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Cheltenham Festival 2026 Thread

CafcSteve
CafcSteve Posts: 938
edited January 25 in General Charlton

About a month and a half to go now.

Anyone got any Ante-Post bets?

Lots of people will have already lost various acca’s with Sir Gino this morning being ruled out of the Champion Hurdle.

Comments

  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,379
    since attending last year haven't really followed much, im actually in Ireland for the festival this year meaning my 14 year run of attending is over. last year done 2 separate day trips and just a lot of hassle and aggro and bloody expensive. 

    not much in they way of ante posts. 

    Lulamba wins the arkle im on for £240 return with various ante post bets. 

    will post my backs/fancies on here every day will likely have a scan through some previews over the next coming days and get the flavour, think it could be quite an open festival this year with the usual mullins bingo 
  • superclive98
    superclive98 Posts: 5,133
    Marine Nationale being ruled out of the Champion Chase has robbed the race of a decent match up.
    Majborough now odds-on.
  • AFKABartram
    AFKABartram Posts: 58,661
    Looked last week at tickets, but train prices made it a write off 
  • Elthamaddick
    Elthamaddick Posts: 16,217
    Looked last week at tickets, but train prices made it a write off 
    Fly to Benidorm and watch it there, probably cheaper
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,592
    Looked last week at tickets, but train prices made it a write off 
    We paid £63 for Club Enclosure Super Early Bird tickets & £50 for the advance train tickets, booked in December.
  • CafcSteve
    CafcSteve Posts: 938
    Marine Nationale being ruled out of the Champion Chase has robbed the race of a decent match up.
    Majborough now odds-on.
    Lots of people thought that Majborough was a banker in The Arkle last year but he got beat there.
  • AFKABartram
    AFKABartram Posts: 58,661
    Looked last week at tickets, but train prices made it a write off 
    We paid £63 for Club Enclosure Super Early Bird tickets & £50 for the advance train tickets, booked in December.
    Train now £150
  • superclive98
    superclive98 Posts: 5,133
    CafcSteve said:
    Marine Nationale being ruled out of the Champion Chase has robbed the race of a decent match up.
    Majborough now odds-on.
    Lots of people thought that Majborough was a banker in The Arkle last year but he got beat there.
    He did get beaten but despite the massive mistakes that he made he still rallied and nearly won.
    His performance at the DRF was sensational and mistake free.
  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,379
    Let’s see how this plays out after the festival asked ChatGPT to do me a preview and tips. 

    Here’s a Cheltenham Festival 2026 preview with one main tip for every race (plus a quick reason). I’ve grouped it day-by-day so it’s easier if you’re following the meeting. The Festival runs 10–13 March 2026 with 28 races across four days

    (Tips are based on current form, market vibes and early previews — final declarations can change fields.)


    🏇 Cheltenham Festival 2026 – Full Preview & Tips

    📅 Day 1 – Champion Day (Tuesday)

    1:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: Old Park Star

    • Strong Irish form and big ante-post support.

    • Huge engine and travels strongly in big fields.

    2:00 – Arkle Novices’ Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Lulamba

    • Electric jumper with serious pace.

    • Has the profile of a typical Arkle winner.

    2:40 – Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Boodles)
    ⭐ Tip: Saratoga

    • Well treated and tipped strongly in early markets. 

    3:20 – Ultima Handicap Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Monmiral

    • Stays well and handles big-field handicaps.

    4:00 – Champion Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: Lossiemouth

    • Class mare and proven Grade 1 performer.

    • Expected to be a leading contender. 

    4:40 – Plate Handicap Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Il Ridoto

    • Strong Cheltenham form and consistent chaser.

    5:20 – National Hunt Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Captain Teague

    • Powerful stayer; looks ideal for the long trip.


    📅 Day 2 – Ladies Day (Wednesday)

    1:20 – Turners Novices’ Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: No Drama This End

    • Progressive and expected to improve for the step up. 

    2:00 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Final Demand

    • Top staying novice profile.

    2:40 – BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: Potters Charm

    • Progressive handicapper with strong recent runs.

    3:20 – Cross Country Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Vanillier

    • Specialist at the discipline and thrives over these fences.

    4:00 – Queen Mother Champion Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Majborough

    • One of the most heavily backed horses for the Festival. 

    4:40 – Grand Annual Handicap Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Dinoblue

    • Class mare with excellent chase record. 

    5:20 – Champion Bumper
    ⭐ Tip: Bambino Fever

    • Top Irish bumper form.


    📅 Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday

    1:20 – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: Aurora Vega

    • Well bred and unbeaten this season.

    2:00 – Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Regent’s Stroll

    • Progressive novice who jumps well.

    2:40 – Mares’ Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: Wodhooh

    • Strong contender if the favourite swerves the race. 

    3:20 – Stayers’ Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: Teahupoo

    • Outstanding stayer and unbeaten this season. 

    4:00 – Ryanair Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Fact To File

    • Strong traveller who looks perfect for 2m4f.

    4:40 – Pertemps Final
    ⭐ Tip: Monmiral

    • Could double up here if going this route.

    5:20 – Kim Muir
    ⭐ Tip: Stumptown

    • Ideal amateur jockey handicap type.


    📅 Day 4 – Gold Cup Day

    1:20 – Triumph Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: Lark In The Mornin

    • Strong juvenile form and improving.

    2:00 – County Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: Puturhandstogether

    • Looks well handicapped and suited by the race. (popular each-way fancy)

    2:40 – Mares’ Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Allegorie De Vassy

    • Top-class mare over fences.

    3:20 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: Jasmin De Vaux

    • Tough stayer and typical Bartlett type.

    4:00 – Cheltenham Gold Cup
    ⭐ Tip: Galopin Des Champs

    • Still the benchmark staying chaser.

    4:40 – Hunter Chase
    ⭐ Tip: Its On The Line

    • Proven hunter and festival performer.

    5:20 – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
    ⭐ Tip: A Pai De Nom

    • Well handicapped and strongly fancied ante-post. 


    💰 Best Bets of the Week

    If you want a shortlist of the strongest plays:

    • ⭐ Majborough – Champion Chase

    • ⭐ Teahupoo – Stayers’ Hurdle

    • ⭐ Lossiemouth – Champion Hurdle

    • ⭐ Fact To File – Ryanair Chase

    • ⭐ Galopin Des Champs – Gold Cup


    ✅ If you want, I can also give you:

    • My best bet for every day (NAPs)

    • A Cheltenham Lucky 15

    • 10 big-price each-way tips (20/1+) that often win the handicaps.

    Please give me 10 big price each way tips 

    Here are 10 big-price each-way Cheltenham Festival 2026 tips (roughly 16/1–50/1 range). These are the types of runners that often hit the frame in big handicaps, where each-way betting at Cheltenham is very profitable due to large fields. 

    I’ve focused mainly on handicaps and tricky races, because that’s where outsiders regularly place or win.


    💰 10 Big-Price Each-Way Cheltenham Tips (2026)

    1️⃣ O’Moore Park – Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase

    💰 ~33/1

    • Solid handicap form this season.

    • Ran well in a big Leopardstown handicap and could be well treated. 


    2️⃣ Jingko Blue – Coral Cup

    💰 ~20/1

    • Has a higher chase rating than hurdle mark, suggesting he could be well handicapped.

    • Strong yard record in the race. 


    3️⃣ Hello Neighbour – County Hurdle

    💰 ~25/1

    • Fits several historical trends for the race.

    • Ran in Grade 1 company and now drops into handicap company. 


    4️⃣ Karl Des Tourelles – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

    💰 ~40/1–50/1

    • Has Cheltenham experience and could revert to hurdles after chasing.

    • Strong trends profile for the race. 


    5️⃣ Relieved Of Duties – Grand Annual

    💰 ~33/1

    • Well treated if getting into the race.

    • Has the speed profile that suits the Grand Annual. 


    6️⃣ Moon Rocket – Ultima Handicap Chase

    💰 ~40/1–50/1

    • Massive price but has been mentioned as a potential target horse.

    • Big staying handicap where shocks happen regularly. 


    7️⃣ Madara – Plate Handicap Chase

    💰 ~16/1–20/1

    • Could be laid out for the race by Dan Skelton’s yard.

    • Progressive chaser with solid form. 


    8️⃣ Munsif – Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Boodles)

    💰 ~25/1

    • Unexposed juvenile who could improve significantly. 


    9️⃣ Grey Dawning – Cheltenham Gold Cup

    💰 ~12/1–14/1 EW value

    • Betfair Chase winner with previous Festival success.

    • Big run possible if reproducing Haydock form. 


    🔟 Mon Creuset – Triumph Hurdle

    💰 ~25/1–33/1

    • Mentioned by trainer as a potential Festival dark horse


    ⭐ If you only back 3 each-way this week

    My best big-price plays would be:

    1. Jingko Blue – Coral Cup

    2. Hello Neighbour – County Hurdle

    3. Karl Des Tourelles – Martin Pipe

    Those races historically produce massive-priced winners and places.

  • smiffyboy
    smiffyboy Posts: 4,316
    Looked last week at tickets, but train prices made it a write off 
    Fly to Benidorm and watch it there, probably cheaper
    Have you seen the weather forecast for Benidorm next week? Rain everyday !!!!

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  • Elthamaddick
    Elthamaddick Posts: 16,217
    smiffyboy said:
    Looked last week at tickets, but train prices made it a write off 
    Fly to Benidorm and watch it there, probably cheaper
    Have you seen the weather forecast for Benidorm next week? Rain everyday !!!!
    home from home then....just with cheaper beer!
  • kinveachyaddick
    kinveachyaddick Posts: 4,157
    Chelts in Benidorm does look spot on. Will be doing it next year for a bunch of us to celebrate reaching the Half Century...

    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/12/booze-and-bets-in-benidorm-welcome-to-the-costa-del-cheltenham
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,592
    Looked last week at tickets, but train prices made it a write off 
    We paid £63 for Club Enclosure Super Early Bird tickets & £50 for the advance train tickets, booked in December.
    Train now £150
    We always book on the first available cheap day, 12 weeks in advance.
  • R0TW
    R0TW Posts: 1,847
    smiffyboy said:
    Looked last week at tickets, but train prices made it a write off 
    Fly to Benidorm and watch it there, probably cheaper
    Have you seen the weather forecast for Benidorm next week? Rain everyday !!!!
    Supposed to be going out there Wednesday afternoon.
    Flights only.
    If weather continues on prediction, will stay at home
  • superclive98
    superclive98 Posts: 5,133
    Galopin des Champs ruled out of the Gold Cup.
  • ValleyGary
    ValleyGary Posts: 38,418
    I’m in Benidorm from Monday to Saturday!
  • superclive98
    superclive98 Posts: 5,133
    I’m in Benidorm from Monday to Saturday!
    Hope you've taken a brollie!!
    To be honest, it's still better than paying the extornionate prices for tickets, accommodation and beers in Cheltenham.
  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,379
    Gold cup market now like that of a handicap on Gaelic warrior at 10/1 ante post £24 on 
    and have backed Spillanes tower at 16/1 nrnb
  • PeanutsMolloy
    PeanutsMolloy Posts: 6,847
    Gold cup market now like that of a handicap on Gaelic warrior at 10/1 ante post £24 on 
    and have backed Spillanes tower at 16/1 nrnb
    Me too.
  • ValleyGary
    ValleyGary Posts: 38,418
    I’m in Benidorm from Monday to Saturday!
    Hope you've taken a brollie!!
    To be honest, it's still better than paying the extornionate prices for tickets, accommodation and beers in Cheltenham.
    My weather app saying dry most of the week. And even if it rains it’s only like an hour.

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  • superclive98
    superclive98 Posts: 5,133
    I’m in Benidorm from Monday to Saturday!
    Hope you've taken a brollie!!
    To be honest, it's still better than paying the extornionate prices for tickets, accommodation and beers in Cheltenham.
    My weather app saying dry most of the week. And even if it rains it’s only like an hour.
    I hope your app is correct.
    I know where I'd rather be and it isn't in Gloucestershire.
  • ValleyGary
    ValleyGary Posts: 38,418
    edited March 7
    Tbf if I have to get pissed inside I still will!
  • palarsehater
    palarsehater Posts: 12,379
    watched the upping the ante preview yesterday morning to get the juices flowing, i think not attending this year has had an affect, instead am flying over to ireland tuesday evening and then down to Galway for Wednesday and Thursday then up to tyrellspass co westmeath for gold cup and then have my father in laws anniversary mass on Saturday. 

    I've summarised below the preview for those intertested:

    upping the ante preview  - racing post
    Tuesday  Johnny Dineen Gary Obrien  David Jennings 
    supreme  mighty park el cairos 
    arkle  lulamba kopek des bordes
    fred winter mustang du brueil glen to glen 
    ultima handicap  jagwar/iroko ( if runs ) jagwar/iroko ( if runs ) jagwar 
    champion hurdle the new lion the new lion
    plate handicap  mclaurey  slade steel
    national hunt challenge cup one big bang  wade out  karrasso blue 

    Wednesday 
    turners sober no drama this end/sober
    brown advisory  wendigo  wendigo 
    handicap hurdle  putyourhandstogether iberico lord
    cross country  karre das favouri de champdou  desertmore house
    champion chase marjborough marjborough
    grand annual  vanderpoel inthepocket release the beast
    wetherbys bumper  its only a game out of africa 

    Thursday 
    mares novice hurdle  carrigmoornaspruce ew bambino fever bambino fever
    golden miller  meetmebythesea koktail divin/slade steel
    close brothers mares wodhooh losseiemouth 
    stayers hurdle  impose toi ew teahupoo 
    ryanair  banbridge ew fact to file
    pertemps  electric mason  minella sixo ew electric mason
    kim muir  waterford whispers waterford whispers jeriko du reponet

    Friday 
    triumph  proactif  proactif  proactif 
    county hurdle  murcia  hello neighbour 
    mares chase jade de grugy ew only by night only by night
    albert bartlett espresso milan  moneygarrow ew
    gold cup  spillanes tower spillanes tower
    hunters cup  its on the line  wonderwall 
    martin pipe  jump allen  kel histoire  he cant dance ew

    naps 
    JD  the new lion 
    gob wade out 
    DJ  proactif 

    lays 
    JD  old park star
    gob lulamba arkle 
    DJ  dr steinberg ab 

    each way plays 
    JD  carrigmoorespruce mares
    gob moneygarrow ab 
    DJ  inthepocket grand annual