The Racing Horse offers our RACECOURSE TEMPLATE and BETTING ADVICE for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE TEMPLATE

FAVOURITES (5 years)
NON-HANDICAP RACES              HANDICAP RACES
Hurdle 46-117	39%   -23.57	28-101	 28%   -0.91 
Chase  51-111	46%    -0.32	42-146	 29%   -6.16
NHF    10-29	34%    +2.88  	0-0		
TOTAL 107-257	42%   -21.02	70-247	 28%   -7.07

TOP TRAINERS at CHELTENHAM (Past 5 seasons)  +/-   E
Dan Skelton (18%)     40-263  15%   -4.76   -3%
W P Mullins (16%)     40-317  13%  -38.77   -3% 
Nicky Henderson (21%) 31-211  15%  -28.53   -6%   
Paul Nicholls (23%)   21-191  11%  -51.01  -12%
Nigel T-Davies (15%)  20-160  13%  -55.84   -2%

Gordon Elliott (15%)  19-299   6%  -85.07   -9%
H De Bromhead (11%)   19-143  13%  +13.13   +2%
J O'Brien (18%)        5-53    9%  -15.13   -9%

TOP JOCKEYS at CHELTENHAM (Past 5 seasons)  +/-    R
Harry Skelton (21%)  36-201   18%   -4.26   -3%
Sam T-Davies (15%)   30-206   15%  -11.59   +0%
Harry Cobden (23%)   28-201   14%   +0.25   -9%
N de Boinville (23%) 24-138   17%  -25.10   -6%                             
Paul Townend (27%)   22-73    30%   -4.54   +3%

The Power Five: Ranking the Trainers Who Will Shape the 2026 Festival

Visualising Cheltenham: A Strategic Framework for 2026

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HOW TO RIDE CHELTENHAM - Mick Fitzgerald

To the naked eye, or to the layman, Cheltenham looks very stiff, but the two courses are actually totally different and I rate the Old Course much quicker. So, especially on that, you need a horse that can travel easily within itself. Without one of those, you invariably find yourself snookered, because you're always trying to get into position to improve. Ideally, therefore, you need a horse that can get into a gap as soon as one appears, because there's so little time to manoeuvre. If you have to think about going for a gap, nine times out of ten it's too late - someone else will have got into it before you. As for the uphill finish, it only rides testing if you're on one that's tying up. Then, it feels like an eternity from the last to the line.

The Racing Horse offers betting insights grounded in analysis, discipline, and experience. However, all advice is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or gambling advice. Betting carries risk, and losses can exceed deposits. Readers are urged to wager responsibly, within their means. We do not encourage impulsive betting or chase losses. If you feel your gambling is becoming problematic, seek support from organisations such as GamCare or BeGambleAware.