Cheltenham Festival Review: What we learnt ahead of 2026

Written by: Harry Fowler

The Cheltenham Festival has drawn to a close, and what a week of action it was! There was no shortage of drama, hard luck stories, and – of course – plenty of Willie Mullins winners. 

I’ve taken a quick look back on a brilliant week and penned some early thoughts on where horses could be seen next season, as we all start glancing at the early antepost markets with intrigue.

Bonkers Champion Hurdle leaves more questions than answers

There is no better place to start than the Champion Hurdle, where I don’t think anyone could’ve seen the result coming. 

Brighterdaysahead is a real puzzle. Does she simply dislike Cheltenham, or is she not as good as we initially thought? 

The hype mare has had two runs at Cheltenham and on both occasions, been soundly beaten by Golden Ace. I would also say that both times she beat State Man, he had excuses. So, I personally think it’s a bit of both. 

She looks sure to go chasing next term, with the Mares Chase seemingly the most logical 2026 target if coming back to Prestbury Park. and she’s currently 4/1 for that race next year – a price I wouldn’t hurry to take.

You do have to feel for State Man. He’s had a tough season and was disregarded by many, including me, for this race but was on the cusp of a huge win before cruelly coming down at the last flight. Constitution Hill was a tough one to take for me. I was desperate to see him powering up that hill and regaining his crown. 

There is a lot of uncertainty about him and his comeback season. One thing for sure, he hasn’t respected his hurdles. It will be interesting to see how he comes out of Cheltenham following that fall. Supposedly, the next stop will be Punchestown – but he’s got to get there first.

Lossiemouth took the easy option and won the Mares Hurdle, as she should’ve. However, I would say the enjoyment of that victory would’ve quickly been marred by connections having the thought she could’ve surely won the Champion Hurdle. 

But if don’t run your horses in these races, you’ll never win them and sure she will run in the Champion Hurdle next season. Fair play to connections of Golden Ace.

Kopek shows he is a Supreme talent

Kopek Des Bordes is certainly worth mentioning after an exemplary performance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He looks like a serious talent, even though his jumping still needs improvement.

The 2026 markets aren’t giving much away with him being 4/1 for the Champion Hurdle and 5/1 favourite for the Arkle. At this point, I wouldn’t care to second guess his target.

Majborough simply didn’t jump well enough in the Arkle but showed he had the engine, as how he finished as close to the eventual winner I don’t know. 

It was a weak race as a horse who isn’t a two miler was able to get up and win but, like Golden Ace, well done to connections for running Jango Baie. 

Majborough is 6/1 for the Champion Chase and 8/1 for the Ryanair if you fancy his jumping to come on in the next 12 months.

Terrific Turners throws up two terrific prospects

Day Two kicked off with the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, producing one of the best finishes of the week as the top three in the market jumped the last together. 

The New Lion, a game winner, will be one I think will be looking at a Champion Hurdle campaign and is now 7/1 to win the 2026 edition. Final Demand is an exciting prospect that I think got found out for speed late on. He will surely go over fences next season and the Brown Advisory is the obvious target – where he has been instilled as an early 6/1 favourite.

The Champion Chase and Jonbon was another that just wasn’t to be. He hasn’t made a jumping error all season, until that fateful moment. 

There were a few excuses given but a huge error so early on gave him little chance of recovering. Maybe he is another who simply doesn’t like Cheltenham. You feel like next season he will have another go at this, but it could be all about his stablemate Sir Gino. Jonbon is 7/1 and Sir Gino 3/1 for next year’s race on the early show.

Ballyburn was one of the big disappointments, smashed into 4/7 for the Brown Advisory before putting in a very flat performance. He simply didn’t jump with any fluency. 

 I think next season will be between the Ryanair and Stayers Hurdle for him and I think the latter is the best option from what we’ve seen this season.

Fact to File impresses with dominant display

My performance of the week came in the Ryanair on Thursday as Fact To File beat Heart Wood by a commanding nine lengths.

He was truly brilliant, and I'm intrigued as to what next season holds for this horse. With the same owners having Inothewayurthinkin, and same trainer having Galopin Des Champs, will there be room for him in the Gold Cup or is it simply another Ryanair tilt which awaits? He is 3/1 for Ryanair and 6/1 for the Gold Cup, which may tell a story in itself.

The Stayers Hurdle saw the Robcour two fight it out and eventually, it went on the side of speed as Bob Olinger made it three victories at the Festival under a great ride from Rachael Blackmore. 

The favourite in second, Teahupoo, I think did get slightly found out by the ground being on the quicker side. The one I think that has a hard luck story from that race was Home By The Lee, who unseated when badly hampered by a faller.

He was last seen when well beating Bob Olinger over Christmas. Teahupoo is 4/1, Bob Olinger 12/1 and Home By The Lee 33/1 for next year’s race – so you’d have to say the latter offers up some early value.

Galopin goes down on his shield

The final day of the Cheltenham Festival — Gold Cup Day — saw Galopin Des Champs, who had looked untouchable all season, fail to deliver as the short-priced favourite. That was truly the theme of the Festival! 

He didn’t look himself throughout, didn’t jump very well and was shuffled back early, which we hadn’t seen in either of his monstrous performances earlier this season. 

Whilst it wasn’t to be for Galopin Des Champs, you have to say it was a sublime performance from the seven-year-old Inothewayurthinkin, who was subsequently shortened into 5/2 favourite for the Grand National from 8/1. 

For me,  after winning the Gold Cup, there should only be one thought and that is what is the best way to get him back again in 2026 to win the Gold Cup again. The Grand National, whilst it isn’t like it used to be, is a gruelling test and a classy horse like this have a serious future to think about.

As it happens, connections have today announced that race is no longer being considered, so that’s caused a re-shuffle in the Grand National betting (a story for another column).

At the time of writing, Inothewayurthinkin is 5/1 and Galopin Des Champs 8/1 for the 2026 Gold Cup. But there’s plenty of water to cross under the bridge between now and then!

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