goes to the Ryanair. 

 

Nobody seem’s to fancy last year’s winner, Inothewayurthinkin, who has had an extremely poor season. But he did last year too, before winning the Gold Cup, and the previous year, before winning the Kim Muir. He seems to come alive at Cheltenham, and there is no doubt that Gavin Cromwell will have built his season with the Gold Cup in mind.

 

It seems that almost by default, Gaelic Warrior has become the bookmaker’s favourite. But we see holes in him too, and he can definitely be taken on. 

 

Jango Baie won the Arkle last year and has to be a strong fancy, but we are leaning towards The Jukebox Man. He has been in sensational form this season, winning 4 out of 4 races, including the King George VI at Kempton on Boxing Day.

 

We do also like Grey Dawning at bigger odds and will be having a small each way play there.

The Jukebox Man 4/1 Gold Cup (Coral) – 4 points

Grey Dawning 11/1 Gold Cup (Bet365) – 1 point EW

We also like a few horses at bigger odds in other races:

 

We will be having a small stake on all of those.

 

At Cheltenham bookmakers often give out special offers and looking out for these can be vital to your betting plan.

 

Bet365 will be offering a Super Boost every single day of the festival, from 9AM every day. This will usually be an odds-on favourite boosted from 1/2, 2/7, 1/3, etc, to 1/1 (Evens). 

 

Click this link to get the daily Bet365 Cheltenham Festival 2026 Super Boost.

 

As well as the Super Boost, Bet365 are also offering:

 

• Position Payout will be available on Cheltenham races.
• 6 Horse Challenge will be available daily – prize pools are TBC.
• Each Way Extra & Non-Runner No Bet
• Live Streaming will be available in the UK/IRE territories.

BetFred are also doing a great promotion every day, stake £10 on the first race of the day, (the 13.20) and receive a free £10 bet for any other race at Cheltenham that day. You can find that here: https://www.betfred.com/promotion/sports-cheltenham-2026-bet-10-get-10

Please note, you will need to opt in every day for the BetFred offer.

 

Old Park Star 9/4  Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Ladbrokes) – 6 points

Lulamba 7/4 Arkle (BetFred) – 5 points

Majborough 4/5 Champions Chase (Bet365) – 8 points

Solness 33/1 Champion Chase (Bet365) – 1 point EW

Fact To File 8/13 Ryanair Chase (Ladbrokes) – 10 points

The Jukebox Man 4/1 Gold Cup(Coral) – 4 points

Grey Dawning 11/1 Gold Cup(Bet365) – 1 point EW

Kizlyar 20/1 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Bet365) – 1 point EW  

Prends Garde A Toi 16/1 Kim Muir (Bet365) – 1 point EW

Jubilee Apha 28/1 County Hurdle (Bet365) – 1 point EW

Panic Attack 4/1 Mares Chase (Bet365) – 3 points EW