Get all the Cheltenham Festival 2026 ante-post tips, predictions, previews and best bets from our team of expert tipsters.
Cheltenham Races
Run for sponsorship purposes, as the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle since 2012, the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle is run in memory of David “The Duke” Nicholson, a successful National Hunt jockey and trainer, who died of a heart attack in 2006, at the age of 67. The race is currently scheduled as fourth race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March each year, but is a recent addition to the Festival, having been run for the first time in 2008. On that occasion, it was run on the New Course on the final day, but was switched to the Old Course on the opening day the following year, where it has remained ever since.
The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle is run over 2 miles 3 furlongs and 200 yards and, since 2015, has been a Grade 1 contest, which means that the weight carried by each horse is determined by age. The race is restricted to mares aged four years and upwards.
To say the race has been ‘farmed’ by Willie Mullins in no understatement, because the Co. Carlow trainer has saddled all but one of the nine winners so far. Those winners included the extraordinary Quevega (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Glens Melody (2015) and Vroum Vroum Mag (2016). Ruby Walsh rode Quevega to all six victories and Vroum Vroum Mag for a total of seven wins.
Cheltenham Festival Ante-post Tips 2026
On this page, you will find the latest ante-post bets for Cheltenham, including the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Champion Hurdle from day 1, the Champion Chase on Wednesday, Thursday’s Ryanair Chase and Stayers Hurdle and the big race of the week, Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. We will have previews of the big races, the latest odds, betting offers and much more ahead of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham 2025 Day 1 Ante-post Tips
| TIMES | RACE | Ante-post Tip |
| 13:20 | The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | Mydaddypaddy (8/1) |
| 14:00 | The Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | |
| 14:40 | The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | |
| 15:20 | The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | |
| 16:00 | The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) | |
| 16:40 | The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | |
| 17:20 | The Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase |
Cheltenham 2026 Day 2 Ante-post Tips
| TIMES | RACE | Ante-post Tip |
| 13:20 | The Turners Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | Sober Glory (25/1) |
| 14:00 | The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase | |
| 14:40 | The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) | |
| 15:20 | The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase | |
| 16:00 | The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | |
| 16:40 | The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap) | |
| 17.20 | The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) |
Cheltenham 2026 Day 3 Ante-post Tips
| TIMES | RACE | Ante-post Tip |
| 13:20 | The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) | |
| 14:00 | The Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase | |
| 14:40 | The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | |
| 15:20 | The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | |
| 16:00 | The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) | |
| 16:40 | The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap.) | |
| 17.20 | The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase |
Cheltenham 2026 Day 4 Ante-post Tips
| TIMES | RACE | Tip |
| 13:20 | The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) | |
| 14:00 | The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap) | |
| 14:40 | The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2) | |
| 15:20 | The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | |
| 16:00 | The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | |
| 16:40 | The St. James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase | |
| 17:20 | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-145) |
Cheltenham 2026 Free Bet Offers for New Customers
We’re huge fans of Cheltenham here, and as well as the best betting tips on the festival, you’ll also find a huge range of free bets available to back them with. We’ll post all the top free bets available below, while if you head to our Cheltenham Festival free bets page you’ll find plenty more, as well as all the details you need to sign-up and start playing.
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Cheltenham Festival Tips 2026 – The Essential Guide
- Do your research – Before placing any bets, make sure you research the horses, jockeys, and trainers involved in each race. Look at their past performances, form, and track record, as well as any relevant factors such as the track conditions and weather.
- Consider the odds – Look at the odds offered by different bookmakers and compare them to the perceived chances of each horse winning. This will help you determine if there is any value in the bet and avoid backing overpriced horses.
- Look for early value – Sometimes the best value bets can be found in the early races of the day before the bookmakers adjust their odds based on the results of previous races.
- Consider multiple betting markets – There are a variety of betting markets available for each race, including win, place, and each-way bets, as well as exotic bets such as exactas and trifectas. Consider the different markets and bet types to find the one that offers the best value for your chosen horse.
- Manage your bankroll – Set a budget for your betting and stick to it. Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose and consider using a staking plan to help manage your bets.
When Is This Year’s Cheltenham Festival & How Do I Watch It?
The Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 10th March until Friday 13th March this year, with a host of fantastic races each day. The star event, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, takes place on the Friday with typically a 3.30pm start. This will be confirmed in the lead-up to the event.
Ladies Day falls on the Wednesday and is one of the most popular days of the festival.
All races are available to watch through ITV’s coverage, with the ITV Racing team offering up plenty of betting tips and insight, particularly Ruby Walsh who is one of the festival’s real legends, having ridden more winners than anyone else at the event.
It’s always an intense schedule, with seven races per day. You can find the full schedule below:
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 Schedule
Day One: Champion Day – Tuesday, March 10th:
| TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE |
| 13:20 | The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | 2m |
| 14:00 | The Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) | 2m |
| 14:40 | The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) | 3m abt 1f |
| 15:20 | The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | 3m 1f |
| 16:00 | The Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m |
| 16:40 | The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) | 2m 4f |
| 17:20 | The Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase | 3m abt 6f |
Day Two: Ladies Day – Wednesday, March 11th:
| TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE |
| 13:20 | The Turners Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | 2m abt 5f |
| 14:00 | The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase | 3m |
| 14:40 | The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) | 2m abt 5f |
| 15:20 | The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase | 3m abt 5½f |
| 16:00 | The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | Abt 2m |
| 16:40 | The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap) | 2m |
| 17.20 | The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) | 2m |
Day Three: St Patrick’s Thursday – Thursday, March 12th:
| TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE |
| 13:20 | The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m 1f |
| 14:00 | The Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase | 2m 4f |
| 14:40 | The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m 4f |
| 15:20 | The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m |
| 16:00 | The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) | 2m 4f |
| 16:40 | The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap.) | 2m 7f |
| 17.20 | The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase | 3m 2f |
Day Four: Gold Cup Day – Friday, March 14th:
| TIMES | RACE | DISTANCE |
| 13:20 | The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m |
| 14:00 | The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap) | 2m |
| 14:40 | The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2) | 2m 4f |
| 15:20 | The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | 3m |
| 16:00 | The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | 3m 2f |
| 16:40 | The St. James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase | 3m 2f |
| 17:20 | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (0-145) | 2m 4f |
Who has the best Cheltenham Festival Ante-post Betting Tips?
There are many reputable sources for Cheltenham betting tips, including professional tipsters, horse racing experts, and online sports betting sites. Here are some of the best sources for Cheltenham betting tips:
- Racing Post – The Racing Post is a leading horse racing newspaper that offers expert tips and analysis for all the races at the Cheltenham Festival.
- At The Races – At The Races is a popular online horse racing site that offers tips, previews, and analysis for Cheltenham and other major racing events.
- Timeform – Timeform is a well-respected provider of horse racing data and analysis. They offer Cheltenham betting tips and previews, as well as racecards and results.
- OLBG – OLBG (Online Betting Guide) is a community of expert tipsters and sports bettors who share their insights and tips on a range of sports, including horse racing. They offer Cheltenham betting tips and previews, as well as a variety of betting tools and resources.
- Betfair – Betfair is a leading online sports betting site that offers Cheltenham betting tips, odds, and promotions. They also have a community of expert bettors who share their insights and strategies.
Remember that while Cheltenham betting tips can be helpful, they are not a guarantee of success. It’s important to do your own research, consider multiple sources, and make informed bets based on your own analysis and risk management strategies. Also, please remember to gamble responsibly.
Brand New Bookies for Cheltenham 2026
Betting on Cheltenham Ante-post Tips – Key Questions Answered
What if the horse I backed doesn’t run the Cheltenham Gold Cup or any other antepost bet I’ve placed?
For most antepost bets, you’ll find that bookmakers will offer a non-runner no bet offer for Cheltenham 2026, which means that if your horse doesn’t line up in the starting gates, then you’ll receive your stake back into your betting account. This isn’t the case with every bookmaker, so make sure you look for markets that do offer this.
Can I place an each-way bet on the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Each-way bets can be placed on any race during the Cheltenham Festival, and the number of places paid out will be dependent on the size of the field and the bookmaker you’re betting with. The number of places being paid out will always be made clear by the bookmaker on the relevant odds page.
How often does the favourite win the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Around 45% of winners at the Gold Cup are the favourites, with A Plus Tard doing so as favourite in the 2022 edition. However, it’s not guaranteed and if you look throughout Cheltenham Festival history, a number of outsiders have also won the race.
What happens if my horse falls at a fence during the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
There are 22 fences in the Gold Cup and it is one of the most difficult races in horse racing. Naturally, some horses may fall along the way, and in most cases the bet will end up a losing one. However, some bookmakers do offer Faller Insurance, an offer that will provide you with your stake back should a horse fall, be brought down, lose its rider or pull up during the race.
Can you get enhanced odds on the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Most bookies will have some form of offer both on the Cheltenham Gold Cup and throughout the Cheltenham Festival. For the big races of the day you’ll often find enhanced odds available with bigger bookies, providing you with additional winnings should the horse you back win.
You’ll find all the latest enhanced odds offers on Cheltenham right here and on our horse racing tips page.
Who are the best pundits to follow for Cheltenham Festival tips?
Many pundits come out to play during the Cheltenham Festival and we collate them all on our Pundit Tips page. Big names such as Ruby Walsh and Mick Fitzgerald, both of whom have a strong history with the festival, are both worth following in particular
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