sports
January 19, 2026
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.
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