2026 Cheltenham Festival Antepost Tips

Stephen Welch / 4:27 PM GMT • 19th March, 2025

4 minutes

Here at betting.bet I’ll offer my opinions on some of the best Cheltenham Festival antepost bets.

As the dust settles on a drama-filled Cheltenham Festival, attention immediately turns to 2026 with antepost markets already buzzing ahead of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Using key trends from the past decade as well as assessing performances from this year’s Festival, here at betting.bet I’ll offer my opinions on some of the best Cheltenham Festival antepost bets almost a year out from 2026 edition of the greatest show on turf. All my horse racing tips include antepost odds from leading online betting site BetMGM.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Too Bossy For Us - 20/1

Well-beaten in this year’s Triumph Hurdle but at odds of around 20/1, Too Bossy For Us has demonstrated potential in novice hurdles. If he maintains his form and gains more experience, he could be a serious player in the Supreme.

Minella Premier - 25/1

A longshot with odds around 25/1, but Nicky Henderson's £400,000 purchase has shown potential. Kept back this season, he is expected to make a significant impact as a six-year-old novice hurdler next year.

Arkle Chase

Kopek Des Bordes - 5/1

Kopek Des Bordes boasts an impeccable record, winning all four of his starts, including two straight Grade 1 wins. The manner of his latest triumph in the Supreme at this year’s Cheltenham Festival could see him emulate the likes of Douvan, Altior and Shishkin and follow up by landing the Arkle Chase next year. Trainer Willie Mullins has an excellent recent record in the Arkle, training two of the last three winners.

Mares’ Hurdle

Wodhooh - 8/1

Next year’s Mares Hurdle could shape up to be the race of the Festival in twelve months time with this year’s winner Lossiemouth tipped to take on the likes of Brighterdaysahead, Wodhooh and Jade De Grugy in 2026. Lossiemouth was a convincing winner of this year’s Mares’ Hurdle but connections came in for criticism for choosing to side-step the Champions Hurdle in favour of the mares’ race. Both Lossiemouth and Brightersaysahead could opt for the 2026 Champion Hurdle, leaving the door open for this year’s Martin Pipe winner, Wodhooh. There is still a possibility that Wodhooh is sent chasing next year but with a 6/6 record over hurdles, she would be well in the mix for the Mares’ Hurdle if taken down that route.

Champion Hurdle

The New Lion - 6/1

This year’s Champion Hurdle was one of the most dramatic races in Cheltenham Festival history. Constitution Hill is tipped to return next year and right the wrongs of 2025. However, I’m not convinced we’ll see the eight-time Grade 1 winner back over hurdles. A possible switch to the larger obstacles makes Constitution Hill an interesting option for the Arkle (10/1 with Unibet) but as for the Champion Hurdle, The New Lion could be the pick of the bunch.

The New Lion was mightily impressive when landing this year’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle earlier this month and trainer Dan Skelton immediately turned his attention to next year’s Cheltenham Festival, commenting “we’re on the journey already and hopefully he can come back next year as a Champion Hurdle horse”. The New Lion is a superb jumper and will certainly have age on his side against most potential Champion Hurdle rivals.

Gold Cup

Fact To File - 6/1

Inothewayurthinkin ended Galopin Des Champs’ dreams of a third straight Gold Cup in impressive fashion this year and Gavin Cromwell’s new superstar is likely to return in twelve months time to defend his crown. The last six horses to win more than one Gold Cup won the race for the first time as a seven-year-old, suggesting Inothewayurthinkin is primed for another big Gold Cup run.

However, the 2025 Gold Cup field was far from the strongest we’ve ever seen and it has to be said, Galopin Des Champs was not quite at his imperious best this year. 2026 could offer a wide-open Gold Cup renewal and whilst Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs will again feature prominently in the betting, there may be value to be found elsewhere.

Fact To File, a long time adversary of Galopin Des Champs could prove the horse to beat in twelve months time. Willie Mullins is yet to send Fact To File to a Gold Cup but he has won back-to-back Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 races having followed up last year’s Brown Advisory success by winning the Ryanair Chase in rather convincing fashion this year. Fact To File’s best performances tend to come around two and half miles but he was far from disgraced when coming home in second to Galopin Des Champs in this year’s Irish Gold Cup. With the right preparation, Fact To File could take over from Galopin Des Champs as Willie Mullins’ best Gold Cup prospect.

2026 Cheltenham Festival Antepost Tips