Check out our preview of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, including details of bet365’s Non Runner No Bet Ante Post markets.
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 returns to Prestbury Park in March with four days that define the National Hunt season. From the roar that greets the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to the closing strides of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, this meeting remains the most anticipated fixture in jump racing.
For punters, it is also the most complex betting week of the year. Depth of fields, evolving targets, and late non-runners can reshape markets quickly. That is why bet365 offering Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) ante-post prices on all 28 Festival races is such a significant factor when planning early bets.
You can find the latest information on antepost betting odds for all the races at the festival by following this link – Cheltenham Festival latest Antepost betting odds!
Furthermore, bet365 has now released its own Cheltenham Festival hub, from which you can access all the latest antepost betting markets across all days racing, as well as latest information, news, tips and betting offers available across the festival.
This preview covers the Festival’s history, explains its importance in the sporting calendar, and provides a complete race-by-race guide with start times, including the 2025 winner of every race.
First staged in the early 1900s, the Cheltenham Festival has grown into the centrepiece of jump racing. It is where trainers aim to peak, jockeys chase defining moments, and horses are judged against the very best of their generation.
The unique demands of the Cheltenham track reward balance, stamina, and accurate jumping. That combination, along with the depth of each race, is what makes Cheltenham such a compelling betting proposition year after year.
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is fast approaching, with the four-day meeting scheduled to take place at Cheltenham Racecourse from Tuesday 10 March to Friday 13 March 2026. The Festival remains the pinnacle of National Hunt racing, featuring 28 races across four days, including some of the most prestigious contests in jump racing such as the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Demand for tickets has once again been extremely strong, with Gold Cup Day already sold out well in advance. Cheltenham officials expect another packed week of racing as fans from Britain and Ireland descend on the Cotswolds for the sport’s biggest annual meeting. With final declarations approaching and many horses completing their final prep runs, attention is turning to which stables will dominate the Festival in 2026.
This year’s meeting looks particularly competitive. Unlike some previous Festivals where several races featured strong odds-on favourites, the 2026 renewal appears wide open, with several championship races lacking a clear standout contender. That has already led to significant movement in the betting markets as punters attempt to identify the strongest challengers across the programme.
Several horses have emerged as leading contenders for the major races at the Festival.
The Champion Hurdle is expected to be one of the most competitive races of the meeting, with The New Lion emerging as a strong contender following an impressive novice campaign. The horse has shown both speed and stamina over hurdles and is being aimed directly at the two-mile championship race.
In the novice division, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is shaping up to be another strong race, with Old Park Star attracting plenty of support after a series of strong performances earlier in the season.
The Arkle Challenge Trophy has a clear early favourite in Lulamba, whose aggressive jumping style and strong pace over fences have made him one of the most exciting novice chasers of the season.
The Champion Chase picture changed dramatically earlier in the winter when defending champion Marine Nationale suffered an injury setback. That development has allowed Majborough to move to the forefront of the betting following an impressive performance in the Dublin Chase.
Meanwhile the Ryanair Chase could feature one of the strongest favourites of the entire meeting in Fact To File, whose dominant performances over intermediate distances have made him a standout contender.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup itself currently looks wide open. Several horses remain in contention and the final line-up may not become clear until the final week before the Festival.
One of the notable announcements ahead of the Festival has been the renaming of a race in honour of Princess Anne. The Hunters’ Chase on Gold Cup Day will now be known as the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase.
The decision recognises Princess Anne’s long involvement in equestrian sport, including her participation in the 1976 Olympic Games. The change adds another historic element to a race that has long been a popular part of the Cheltenham Festival programme.
The Cheltenham Festival is often dominated by a handful of powerful stables. Once again the Irish trainers are expected to arrive with exceptionally strong teams, although several British yards also have realistic hopes of major winners.
Below is a tour of the leading stables and their likely Cheltenham contenders.
Willie Mullins has become synonymous with Cheltenham success over the past decade and is expected to send another formidable team to the Festival in 2026. His Closutton yard routinely supplies a large number of runners across novice and championship races.
Among his most exciting contenders is Majborough, who has established himself as one of the leading two-mile chasers and a major contender for the Champion Chase. His speed and slick jumping make him one of the most feared horses in the field.
Mullins is also likely to field a large number of runners in the novice hurdle races. Horses such as Old Park Star are expected to be among the strongest contenders in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Another Mullins star attracting plenty of attention is Fact To File, who has produced several outstanding performances this season and is widely regarded as the leading contender for the Ryanair Chase.
As always, the Mullins team will also feature numerous runners in handicaps and novice races, meaning the Irish trainer could once again challenge for the title of top trainer at the Festival.
Nicky Henderson remains the most successful British trainer in Cheltenham Festival history and will once again arrive with several major contenders.
His stable traditionally targets the two-mile hurdle races and novice hurdles, and he is expected to have strong representation in the Champion Hurdle with contenders such as The New Lion, who has been one of the standout performers of the season.
Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard also tends to produce high-quality novice chasers and hurdlers capable of challenging the powerful Irish stables. His horses are often carefully campaigned with Cheltenham as the primary objective.
While Henderson has faced increased competition from Irish trainers in recent years, his experience and long record of Festival success mean his runners always command respect.
Dan Skelton has established himself as one of Britain’s leading National Hunt trainers and continues to develop a strong Festival team.
Skelton’s runners are often particularly competitive in the handicap races, where his horses have a strong record of outperforming their odds. However, his stable has also begun to produce more Grade 1 contenders in recent seasons.
Several of his horses are expected to feature in novice hurdle and novice chase events at the Festival. Skelton’s meticulous preparation methods and willingness to target specific races make his runners particularly dangerous in competitive fields.
Gordon Elliott remains one of the most successful Irish trainers at Cheltenham and will once again bring a powerful team to the Festival.
His stable typically excels in staying races and handicaps, with many of his horses thriving on the stiff Cheltenham finish. Elliott has built a reputation for producing horses that peak at the Festival itself.
While final entries are still being confirmed, Elliott is expected to field runners in several major races including the novice hurdles and the staying chase division.
Paul Nicholls continues to lead the British challenge from his Ditcheat yard. The multiple champion trainer has a long record of success at Cheltenham, including several Cheltenham Gold Cup victories.
Nicholls’ team this year includes a mixture of experienced chasers and promising novices. His horses often run prominently and tend to be well suited to Cheltenham’s demanding track.
The Ditcheat trainer is expected to have runners across multiple races during the week and will be hoping to add to his impressive Festival tally.
With the Festival just days away, anticipation is building across the racing world. The meeting once again promises a compelling clash between the strongest British and Irish stables, with the Irish trainers appearing to hold a particularly strong hand heading into the week.
Several championship races look especially competitive, including the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The absence of clear favourites in many contests suggests the 2026 Festival could produce several dramatic finishes and unexpected winners.
As always at Cheltenham, preparation, stamina and jumping ability will prove crucial. Horses that handle the unique demands of the track often rise to the occasion, while others struggle with the relentless uphill finish.
By the time the final race is run on Gold Cup Day, the 2026 Cheltenham Festival will once again have delivered four days of world-class jump racing and a new set of heroes in one of the sport’s most famous arenas.
With the Cheltenham Festival 2026 now firmly on the horizon, the build-up is accelerating across the National Hunt scene. Entries are being confirmed, trainers are refining Festival plans, jockey bookings are taking shape, and ante-post betting markets continue to shift as each major trial race is run.
As ever, Cheltenham preparation is fluid rather than fixed. Targets can change, ground conditions remain unknown until late, and final declarations are not confirmed until close to race week. That uncertainty is part of what makes the Festival such a compelling sporting and betting event.
This update rounds up the latest Cheltenham Festival news, including key entry dates, developments around runners and riders, trainer intentions, horses confirmed as likely participants or ruled out, and how betting markets are reacting across the major races.
The entry process for the Cheltenham Festival follows a staggered structure, with championship races taking centre stage first. Early January saw initial entries taken for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Ryanair Chase, giving the first meaningful insight into trainer intentions for the Festival’s biggest prizes.
Entries for the remaining Grade 1 races and supporting contests have followed through January and February, while handicap entries traditionally remain open slightly longer. This allows trainers to assess recent form, fitness levels, and handicap marks before committing.
Final declarations are made much closer to race week, typically 48 hours before each race, meaning the definitive line-ups for Champion Day will not be confirmed until the Sunday immediately before the Festival begins. As a result, punters tracking ante-post markets must account for the likelihood of non-runners right up until the final stages.
As the season progresses, trainer comments and race placement provide increasingly clear clues about Festival plans.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup remains the focal point of the meeting, and early entries suggest a deep and competitive renewal. Several established staying chasers have already been entered, while others are being campaigned with March in mind rather than peaking earlier in the winter.
Connections of leading Gold Cup contenders have emphasised patience, often skipping testing mid-season races in favour of a lighter campaign designed to arrive fresh at Cheltenham. This approach is increasingly common for top-level stayers, particularly those with proven Festival form.
At the same time, a handful of emerging chasers have been put forward as potential challengers after strong performances in Grade 1 company, adding intrigue to a race that often evolves significantly between January and March.
The Champion Hurdle market has seen notable movement following confirmation that one former Champion Hurdle winner is not being aimed at the race, with connections instead exploring alternative options away from hurdling. That decision has opened up the betting landscape, encouraging support for younger and less exposed contenders.
Elsewhere, trainers with strong novice hurdlers are weighing up whether to step their horses into championship company or keep them to novice targets. That decision alone can have a major impact on market dynamics, particularly where horses are entered in multiple races.
The result is a Champion Hurdle picture that remains open, with market confidence fluctuating after each significant run.
Min Deposit: €5 – Expiry: 30 days – Min Odds: 1/5 (1.20)
Novice races continue to generate significant interest, particularly the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Novices’ Chase, and Triumph Hurdle.
Several horses that impressed early in the season have now had their Festival targets clarified, while others remain flexible depending on ground conditions and the depth of opposition. Trainers are often reluctant to commit publicly too early, preferring to keep options open until closer to March.
In the juvenile division, strong trial performances have prompted notable market moves, with certain horses shortening quickly once trainers confirmed they would remain over hurdles rather than switching discipline.
Although many jockey arrangements are not finalised until late, some key patterns are already emerging.
Stable jockeys at the largest yards are expected to stick with their leading Festival hopes, while retained riders face difficult choices where multiple horses from the same yard hold strong claims in a single race. Those decisions can influence betting markets sharply, particularly in championship contests where jockey experience is highly valued.
As Festival week approaches, late jockey switches and first-time partnerships will be closely scrutinised, especially in handicap races where tactical awareness is often decisive.
Not all news is positive. A small number of high-profile horses have already been ruled out of Cheltenham 2026 due to setbacks or revised campaigns. While withdrawals at this stage are not unusual, they can still reshape markets, particularly where a horse had been prominent in ante-post betting.
These developments underline why ante-post betting carries inherent uncertainty and why many punters are paying closer attention to markets offering Non-Runner No Bet protection.
Betting markets for Cheltenham remain highly responsive to trial results, trainer comments, and entry confirmations.
The Gold Cup market has shown steady consolidation around a small group of leading contenders, with prices tightening following solid mid-season performances. However, depth remains a defining feature, and support continues to emerge for horses perceived as improving rather than fully exposed.
The Champion Hurdle has been one of the most volatile markets, influenced by the absence of one former winner and the rise of several progressive challengers. Market confidence has shifted repeatedly as horses return from breaks or disappoint in trials.
The Arkle and Brown Advisory markets have reacted sharply to strong jumping displays in graded company. Horses demonstrating reliable fencing under pressure have generally been supported, while any jumping errors tend to result in immediate market drift.
One of the most significant betting developments this season is that bet365 is offering Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) markets across all 28 Cheltenham Festival races.
This means that if a horse does not take part in the race selected, stakes are returned, reducing one of the traditional risks associated with ante-post betting. As a result, many punters are engaging with Cheltenham markets earlier than usual, particularly in championship races where final fields can be slow to solidify.
NRNB terms have encouraged greater liquidity in ante-post markets and have helped stabilise prices in races that would otherwise be subject to heavy speculation.
As March approaches, several key phases remain:
Each of these elements can shift both perception and pricing in the days leading up to the Festival.
The latest Cheltenham Festival news highlights just how dynamic the build-up to March remains. Entries are progressing, trainer plans are becoming clearer, and betting markets continue to react to every significant development.
With several weeks still to go before final declarations, the picture is far from complete. However, the emerging themes are familiar: patience from top yards, careful management of star horses, and a betting landscape shaped by uncertainty, information, and timing.
Cheltenham 2026 is already taking shape, and the coming weeks promise even more movement as the Festival draws closer. Let’s take a look now at each day of the Festival in more detail.
Bet365 Review » Min Deposit: £5 » Expiry: 30 days » Min Odds: 1/5 (1.20)
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Champion Day is all about setting the tone. The Festival begins at full throttle with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, a race that has launched countless top-level careers and instantly ignites the famous Cheltenham roar. The day blends raw novice speed with proven championship quality, headlined by the Champion Hurdle, where the best two-mile hurdlers in training collide. Alongside the Grade 1 action, competitive handicaps like the Ultima and the Plate ensure betting interest runs deep from start to finish. Champion Day is where narratives begin, reputations are tested early, and the Festival’s intensity becomes immediately apparent.
1.20pm – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2025 winner: Kopek Des Bordes
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/supreme-novices-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
2.00pm – Arkle Novices’ Chase
2025 winner: Jango Baie
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/arkle-novices-chase?affiliate=365_071120
2.40pm – Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
2025 winner: Puturhandstogether
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/juvenile-handicap-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
3.20pm – Ultima Handicap Chase
2025 winner: Myretown
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/ultima-handicap-chase?affiliate=365_071120
4.00pm – Champion Hurdle
2025 winner: Golden Ace
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/champion-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
4.40pm – Plate Handicap Chase
2025 winner: Haiti Couleurs
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/plate-handicap-chase?affiliate=365_071120
5.20pm – Novices’ Handicap Chase
2025 winner: Haiti Couleurs
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/novices-handicap-chase?affiliate=365_071120
Ladies Day combines style, spectacle, and substance, delivering one of the most balanced cards of the entire meeting. The Queen Mother Champion Chase brings pure pace and jumping precision to the fore, while novice chasers step up in distance in the Brown Advisory. This is also a day where handicaps dominate discussion, with races like the Coral Cup and Grand Annual attracting huge fields and complex puzzles. With the Champion Bumper closing proceedings, Wednesday is about depth, variety, and the sense that the Festival is gathering momentum rather than easing off.
1.20pm – Turners Novices’ Hurdle
2025 winner: The New Lion
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/turners-novices-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
2.00pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
2025 winner: Lecky Watson
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/brown-advisory-novices-chase?affiliate=365_071120
2.40pm – Coral Cup
2025 winner: Jimmy Du Seuil
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/coral-cup?affiliate=365_071120
3.20pm – Cross Country Chase
2025 winner: Stumptown
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/cross-country-chase?affiliate=365_071120
4.00pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase
2025 winner: Marine Nationale
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/champion-chase?affiliate=365_071120
4.40pm – Grand Annual Handicap Chase
2025 winner: Jazzy Matty
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/grand-annual?affiliate=365_071120
5.20pm – Champion Bumper
2025 winner: Bambino Fever
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/champion-bumper?affiliate=365_071120
St Patrick’s Thursday is widely regarded as the stamina day of the Cheltenham Festival. The emphasis shifts toward staying power, resilience, and tactical judgement, particularly in the Stayers’ Hurdle and the demanding Pertemps Final. The Ryanair Chase adds elite quality at an intermediate distance, while the Mares’ races continue to grow in prestige and depth. There is a strong Irish flavour to both the crowd and the racing, and by this point in the week, the cumulative toll of Cheltenham’s undulations begins to shape outcomes as much as raw ability.
1.20pm – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
2025 winner: Air Of Entitlement
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/mares-novices-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
2.00pm – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
2025 winner: Caldwell Potter
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/novices-handicap-chase-limited?affiliate=365_071120
2.40pm – Mares’ Hurdle
2025 winner: Lossiemouth
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/mares-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
3.20pm – Stayers’ Hurdle
2025 winner: Bob Olinger
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/stayers-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
4.00pm – Ryanair Chase
2025 winner: Fact To File
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/ryanair-chase?affiliate=365_071120
4.40pm – Pertemps Final
2025 winner: Doddiethegreat
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/pertemps-final?affiliate=365_071120
5.20pm – Kim Muir Challenge Cup
2025 winner: Daily Present
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/kim-muir?affiliate=365_071120
Gold Cup Day is the emotional and sporting climax of the Festival. Every race carries added weight, but all roads lead to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most prestigious chase in National Hunt racing. The supporting card is relentlessly demanding, from the Triumph Hurdle for juveniles to the gruelling Albert Bartlett for novice stayers. By Friday afternoon, exhaustion, expectation, and history collide, and winning at Cheltenham on this day carries a significance that extends far beyond the result itself. It is a finale defined by endurance, both equine and human, and a fitting conclusion to four intense days.
1.20pm – Triumph Hurdle
2025 winner: Poniros
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/triumph-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
2.00pm – County Handicap Hurdle
2025 winner: Kargese
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/county-handicap-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
2.40pm – Mares’ Chase
2025 winner: Dinoblue
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/mares-chase?affiliate=365_071120
3.20pm – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
2025 winner: Jasmin De Vaux
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/albert-bartlett?affiliate=365_071120
4.00pm – Cheltenham Gold Cup
2025 winner: Inothewayurthinkin
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/gold-cup?affiliate=365_071120
4.40pm – Hunters’ Chase
2025 winner: Wonderwall
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/hunters-chase?affiliate=365_071120
5.20pm – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle
2025 winner: Wodhooh
NRNB market: https://www.bet365.com/horse-racing/cheltenham/martin-pipe-hurdle?affiliate=365_071120
Names consistently appearing in early discussion include:
With NRNB terms available at bet365, early positioning in these markets carries less downside than traditional ante-post betting.
Cheltenham plans change. Ground conditions shift, races cut up, and trainers redirect horses late. Non-Runner No Bet reduces the impact of those changes and allows bettors to engage earlier with more flexibility.
This is particularly useful in championship races such as:
In addition to the NRNB markets available at bet365 for the Cheltenham Festival, customers will be delighted to discover that the site is planning several more features and promotions for the biggest national hunt festival of the year, all accessible from the bet365 Cheltenham hub!
Offers confirmed include:
What is Non-Runner No Bet at Cheltenham?
NRNB means your stake is returned if your selection does not run, allowing earlier betting with reduced risk.
How many races are at the Cheltenham Festival?
There are 28 races across four days.
Which day features the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
Gold Cup Day takes place on Friday 13 March 2026, with the race off at 4.00pm.
When does racing start each day?
Racing starts at 1.20pm each day and finishes at 5.20pm.
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