Cheltenham Festival 2026 Tips: A bet for each day using Betfair's Non-Runner No Bet markets

• We are now Non-Runner No Bet on all races at Cheltenham

• Mike picks out a bet for each day including a Gold Cup tip

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• Check out our 2026 Cheltenham Festival Mega Guide

Tuesday: Back Iroko to win the Ultima Handicap

There's a decent chance that current Grand National favourite Iroko could turn up at Cheltenham for a tilt at the Ultima Handicap, and if he does then I want him on my side.

In terms of form, the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained eight-year-old looks rock solid having finished just four length behind last year's Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin off level weights in a Grade 1 Novice Chase at Aintree two years ago.

He had some frustrating efforts since, but ended last season by finishing an excellent fourth in the Grand National, and while the Aintree showpiece is once again his main target - for which he is 6/17.00 in the ante-post market - he is very likely to have one more run before the Grand National, and it could well be in the Ultima.

Iroko had wind surgery prior to this season and it appears to have made a big difference. He finished second to subsequent King George winner and leading Gold Cup fancy The Jukebox Man, beaten just over two lengths, receiving 3lbs on his seasonal debut before comfortably beating the 154-rated Firefox in a Graduation Chase in December.

Now rated 155 he'll likely have to carry top weight if turning up at Cheltenham, but that would also be the case if he went for an alternative race, the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton at the end of February, so at 16/117.00, with the guarantee of getting our money back should he not run, then Iroko for the Ultima Handicap is a solid choice.

Click this link for a detailed look at Tuesday's race schedule

Wednesday: Back Nurse Susan to win the Coral Cup

It's always worth taking a second look at a Dan Skelton runner in a Cheltenham Festival handicap, so in a race that he's won twice in the last three years, Nurse Susan appeals as a strong contender should the mare turn up for this competitive handicap hurdle.

The positives are that after her victory in a Listed Hurdle at Sandown in January, Skelton immediately spoke about Cheltenham being her main target and that she would definitely get an entry for the Coral Cup. And off her current mark of 140 - the stable's Langer Dan won this race twice off a mark of 141 - then he knows that he's got a contender on a winnable mark.

However, Skelton also said that the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle could be a possibility at the Festival, but given that Nurse Susan could meet mares rated almost a stone and a half better than her in that contest - Lossiemouth is rated 159 for example - then that looks a tall order.

We'll know a lot more about Nurse Susan's next target after Saturday as she is due to run in the 3m1f Handicap Hurdle at Haydock. You'd have to think that only an impressive win in that race will persuade Skelton to go for the Mares' Hurdle, so fingers crossed for a run that doesn't scream 'world beater' and that she is kept to handicap company for a crack at next month's Coral Cup.

Click this link for a detailed look at Wednesday's race schedule

Thursday: Back Panic Attack to win the Ryanair Chase

Our Thursday selection using Betfair's Non-Runner No Bet market is a bit of a stab in the dark, but given that we get our money back should she not run, then we have nothing to lose. It's exactly what the NRMB markets are designed for.

The horse in question in another Dan Skelton inmate in the shape of the fast improving Panic Attack. It seems odd to label a 10-year-old as fast improving, but that's exactly what she is on the evidence of what she's achieved this season.

She won a handicap chase off a mark of 125 around this time 12 months ago but she has now shot up to 147 after a trio of wins over fences this season including the ultra-competitive Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. 

She won as she liked in a Listed Mares' Chase last month so she'll arrive at Cheltenham next month in the peak of her powers. The dilemma is which race will Panic Attack go for as she's entered in both the Ryanair Chase and the Mares' Chase the following day.

It goes without saying that the latter of those two races will be the easier race for Panic Attack, but there's a small chance that she will have a crack at the Ryanair should some of the leading contenders have alternative targets confirmed in the coming weeks; Fact To File is likely to go for the Gold Cup, Jonbon could run in the Champion Chase for example.

If she does turn up in a Ryanair Chase that has lost some of its ante-post market leaders, then given the form she is in I don't think she will be disgraced.

Click this link for a detailed look at Thursday's race schedule

Friday: Back Galopin Des Champs to win the Gold Cup

After a trio of double-figure price selections we'll go with a horse who I feel will be a shorter price on the day simply because of the question marks over the opposition.

Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs is a 10-year-old now so it goes without saying that age is possible catching up with him, and that would appear to be the case after being beaten around 13 lengths by stablemate Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup recently. 

But don't be too quick to write off the Willie Mullins-trained star chaser as I believe he's poised to put up an excellent bid to regain his Gold Cup crown.

It's likely that either Fact To File - who needs to be supplemented for the race - or Gaelic Warrior will run in the Ryanair Chase, so that's one danger out of the way, and it's impossible to have last year's Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin on any radar following some dreadful performances this season.

That just leaves the best of the British, and I can't for the life of me have Jango Baie over this trip having never previously won beyond 2m5 as well as finishing unplaced - albeit narrowly - in the King George at Christmas. King George winner The Jukebox Man is improving, but he's another who, like so many of the market leaders should they all turn up, will need to prove his stamina over the Gold Cup distance.

I just keep coming back to Galopin Des Champs. There was nothing wrong with his seasonal debut when beaten around three lengths in the Grade 1 Savills Chase, and it's possible that he just ran out of gas in the Irish Gold Cup last time on what was very soft ground.

With better ground likely at Cheltenham next month, and with so many question marks around the market leaders, it's quite easy to envisage the 10-year-old turning back the clock and raising the roof on Gold Cup day.

Click this link for a detailed look at Friday's race schedule

Now read our Cheltenham Festival Mega Guide.