The British are coming! Will the tide turn at the 2026 Cheltenham festival?
The next three weekends of relentless action will put us within touching distance of a definitive answer
TL;DR
- Cheltenham's Trials Day is the start of a 15-day period to finalize preparations for the festival.
- Recent meetings at Cheltenham have seen record crowds, indicating growing interest.
- There are currently five ante-post favorites for Grade One events trained in Britain.
- Nicky Henderson has multiple strong contenders for major races on the opening day.
- British optimism is particularly high for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with several contenders at single-figure prices.
- Willie Mullins's Galopin Des Champs remains a narrow favorite for the Gold Cup, but British horses like Jango Baie and The Jukebox Man are strong contenders.
- The next three weekends of racing at various tracks will provide a clearer picture of British chances at the festival.