The 2026 Cheltenham Festival kicks off on March 10 with Champion Day, featuring the Unibet Champion Hurdle as the highlight. Racing experts have shared their tips for key races, including the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy. British and Irish stables are set to compete fiercely, amid hopes for a strong home performance.
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 begins on Tuesday, March 10, at Prestbury Park, with Champion Day drawing crowds for its mix of novice and championship races. The opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1:20pm features strong contenders like Old Park Star, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico de Boinville. Racing journalist Carl Evans highlights Talk The Talk as the field's only Grade One winner, while trainer Kim Bailey praises Old Park Star's speed and jumping. Former jockey Davy Russell favors El Cairos for value, noting his solid bumper form and visual appeal despite inexperience over jumps.
In the 2pm Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase, Willie Mullins' Kopek Des Bordes is a likely favorite, per Carl Evans, in an open contest. Ben Linfoot from Sporting Life tips Kargese at 5/1, citing her Festival form and potential as a chaser, and Steel Ally at 14/1 for his unbeaten chasing record. The Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase at 3:20pm sees Handstands tipped by Horse & Hound's racing editor for his post-wind operation improvement, with Ben Pauling describing him as a 'bull in a china shop' at home. Davy Russell backs Stolen Silver for his track form from a small stable.
The feature Unibet Champion Hurdle at 4pm lacks Constitution Hill, shifting focus to Lossiemouth, trained by Willie Mullins, who aims for a perfect Festival record. Matt Chapman from Sky Sports fancies Brighterdaysahead to overcome past Cheltenham struggles, calling her officially the best at 160 rating. Trainer Jeremy Scott is confident in Golden Ace's title defense, stating, "I couldn't be happier with the way she is going into it." Jockey Sean Bowen, champion for the second year, eyes his first Festival win, riding Haiti Couleurs in the Gold Cup later.
Broader context includes concerns over a potential trail hunting ban's impact on point-to-pointing, vital for developing jockeys like Nico de Boinville, per Telegraph's Marcus Armytage. Attendance hopes are high despite falling numbers, with bookmakers forecasting £450m in UK wagers.
