The Cheltenham Festival returns this week for four days of superb horseracing in the climax of the National Hunt season.
Fans, trainers, jockeys and owners will all flock to Prestbury Park to witness the best horses face off against their closest rivals for the chance at glory and a place in history. This year’s edition looks set to be more unpredictable than ever with fewer clear favourites on offer and closely contested fields in the Champion races providing an added layer of intrigue for spectators.
The meeting runs from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 March and features fan-favourite runners such as Willie Mullins’ Lossiemouth and Fact To File. The Irish trainer has his sights on yet another champion trainer crown and long-time partner, Paul Townend, will be hoping to win another champion jockey title.
However, two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs will not be involved in the showpiece race as a pre-Festival setback has ruled him out of proceedings and ended his chance at recovering the crown he lost to Inothewayurthinkin last year.
Follow along for all the latest updates from the Cheltenham Festival with our live blog below:
Cheltenham Festival live
- The Cheltenham Festival returns this week for four days of horseracing
- Meeting runs from March 10 to March 13
- Why the Cheltenham Festival is set to be more unpredictable than ever before
- Lossiemouth and Fact To File raise eyebrows after Cheltenham Festival declarations
Latest forecast for day one with cloud cover and light rain possible
12:10 , Mike JonesThe Cheltenham Festival takes place across four days between March 10 and March 13 as hundreds of thousands of fans descend on the iconic Gloucestershire racecourse for one of the sport’s biggest weeks of the year.
The Met Office has forecast cloudy conditions on day one of the Festival. Monday’s weather forecast is similar with some mist and fog and a 20% chance or rain meaning racing conditions are should remain as they are currently and disruptions are unlikely.
Cheltenham Festival preparations
12:00 , Mike Jones
Galopin Des Champs ruled out of Gold Cup
11:50 , Mike JonesGalopin Des Champs is a superb racehorse as clearly evidence by his two Gold Cup wins in 2023 and 2024.
2025 saw him finish second in the race and 2026 was all set for his redemption and a shot at a third title.
That won’t happen now.
He’s been withdrawn from the race after suffering a setback before the Festival and, in truth, that could be the end of his Gold Cup pursuits.
Willie Mullins told Sporting Life: "After working very well on Thursday morning, he wasn't right on Friday morning and will miss the Gold Cup and the other spring festivals."
Jockey Paul Townend was set to ride him but will probably make the switch to Gaelic Warrior who is another of Mullins’ horses in contention to win the race.
Constitution Hill ruled out of Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival
11:40 , Mike JonesConstitution Hill, one of racing’s most celebrated horses, will not compete in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 10, trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley have confirmed.
The decision follows days of intense deliberation, particularly after the nine-year-old’s impressive debut on the Flat at Southwell.
Constitution Hill ruled out of Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival
Champion Hurdle showdown
11:30 , Mike JonesTuesday’s Champion Hurdle looks set to be a thrilling affair especially with the confirmation of Lossiemouth’s running.
Dan Skelton’s The New Lion was hotly tipped to be the favourite but the latest odds out Willie Mullins’ mare at 21/10 compared to 11/4 for Skelton’s boy.
Golden Ace and Brighterdaysahead are also in the running with odds of 9/1 and 5/1 respectively by the pre-Festival market favours this as a tow horse race.
Paddy Brennan said: "The New Lion really caught my eye in a piece of work at Warwick and I followed him in a piece of work on the grass last Friday and he was going off into the distance and I was like 'wow'.
“I have the feeling that he hasn't been fully prepared for any race bar this and he's flying.
Can Gaelic Warrior win the Gold Cup?
11:20 , Mike JonesThe Willie Mullins-trained horse is one of the favourites to challenge in Friday’s showpiece but Paddy Brennan isn’t sold on his capabilities.
He explained: "You look at Gaelic Warrior, who looks very likely to run in the Gold Cup, and he will need the ride of the century to win the Gold Cup.
“He's got to take his time and switch off, he's got to do so many things right to win."
Paddy Brennan backing Haiti Couleurs for Gold Cup
11:10 , Mike JonesFormer Gold Cup winning jockey, Paddy Brennan, spoke about this year’s Gold Cup and has backed Haiti Couleurs to perform well.
"The one race at the festival you dream and talk about is the Gold Cup and Haiti Couleurs is the one horse I'd love to ride," said Brennan, at a press conference organised by Free Bets.
"He's got the course form and the stamina. He loves Cheltenham and you know he stays.
"If you go back to Synchronised [Gold Cup winner in 2012] it's a similar case – he won an Irish National and a Welsh National."
Sign up to Independent Racing with Jonathan Doidge
11:00 , Mike JonesYou can find the latest insights, tips, odds and more each day of the Cheltenham Festival right here at The Independent.
Along with our dedicated live blog coverage of each race day we have expert analysis of the biggest stories, tips and predictions from weekly meetings and specialist coverage from the world of horseracing in our Independent Racing newsletter with Jonathan Doidge.
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Independent Racing will then drop into your inbox each Friday after the Festival concludes as our insights move towards the Grand National and the Flat racing season beyond.
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Queen Mother Champion Chase now easy to predict?
10:50 , Mike JonesWith Marine Nationale’s withdrawal it opens the door to others in the Queen Mother Chase.
Majborough is now the general 8/11 favourite to land the title.
Dan Skelton’s L'Eau Du Sud is next in the betting at 7/2, while Tingle Creek winner Il Etait Temps, also trained by Willie Mullins, is in with a shot and is favoured by our racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge as one to keep an eye on.
Marine Nationale ruled out of Cheltenham Festival
10:40 , Mike JonesMuch like Galopin Des Champs, another Cheltenham Festival winner from last year has been ruled out on the eve of the meeting.
Marine Nationale, who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 5/1, could have been on course to repeat the feat but has a sore neck and will not compete at Cheltenham.
"We had the vets in and they put him on pain relief medication and we're just going to be out of time with withdrawal times,” said trainer Barry Connell.
Connell added: "We think he might have been cast. It's just one week out of the 52 of the year he's not sound – it's horrendous luck. Hopefully we have him back for Punchestown."
Can Teahupoo win this year?
10:30 , Mike JonesLast year’s Stayers Hurdle - ran on Thursday - was supposed to have been won by the Gordon Elliott trained Teahupoo but instead Rachael Blackmore steered Bob Olinger to victory at 8/1 to upset the apple cart.
However, Teahupoo is back this year and ready to avenge that loss.
Elliott has be speaking about his fine horse and what you can expect from him this week.
Of Teahupoo he said: “He's a legend and he seems in better form now than ever before. He's flying.
“He's just so consistent, he never lets us down, and it will take a good one to beat him.”
Looking at the forecast
10:20 , Mike JonesJohn Pullin added: "There's a little bit of rain coming in after racing on Tuesday into Wednesday, then it's dry during Wednesday day and overnight into Thursday.
“It's dry during much of the day on Thursday with a band of rain moving in through the afternoon and continuing through the night into Friday."
Cheltenham clerk gives update on ground
10:10 , Mike JonesClerk of the course at Prestbury Park, Jon Pullin, provided an update on how the going will be for tomorrow’s racing.
He said: "We dried up a little bit more than anticipated yesterday, so we're good to soft, good in places and we're doing a little bit of selective watering today to maintain the good to soft and improve the good.
“The forecast is dry now through until after racing tomorrow. I'd imagine we'll start tomorrow on either good to soft or good to soft, good in places."
Cheltenham preparations
10:00 , Mike JonesThe horses set to star in the next four days are already going through their preparations at Prestbury Park.
Paul Townend has been spotted on Kopek Des Bordes this morning ahead of his outing tomorrow.
Cheltenham Festival schedule
09:51 , Mike JonesFriday 13 March - Gold Cup Day
*Please note race conditions and timings are subject to change
1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m1f | 8 hurdles | New Course
2.00: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)Race conditions: £98,370 (2024) | 2m1f| 8 hurdles | New Course
2.40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2) Race conditions: £120,000 | 2m4½f | 17 fences | New Course
3.20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £150,000 | 3m | 12 hurdles | New course
4.00: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1)Race conditions: £625,000 | 3m2½f | 22 fences | New Course
4.40: Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase Race conditions: £50 | 2m4½f | 17 fences | New Course
5.20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Race conditions: £75,000 | 2m4½f | 10 hurdles | New Course
Cheltenham Festival schedule
09:42 , Mike JonesThursday 12 March - St Patrick’s Thursday
*Please note race conditions and timings are subject to change
1.20: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) Race conditions: £105,000 | 2m1f | 8 hurdles | New Course
2.00: Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) Race conditions: £125,000 | 2m4f | 17 fences | New Course
2.40: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £100,000 | 3m | 12 hurdles | New course
3.20: Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £375,000 | 2m4½f | 17 fences | New Course
4.00: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) Race conditions: £325,000 | 3m | 12 hurdles | New course
4.40: Pertemps Network Final (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m4½f | 17 fences | New Course
5.20: Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (0-145) Race conditions: £75,000 | 3m2f | 21 fences | New Course
Cheltenham Festival schedule
09:33 , Mike JonesWednesday 11 March - Ladies Day
*Please note race conditions and timings are subject to change
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m5f | 10 hurdles | Old Course
2.00: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)Race conditions: £200,000 | 3m½f | 20 fences | Old Course
2.40: BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap)Race conditions: £100,000 | 2m5f | 10 hurdles | Old Course
3.20: Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase Race conditions: £75,000 | 3m6f | 32 obstacles | Old Course
4.00: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) Race conditions: £400,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course
4.40: Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap)Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f | 14 fences | Old Course
5.20: Weatherbys Champion Bumper (In Memory of Sir Johnny Weatherby) (Grade 1)Race conditions: £80,000 | 2m½f | Old Course
Cheltenham Festival schedule
09:24 , Mike JonesTuesday 10 March - Champion Day
*Please note race conditions and timings are subject to change
1.20: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f| 8 hurdles | Old Course
2.00: Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase (Grade 1)Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course
2.40: McCoys Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Registered as the Fred Winter) (Premier Handicap) Race conditions: £150,000 | 3m1f | 20 fences | Old Course
3.20: Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)Race conditions: £120,000 | 2m4f | 10 hurdles | Old Course
4.00: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) Race conditions: £450,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course
4.40: Sun Racing Plate (A Handicap Steeple Chase) (Premier Handicap)Race conditions: £80,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course
5.20: National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase) (Class 2)Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course
Lossiemouth and Fact To File raise eyebrows after Cheltenham Festival declarations
09:15 , Mike JonesThe 2026 edition of the Cheltenham Festival is set to kick off with a barnstorming opening day as the Unibet Champion Hurdle looks to be a stacked field of contenders.
The first champion race of the four-day Festival is headlined by Willie Mullins’ star mare, Lossiemouth, who has won the last two Mares’ Hurdles at the Festival. She is also confirmed for that race on Thursday but has been given a shot at taking a champion title against the likes of The New Lion and Golden Ace.
Lossiemouth and Fact To File raise eyebrows after Cheltenham Festival declarations
Can I still get a ticket and how much do they cost?
09:06 , Mike JonesYou can secure access to the first three days of the festival through a daily Club Enclosure ticket from £103.50, while Friday is sold out.
Tattersalls tickets will cost from £73.80 on each of the first three days but again Gold Cup day has sold out.
The cheapest way to experience the festival is through the Best Mate enclosure with a day ticket for the first three days priced from £54.
All details can be found with tickets available to purchase through the Jockey Club here.
Cheltenham Festival 2026
09:00 , Mike JonesThe Cheltenham Festival returns this week as the National Hunt jump racing season gathers pace with the four-day bonanza of horseracing goodness one of the highlights of the sport’s calendar.
The Festival begins with Champion Day before Ladies Day and then St Patrick’s Thursday, with Gold Cup Day bringing the event to a close on Friday.
This year’s action is et to be thrilling and, perhaps, a touch more unpredictable than previous years though the prolific Irish trainer Willie Mullins and resident jockey Paul Townend will hope to excel once more.
The British trainers will also be looking to overcome a decade of Irish dominance in the Prestbury Cup as they aim to restore some pride after a 20-8 defeat last year.
Why the Cheltenham Festival is set to be more unpredictable than ever before
08:54 , Mike JonesIf there’s one thing horseracing fans hate, it’s unpredictability. Ignore the fact that the whole basis of the industry is built on not being able to choose the winning runner every time.
Most punters do, as they believe that with the correct research, brushing up on recent results, tracking trainers, horses, and specific jockeys they will be able to beat the odds and earn success in a sport stacked against them.
In recent years that irrational logic has been truer during the Cheltenham Festival than perhaps any other meeting.
Why the Cheltenham Festival is set to be more unpredictable than ever before
How can I watch the Cheltenham Festival on TV and is there a live stream?
08:48 , Mike JonesYou can watch the first six races of each day at the Cheltenham Festival with ITV1, while full coverage of the Festival, including the final race of each day is available through a Racing TV subscription.
Both ITV and Racing TV provide live streams for the coverage through their apps and websites, while fans can of course tune on via the traditional television broadcast.
When is 2026 Cheltenham Festival and what races are included?
08:42 , Mike JonesThe Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday 10 March and concludes on Friday 13 March. Fans can expect 28 races over the course of four days, with seven races per day, including 13 races run over fences across the week, 13 over hurdles plus a bumper (flat race) and a cross-country chase.
The shortest run is a little under two miles, while the longest races almost reach four miles. Fans will look out for 13 of the races run at Grade 1 standard, while five are run as Grade 2s, six Grade 3s and the other four being Listed.
The first race is scheduled for 1:20pm GMT each day, with the final race starting at 5:20pm.
Good morning!
08:34 , Mike JonesWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of the 2026 edition of the Cheltenham Festival.
It’s Festival eve and tomorrow the meeting begins in earnest with Champion Day as fans, trainers and jockeys alike all flock to Prestbury Park for the greatest show on turf.
Today we’ll have the latest news and updates from Cheltenham and go through some of the declarations.
It looks set to be a fascinating four days so stick with us throughout the Festival.
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