2026 Cheltenham Festival Preview - Day 1

All the talk is over and the 2026 Cheltenham Festival is finally here! We've 7 races per day to preview where I'll be giving a selection in every race along with a list of my best bets for the day. If you've followed my Ante-Post series this year you'll know we've a few good darts to throw already but in this preview I'll be going through all 28 races in the hope to find you all a few winners, So let's get started!

13.20 - Supreme Novice Hurdle

We kick off the meeting with one of the most open Supremes' in recent years with quite a few runners holding solid claims. Having said that I am quite keen on taking on the favourite in Old Park Star here. Although he's been visually very impressive on his last 3 starts I do have a slight question mark on the depth of his form compared to a few of the Irish raiders and at odds of 9/4 I think his price holds very little value now.

The one I'm going to take him on with his Talk The Talk for Joseph O'Brian. The 2 mile Novice Hurdle at the DRF is the best piece of form across the UK & Ireland this season where he just got up on the line to beat King Rasko Grey & Ballyfad. Very few were winning from off the pace that weekend due to the testing ground which wouldn't have been his favoured conditions.

I suppose my slight worry would be around the biggest talking horse of the season in Mighty Park for Willie Mullins. It's hard to tell after just one start under rules but the vibes in the camp seem extremeley strong and has to be respected.

Selection: Talk The Talk

Danger: Mighty Park , Old Park Star

14.00 - Arkle Novice Chase

This is a race that has us in quite a strong position from an ante-post perspective with Kopek Des Bordes (5/2) & Kargese (10/1) already in the book. Now I've made it very clear on how much of a soft spot I have for this horse so It's no surprise that my selection here is Kopek Des Bordes for Willie Mullins.

I mentioned on the Ginger Joe podcast last week that this was my best bet of the whole meeting & although it maybe a slight heart over head selection I do think he has a massive chance. He would have to overcome a slightly worrying stat that runners with only 1 chase start coming into this race are 2 from 6 which would make you question his lack of preparation however he is the best out & out 2 miler in the race and could see his class being too much for his opposition.

His biggest danger has to be Lulamba with the market finding it very hard to split them. He too has to defy stats with 5 year olds having a terrible record in the race & I feel he might struggle to keep up with the early pace of this contest but again he has to be respected.

Selection: Kopek Des Bordes

Danger: Lulamba

14.40 - Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

This is the first of the Handicap races this year and it's also the first where I don't have a strong selection. Saratoga has been well found in the market after his eye-catching run at Naas last time out and 5/1 looks a bit skinny to me so If I were to have a bet in the race I'd look to play 1 or 2 against him at bigger prices.

This is a race full of potential 'plot jobs' and can be a really tricky puzzle to solve but if I was pressed for a selection I'd just about side with Glen To Glen again with Joseph O'Brian who has had some recent success in this race. He was an impressive winner at Cork last time out beating Gavin Cromwell's Ole' Ole' & would expect him to come on from that run, but as I say - I'd only give him a small chance in a tricky race.

Selection: Glen To Glen

Danger: Saratoga

15.20 - Ultima Handicap Chase

Although this seems quite an open contest this is a race where the market tends to get it right with 4/5 of the last winners coming from the top 5 in the betting and I think they've got it right again here. Jagwar heads the market & clearly has a massive chance with connections feeling that he could/should be up to graded level. As much as I think he'll be suited by the step up in trip he will have to defy a pretty deadly stat that there has been no winners from horses stepping up in trip for the first time which would have to be a big negative.

For that reason I'm going to take him on with stable mate Iroko who also runs in the green & gold of JP McManus. He's currently leading the betting for the Grand National in a few weeks but connections clearly feel he's ready for this race on route to the big one at Aintree. He started his season finishing 2nd to the subsequent King George winner The Jukebox Man at Haydock before seeing off Firefox next time out at Ascot. His form is really strong & although he will have to overcome top weight, I do think he's the one they all have to beat.

Selection: Iroko

Danger: Jagwar

16.00 - Unibet Champion Hurdle

This race has seen the most change of any in the markets this season with the likes of State Man, Sir Gino & Constitution Hill all missing this years renewal due to injury or seeking other targets but it does mean that the star mare Lossiemouth will finally take her chance in the big one and she is my selection here.

I must admit I've changed my mind a fair few times on this race with it looking like The New Lion's race to lose until Lossiemouth was entered to run here and although I still don't believe this is her ideal trip, she'd be the one to have on side back at her beloved Cheltenham - especially getting the 7lbs mares allowance from her main market rival.

However as we saw last year this race can cause the odd upset with Golden Ace coming out on top 12 months ago & I feel she could be quite overlooked again in what looks a much weaker renewal on paper.

A set of Cheekpieces will be fitted onto Lossiemouth for the first time & the yard seem confident enough to run her here over a potential penalty kick again in the Mares' Hurdle.

Selection: Lossiemouth

Danger: The New Lion & Golden Ace

16.40 - TrustATrader Handicap Plate

Next up we have another competitive handicap & again I think the market has got this one spot on. Madara & Mcluarey head the betting at around 4/1 & both have obvious claims & although their price holds very little value now I do still think Mcluarey will take all the beating here so I'm just about going to side with him.

He comes into this off a mark of 137 after being given shall we say ' an easy time' of late leaving him extremeley well handicapped with form behind the likes of Jacobs Ladder who won an impressive handicap at the DRF in February.

As I mentioned I wouldn't be steaming in on the 4/1 available but I will be looking elsewhere for a each-way selection at a bigger price. The one I've come down on is the 10 year old Guard Your Dreams for the Twiston-Davis team. He get's in off a mark of 141 after an emphatic win at Warwick last time out albeit in a veterans race. That was his first run of the season and looks an ideal stepping stone with this race in mind so I think the 28/1 about him looks a very fair price.

Selection: Mcluarey

EW play: Guard Your Dreams

Danger: Madara

17.20 - National Hunt Chase

The last race of day 1 is another competitive handicap with a good 5-6 having a really solid chance. Backmeorsackme heads the market after his impressive win at the DRF last time out however even though it is a very worthy favourite I'd be looking to take him on with the price now a little too short for my liking. I'll be hoping champion jockey Sean Bowen get his first festival winner here so I'm going to side with Wade Out trained by Olly Murphy.

He started his season over 2m4f where he just got the better of Wendigo in a beginners chase at Worchester who himself has a solid chance in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory on Wednesday. We then saw one of the rides of the season next time out as he just got up to beat One Big Bang who also runs here.

This wouldn't be my strongest selection of the week by any means as he will also have top weight to contend with. But If he's there as they turn in he'll be finishing stronger than most & would likely run into a place at the very least.

Selection: Wade Out

Danger: Backmeorsackme

So that concludes the preview for day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. I realise I've kept myself towards the top of the market in most of the races for the opening day but I think that's just the nature of the beast sometimes and we will definitely go into the week with a solid chance.

NAP: KOPEK DES BORDES

NEXT BEST: LOSSIEMOUTH

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