Cheltenham Festival 2026: Horses to Watch This Week
Runners to keep an eye on this Cheltenham Festival
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Cheltenham Festival Overview
The Cheltenham Festival stands as the defining event of the National Hunt calendar. Each March, four days of elite racing bring together the sport's best horses, jockeys and trainers, with careers elevated and legends forged in front of a passionate crowd.
During festival week, Cheltenham Racecourse transforms into the focal point of the jump racing world. The atmosphere is unmistakable, building to the iconic roar from the grandstands as the opening race gets underway.
The 2026 edition promises plenty of intrigue. Several of the championship contests appear more competitive than in recent years, established stars are likely to face ambitious new rivals, and the long-running Britain-versus-Ireland rivalry adds another compelling layer to the story.
With prize funds again reaching record levels, the strongest stables from both sides of the Irish Sea are expected to arrive with their best chances. Cheltenham's famously demanding course tests every aspect of a horse's ability. Success here requires stamina, accuracy and bravery in equal measure, and only the most resilient competitors rise to the occasion.
For the festival itself here are my top 3 horses to watch:
Horse to Watch #1: Sober Glory
Race: Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Time: 13.20
Day: Tuesday
Selection: Sober Glory
Sober Glory has won 6 of his 7 starts and, as a lightly raced six-year-old, he's open to significant improvement. In what should be a competitive first race of the festival, Sober Glory looks to be a strong contender. Aside from a poor showing at Sandown, he has been effectively faultless. A forecasted strong pace to the race will suit as well.
About the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Run over 2 miles and 87 yards, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle race, open to horses four years or older. This year the race features 12 declared runners.
The Novices’ Hurdle is traditionally the opening race of the Festival, and it sets the tone for the week ahead.
Notable past winners include Kopek Des Bordes (2025) and Constitution Hill (2022).
Horse to Watch #2: Love Sign D'Aunou
Race: Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Time: 17:20
Day: Wednesday
Selection: Love Sign D'Aunou
After winning by 24 lengths on his first run under rules at Naas, Love Sign d'Aunou announced himself as a competitor for the Champion Bumper. His profile ticks all the boxes for this race, and although he is very inexperienced, his untapped potential makes him the one to watch in this race.
About the Weatherbys Champion Bumper
The Weatherbys Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race, run over 2 miles and 87 yards. This year’s race has 22 declared runners at the time of writing.
The Champion Bumper is Wednesday’s final race, showcasing future stars, like Envoi Allen, who won in 2019.
Horse to Watch #3: Proactif
Race: JCB Triumph Hurdle
Time: 13:20
Day: Friday
Selection: Proactif
Proactif has won both his starts in convincing fashion. This Willie Mullins-trained J.P.McManus horse has a proven jumping and stamina profile, and with recent form being enhanced with beaten rivals winning since, Proactif has considerable potential.
About the JCB Triumph Hurdle
The JCB Triumph Hurdle is another Grade 1 hurdle race, run over 2 miles and 87 yards and open to four-year-old horses. This year’s race currently features 23 runners.
The race is the main event exclusively run by juveniles, and W P Mullins’ Poniros took the win in 2025.
Cheltenham Going & Weather Conditions
Going: Old & New Course: Good to Soft; Cross Country: Good to Soft, Good in places (last updated: 10:00 a.m., 11 March 2026, source: Cheltenham.co.uk).
Weather conditions: Sunny intervals, temperatures around 10°C with light westerly winds at around 13mph (last updated: 10:00 a.m., 11 March 2026, source: Met Office).
Analysis by Tom Kimsey
Tom Kimsey is part of the Sportsbook team here at Bally’s and has 10+ years of experience analysing sports.
This content represents his personal analytical opinion based on publicly available information. It does not constitute betting advice or prediction of outcomes.
All horse racing involves significant uncertainty and risk. All references to form, conditions or performance are descriptive only and do not indicate expected outcomes.
Summary
This article presents our employee's selections based on publicly available form and observations. All three selections represent horses that, in our employee's view, merit consideration based on their profiles and recent performances. However, the Cheltenham Festival features highly competitive fields across all races, and outcomes remain uncertain.
Readers considering any wagers should:
Review current odds and markets independently
Consider small stakes to manage risk
Remember that all racing involves unpredictability and significant risk of loss
Set personal limits before the festival begins
Data Verification
Going information: Cheltenham.co.uk official going reports (accessed at times noted above) Weather forecasts: Met Office, accessed 10:00 a.m. on respective race days
Note: Going and field information may change throughout the festival. Please check current conditions and markets before placing any bets. In the event of a non-runner, please refer to our terms and conditions regarding affected bets.
IMPORTANT GAMBLING INFORMATION
This article does not constitute betting advice or any guarantee of outcomes. Horse racing is unpredictable, and all bets carry significant risk of loss.
Only bet what you can afford to lose
Consider small stakes and each-way options to manage risk
Set deposit limits and time limits on your account
Never chase losses
Take regular breaks from gambling
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