The highly anticipated 2026 Cheltenham Festival is set to kick off on March 10, 2026, with an exciting start. The Mirror will be covering every thrilling moment of the festival alongside William Hill, offering our readers a FREE shop bet each day. This year’s festival promises four days of outstanding sport featuring top national hunt horses from Britain and Ireland competing fiercely.
Experts are foreseeing a potential comeback by UK horses this year to challenge the recent dominance of Irish contenders. Notable trainers such as Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are expected to lead a formidable challenge from Ireland. The Cheltenham Gold Cup appears wide open, with Mullins boasting top contenders like Galopin Des Champs, Fact To File, and Gaelic Warrior. On the British front, The Jukebox Man, trained by Harry Redknapp, leads a strong challenge, supported by horses like Haiti Couleurs and jockey Sean Bowen aiming for his first festival victory.
The Champion Hurdle is up for grabs, with last year’s winner Golden Ace hoping for another triumph. The Queen Mother Champion Chase has a standout favorite in Majborough. Trainer Nicky Henderson could shine on the first day with top picks like Old Park Star and Lulamba. Additionally, Dan Skelton brings his strongest team ever to compete throughout the week. In his final Cheltenham as No 1 jockey for Paul Nicholls, Harry Cobden is eager to clinch a win aboard No Drama This End in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle before transitioning to a new role with JP McManus.
Make sure not to miss out on the Mirror from Saturday, March 7, 2026, to stay updated on this year’s festival. Readers can also enjoy a FREE William Hill shop bet from March 10 to March 13, 2026. Additionally, sign up for our free Punter’s Club newsletter for exclusive insights during Cheltenham and beyond.
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