Cheltenham Festival Big Race Focus: Katie Midwinter on the championship races

• Katie Midwinter continues her 2026 Cheltenham Festival series

• This week she looks at the main contenders in each of the championship races

• From solid favourites to each-way value

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Champion Hurdle: A muddled picture 

Champion Hurdle
Tuesday March 10, 16:00

The complexion of the Champion Hurdle has changed on multiple occasions this season, particularly in the last few weeks. Constitution Hill fell again on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth, with The New Lion also coming down in the same race. Sir Gino sadly suffered an injury on Trials Day at Prestbury Park, and Brighterdaysahead reversed form with Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

As a result, Golden Ace may prove to be the most solid option from the guaranteed runners, all being well, in the feature race on the opening day of the Festival in March. She had to overcome her own issues when winning last year's contest, beating Brighterdaysahead in the process, and was able to take advantage again in the Newcastle Grade One earlier this term.

A price of 6/17.00 may not appear too short come the end of proceedings on the Tuesday of Festival week, but in current antepost markets, with so many talented rivals likely to line up against her, she doesn't make an awful lot of appeal.

Neither do the others, considering Constitution Hill has completed only once over the past year, since his win on Trials Day in 2025 when he gave racegoers a fright at the last. His only completion was when looking a shadow of his former self at Punchestown, beaten 27-lengths by State Man. He may represent the most value considering he's unlikely to go off at his current 9/25.50 on the day, but there are too many question marks surrounding him currently to make him a confident selection.

Lossiemouth may struggle in a good ground race that has an emphasis on speed, whilst it isn't guaranteed that set up would suit The New Lion either. Brighterdaysahead was impressive at Leopardstown but she was well beaten in the race last year, and, although she may have had her excuses and could be worth giving another chance to, odds of 7/24.50 currently with so many unknowns in the race doesn't make for an attractive bet.

Alexei could be one at a price that may be able to outrun his odds. At 33/134.00, he's unexposed and progressive, having already shown plenty of ability and with the ceiling of his talent an unknown.

Champion Hurdle Summary

None of the leading contenders are a standout currently with only Brighterdaysahead enjoying a perfect preparation ahead of Cheltenham. The New Lion landed a race marred by the injury to Sir Gino, but didn't win in stylish fashion. He does remain capable of further improvement and is unexposed over the trip in open company, therefore may warrant favouritism, but there are plenty of others to make a case for on their day, most notably Constitution Hill.

Now read our full race guide to Day One of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

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Champion Chase: Found A Fifty each-way value 

Champion Chase
Wednesday March 11, 16:00

Majborough was majestic in the Dublin Chase with first-time cheekpieces appearing to have worked the oracle. He put in a dominant 19-length winning display to beat reigning Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale, relentless from the front under Mark Walsh for JP McManus and Willie Mullins, all of whom enjoyed a fantastic Dublin Racing Festival.

It was one of the most impressive, if not the most impressive, performance of the weekend at Leopardstown, and if the 13/82.63 Champion Chase favourite can put in a similar display on his return to Cheltenham, he will be exceptionally tough to beat.

The Closutton representative won the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival as a juvenile before going straight over fences as a four-year-old. He has run consistently well in all races since, sent off as the short-priced favourite in each of his outings over fences bar his latest win. However, his jumping let him down when beaten by Solness over Christmas, and he suffered defeat at the hands of Found A Fifty on his reappearance at Cork.

Things have clicked into gear now though, and, if he can put in a solid round of jumping at Cheltenham, it would be a surprise if any of his rivals were able to beat him. A jumping mistake may have cost him the Arkle last year, and a similar error could result in the same outcome against some top rivals in this Grade One in open company, therefore he will need to put in his best performance to land the prestigious prize.

Course-and-distance winner Marine Nationale warrants plenty of respect as the defending champion, but will have to improve plenty to reverse form with the young improving Majborough. A sounder surface is likely to help his cause, and he holds solid claims, but he wasn't able to get within reach of the winner at Leopardstown. 

With question marks surrounding the participation of a few others prominent in the betting, Found A Fifty could represent the most each-way value at 25/126.00. He may fall just short of Grade One level, but has the ability to be competitive at the top table on his day, particularly in softer conditions.

Champion Chase Summary

Cullentra contender Found A Fifty could only manage fifth in last year's renewal, but there was little between him and Marine Nationale at Leopardstown last weekend, and he beat Majborough at Cork, when benefiting from race fitness, in December. He's a solid performer on his day when conditions suit, and could run into a place at the least.

Now read our full race guide to Day Two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

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Stayers' Hurdle: Teahupoo faces competition from stable rival

Stayers' Hurdle
Thursday March 12, 16:00

Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo holds leading claims as he bids to regain his Stayers' Hurdle crown. He won the race in 2024 beating Flooring Porter, having suffered a narrow defeat 12 months earlier. Last year, he was beaten by Bob Olinger when the 7/42.75 favourite, but has been faultless since, beating that same rival by seven-lengths at Leopardstown over Christmas following a narrow victory over Ballyburn at Fairyhouse. 

As a nine-year-old with plenty of experience and proven form in the race, Teahupoo is the one to beat. He has enjoyed a successful season so far and warrants his place at the top of the market at 7/42.75. Teahupoo isn't a complete certainty however, as shown in previous years, and his biggest threat could be stablemate Honest Policy.

The unexposed six-year-old has made only one appearance in open company so far, when a creditable third to Impose Toi in the Long Walk Hurdle, having impressed as a novice last term with three successive wins culminating in an Aintree Grade One on Grand National Day. A promising prospect who could have plenty of further improvement to come, Honesty Policy is an interesting contender who could attract a number of supporters at current odds of 4/15.00.

Reigning champion Bob Olinger demands respect once again, and could return to his best in the spring, whilst Ma Shantou, a course-and-distance winner, has shortened significantly following two impressive successes, including the Grade Two Cleeve in which he beat Impose Toi by seven-lengths.

Ballyburn is far from a forlorn hope at 16/117.00 should he take this route, but he was far from impressive at Leopardstown in his latest run and is yet to prove himself as a solid stayer over this trip.

Stayers Hurdle Summary 

Teahupoo has earned his place at the top of the Stayers Hurdle betting but doesn't hold much appeal at the prices. While Honest Policy is the right second favourite and represents a nice price for a win, the most enticing bet at the current pries is Ballyburn at 16/117.00.

Now read our full race guide to Day Two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

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Cheltenham Gold Cup: Old timer to spring a surprise?

Cheltenham Gold Cup
Friday March 13, 16:00

Jango Baie is now currently the 5/16.00 outright favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup from the entered horses, with impressive Irish Gold Cup winner Fact To File needing to be supplemented if he is to line up in the prestigious race.

Last year's Arkle winner Jango Baie impressed in the King George VI Chase, staying on well at Kempton to finish half-a-length fourth to The Jukebox Man when sent off as the 9/43.25 joint-favourite. He's progressive and remains open to further improvement, likely to be finishing strongly, still unexposed over this distance. 

Fact To File beat Gaelic Warrior by five-lengths at Leopardstown, with Galopin Des Champs further behind in third. He travelled strongly into the race, improving plenty on his run at Kempton, reversing form with the runner-up, his stablemate, from the John Durkan at Punchestown. He could only manage third to Galopin Des Champs in the race twelve months prior, but had won three successive Grade One contests during 2024, achieving a mark of 169. 

Now rated 171, he appears at the peak of his powers if Monday's performance is anything to go by, and the nine-year-old could be another successful supplemented runner for JP McManus following Inothewayurthinkin's victory last year.

Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs has suffered two defeats this term, the first time he has been beaten in consecutive races during a season since his debut campaign for Closutton. He wasn't quite the force of old in the Irish Gold Cup but still emerged with credit, putting in a gallant effort in third behind Fact To File. 

Galopin Des Champs drifted for the Cheltenham showpiece as a result, and could therefore represent value at 10/111.00 considering he has been there and done it twice.

The ten-year-old legend may be vulnerable to a younger improver these days, but he is proven in the race up that Cheltenham hill. He shouldn't be underestimated and warrants plenty of consideration despite not enjoying the best of seasons up to now.

The Jukebox Man is on an upward trajectory and is unbeaten over fences, four from four so far on the back of a brilliant King George VI Chase success at Kempton. He will hold leading claims as he could take another step forward at Cheltenham. Betfair Chase winner Grey Dawning is another for the shortlist despite his defeat in the Cotswold Chase. He'll need to show improvement but it would be no surprise to see him put in a bold bid at a current price of 14/115.00. 

Gaelic Warrior, Spillane's Tower and Haiti Couleurs are others prominent in the betting. The former has a solid chance if on a going day, possessing the class to be hugely competitive in the race, whilst the latter has to prove his class at this level but is an unexposed, progressive type.

Envoi Allen, likely to line up, could represent value at 40/141.00, as stated in last week's column. He goes well fresh, therefore the break since beating Affordale Fury and Western Fold at Down Royal will suit, and a sounder surface would be in his favour too.

Gold Cup Summary

There may be a changing of the guard in the Gold Cup picture but an old head represents interesting betting value. With form figures of 113123 at the track in races he has completed, as well as a fall as a novice chaser when the 4/91.44 favourite, there is plenty to like about Envoi Allen's chances despite him being a 12-year-old. He hasn't been overly raced in recent seasons and has the class to make the frame at the least for Henry de Bromhead.

Now read our full race guide to Day Two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

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