February 28, 2026
Cheltenham Festival 2026: Year-End Review and Early Favourites
December 28, 2025
Getting proper Cheltenham Festival 2026 tips at year-end requires reviewing autumn and early winter form while identifying genuine early favourites before January hype inflates prices. Quality Cheltenham ante-post tips from experienced professionals like Marc Hryhorskyj matter because he’s spent the entire autumn watching horses develop, tracking trainer patterns, and spotting future festival stars before the obvious crowd catches on. His years at Betfair and Racing Post taught him exactly what autumn form means for March success and which horses showing winter promise actually have genuine festival credentials versus those just winning nice races that won’t translate to Prestbury Park’s unique demands.
We’re now at the perfect point – enough racing’s happened to assess horses properly but we’re still three months from the festival so prices haven’t been hammered yet. Let’s look at what we’ve learned so far and who’s looking tasty for March.
The autumn trial season showed us loads. Some horses announced themselves as serious festival contenders. Others flopped despite big reputations. The good news? We’ve got proper information now rather than just guessing.
Christmas racing will add more clues but honestly, the horses looking good now are mostly the ones we’ll be backing come March. Early form usually holds up better than people think.
Let’s be honest – Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are absolutely battering British trainers at the moment. The Irish dominance isn’t stopping anytime soon based on what we’ve seen this autumn.
That doesn’t mean you only back Irish horses. But it does mean you need bloody good reasons backing British horses against top Irish runners in championship races.
If he’s fit and well, Constitution Hill remains the horse to beat. Nicky Henderson’s superstar hasn’t raced much but when he does, he’s breathtaking. Currently around 2/1 favourite and honestly, that’s probably fair.
The question isn’t his ability – it’s whether he stays sound through to March. Henderson’s wrapped him in cotton wool for good reason. If he makes the race, he wins it.
Willie Mullins’ State Man looks the biggest danger. Proven festival winner, handles Cheltenham brilliantly, and Mullins has him on a perfect preparation path. Around 4/1 second favourite.
This is a proper rematch brewing. Constitution Hill has the raw ability but State Man has the festival knowhow and proven durability. Fascinating clash if both arrive fit.
Jeremiah McGrath from Gordon Elliott looked brilliant winning at Leopardstown. He’s more of a 10/1-12/1 shot but don’t write him off. Elliott knows how to produce a Champion Hurdle horse.
Henderson trains Constitution Hill but also has other nice two-mile hurdlers coming through. He absolutely lives for the Champion Hurdle. Never write off his chances even with supposed second-string runners.
Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs is the Gold Cup favourite around 5/2. Brilliant staying chaser, loves Cheltenham, proven at the highest level. He’s the horse to beat unless something exceptional emerges.
Already won at the festival, jumps brilliantly, stays forever. Everything you want in a Gold Cup horse wrapped up in one package.
Paul Nicholls’ Gerri Colombe looks Britain’s best Gold Cup hope. Won nicely at Cheltenham in November showing he handles the track. Around 6/1-8/1 which offers some value.
Nicholls has won two Gold Cups recently. He knows exactly what’s required. Gerri Colombe has the right profile – staying power, proven jumper, handles testing ground.
Dan Skelton’s Protektorat is interesting around 12/1. Brilliant staying chaser on his day but can you trust him in a Gold Cup? That’s the question.
Mullins always has multiple Gold Cup chances. Alongside Galopin Des Champs, expect him to run several others. His strength in depth is absolutely ridiculous.
Willie Mullins’ Gaelic Warrior looks a monster two-mile novice chaser. Won at Cheltenham already, jumps like a stag, lightning quick. Currently around 2/1 favourite for the Arkle.
If he stays healthy through winter, he’s very hard to oppose. Mullins’ record with two-mile novice chasers is phenomenal.
Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls both have nice novice chasers but honestly? The Irish look stronger again in this division. That’s just reality based on autumn form.
Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo won last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle brilliantly. He’s around 3/1 favourite to repeat. Proven stamina, loves Cheltenham, in perfect hands.
Elliott’s brilliant with staying hurdlers. Teahupoo ticks every box for this race.
Mullins always loads up the Stayers’ Hurdle. Expect multiple runners from Closutton challenging Teahupoo. His depth in staying hurdles is incredible.
Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen is a class act when right. If targeting the Ryanair, he’s around 6/1 and interesting. Proven Cheltenham winner with serious class.
Nicholls typically targets this race hard. He loves the Ryanair’s intermediate distance. Expect him to have serious runners come March.
The Supreme opens the festival and sets the tone. Currently, Willie Mullins looks to have the strongest novice hurdles based on autumn form.
Elliott’s novice hurdlers always demand respect. He’s brilliant developing young horses and targeting opening day success.
Henderson loves the Supreme. It’s his festival opener and he prepares horses specifically for this race. Never underestimate his chances regardless of market prices.
Mullins is absolutely untouchable right now. His string’s quality is phenomenal, his festival record is scary good, and honestly? He’ll probably win 8-10 races again.
His horses across all divisions look stronger than most opposition. Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup, multiple novice races – he’s got genuine contenders everywhere.
Elliott runs Mullins close for Irish supremacy. His staying chasers and hurdlers look particularly strong this year. Teahupoo in the Stayers’ Hurdle is just one example.
Elliott’s record at the festival has improved dramatically recently. He’s winning big races regularly now.
Nicholls is Britain’s strongest trainer by miles. He’s won recent Gold Cups and always brings serious ammunition to Cheltenham.
Gerri Colombe for the Gold Cup looks his best chance but he’ll have multiple runners across the week with genuine chances.
Henderson lives and breathes Cheltenham. Constitution Hill is his superstar but he’s got quality across multiple divisions.
His festival record over decades is incredible. Even in down years, he finds big winners. Never write off Henderson horses at Cheltenham.
Skelton’s improving every year. His numbers at Cheltenham keep getting better. Protektorat in the Gold Cup is his flagship but he’s got others too.
De Bromhead knows how to win at the festival. Envoi Allen and other stars give him multiple chances. He’s proven he can beat Mullins when it matters.
Williams doesn’t have huge numbers but when she brings one to Cheltenham, they’re usually ready. She’s brilliant at placing horses correctly.
This division looks absolutely stacked. Multiple high-class novice chasers will contest this championship staying novice chase.
Willie Mullins typically dominates here. His staying novice chasers usually develop into Gold Cup horses eventually.
The longer-distance novice chase attracts different types. Stamina’s crucial here and form often doesn’t emerge until late season.
The Mares’ Hurdle has grown in prestige massively. Willie Mullins absolutely owns this race. His mare division is ridiculously strong.
Similarly, Mullins’ staying mares dominate the Chase equivalent. He’ll probably run three or four with genuine winning chances.
The County Hurdle on day one is a betting minefield but offers huge value if you get it right. Willie Mullins often wins this with well-handicapped improvers.
The Coral Cup is similarly competitive. These big-field handicaps suit horses the market underestimates. Finding value here separates smart punters from the crowd.
The amateur riders’ chase on Gold Cup day. Amateur riders create unpredictability making this a pure punting race rather than form book certainty.
Horses that won at Cheltenham during October or November have proven they handle the track. That’s invaluable information for March.
Constitution Hill showed his class at Cheltenham. Gerri Colombe won there in November. These performances mean everything.
Cheltenham ground varies year to year. Horses proving they handle different conditions give you insurance against whatever March brings.
Fancy flat speed means nothing if a horse can’t jump properly at Cheltenham. The fences and hurdles there catch out moderate jumpers brutally.
Prices are still decent on many horses. Come January after the big trials, everything will shorten dramatically. If you fancy something, back it now.
Marc’s Cheltenham ante-post tips focus on identifying value now before it disappears. Waiting until February means you’ve missed the boat.
Many festival races have 20+ runners paying four or five places each-way. The math on each-way bets becomes really attractive.
Backing a 20/1 shot each-way in a competitive handicap offers brilliant risk-reward if you’ve done your homework properly.
Don’t put everything on one horse. Spread stakes across multiple races and runners. Festival’s too unpredictable for single-horse strategies.
Cheltenham’s three months away. Lots can happen. Horses get injured, lose form, or get rerouted to different races.
That’s ante-post betting’s risk. You’re accepting that risk for better prices. Just understand what you’re signing up for.
Some bookies offer non-runner no bet ante-post. Prices are shorter but you get stakes back if your horse doesn’t run.
Depends on your risk tolerance. Purists take traditional ante-post for better prices. Cautious punters prefer the insurance.
Cheltenham, Leopardstown, and Kempton over Christmas will clarify the picture further. Horses winning those Grade 1s will shorten dramatically.
The Irish Gold Cup, the Clarence House Chase, various other trials throughout January provide final form checks before the festival.
By February, most horses’ targets are clear. The guesswork’s mostly done. But by then, the value’s mostly gone too.
Marc’s not just picking favourites now. He’s tracked these horses since they started their seasons. That context matters hugely.
Understanding who’s improved, who’s plateaued, which trainers are bullish about which horses – that intelligence creates edges.
Marc compares British and Irish form constantly. Understanding relative form standards between countries helps assess cross-border clashes accurately.
His international experience from Betfair and Racing Post means he reads form from both countries expertly.
Watch where money’s going in ante-post markets. Significant backing often indicates stable confidence before public reasons emerge.
Professional punters and insiders bet early. Following that money intelligently creates advantages.
January and February bring media hype. Horses get talked up massively. Prices shorten based on chat rather than form.
Getting involved now means you avoid paying inflated prices for horses everyone’s suddenly raving about come February.
If fit, he wins. Simple as that. 2/1 is fair value given injury concerns but if he makes the race, he’s unbeatable.
The class act of staying chasers. Willie Mullins has him perfectly prepared. 5/2 favourite for very good reasons.
Looks a monster two-mile novice chaser. 2/1 is short but probably justified. Mullins’ record in this race is incredible.
Reigning champion looking to repeat. Gordon Elliott’s brilliant with stayers. 3/1 is respectable odds.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 is shaping up brilliantly based on autumn and early winter form. Constitution Hill versus State Man in the Champion Hurdle could be epic if both arrive fit.
The Gold Cup looks Willie Mullins’ to lose with Galopin Des Champs the clear class act. Paul Nicholls’ Gerri Colombe offers British hope but faces a massive task.
Irish dominance continues across most divisions. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have ridiculous strength in depth. British trainers need career-best performances to compete in many races.
Quality Cheltenham ante-post tips from professionals like Marc Hryhorskyj matter because he’s tracked these horses all season understanding contexts casual punters miss completely.
Year-end is perfect timing for ante-post betting. Enough form exists for confident assessment but prices haven’t been destroyed yet by January hype.
The festival’s still three months away but the contenders are mostly clear now. Christmas and January racing will confirm or deny early impressions.
Remember: The best Cheltenham ante-post tips come from professionals tracking horses all season rather than jumping on bandwagons come February. Marc’s systematic year-long approach identifies genuine festival stars early when prices still offer proper value.
