Racing
Cheltenham Festival 2026 – My 5 Best Bets
I have compiled five of my strongest fancies for the Cheltenham Festival next month.
Lulamba (Arkle Novices’ Chase)
The more I look at the Arkle on the opening day, the more confident I am about LULAMBA. Luckily, I backed him ante-post at much juicier odds, but I still wouldn’t put anyone off him at his current short odds. His preparation has been far smoother than Kopek Des Bordes and he’s been so impressive in winning all three starts in this sphere.
He has already proved his versatility under all types of conditions, winning on good, good to soft, yielding and heavy and this dual Grade 1 winner is continuing to go from strength to strength in each start. With the world at his feet, and his best days ahead of him, I rate him as a confident choice to maintain his unbeaten chase record next month.
Majborough (Champion Chase)
I have flip flopped around in the Champion Chase but given how easily he won the Dublin Chase last time out by 19 lengths, it’s hard to oppose MAJBOROUGH if he can turn in a similar effort. His jumping was so much more assured and he’s only going to get better and better with more experience and can gain compensation for last season’s nightmare in the Arkle.
With four Grade 1 wins to his name already, it’s possible that this six-year-old will reach double digits at the very least given he’s still only young with his peak yet to be reached. Defending champion Marine Nationale should be able to bridge the gap next month but I’m still struggling to see him keep up with his old foe if similar positive tactics are deployed on Mullins’ charge.
Honesty Policy (Stayers Hurdle)
Gordon Elliott appears to hold the aces in the Stayers’ Hurdle with Teahupoo and HONESTY POLICY, with my pick being the latter. This progressive youngster has so much more improvement to come and was a significant eye-catcher when third under tentative handling in the Long Walk Hurdle on his reappearance.
A winner of a Grade 1 at Aintree last season, followed by a narrow defeat at Punchestown, this has undoubtedly been his main target and his younger legs might be the difference in the final analysis up against last season’s winner and runner-up. I backed him ante-post at 25/1, so I’m hoping he can come good.
Dinoblue (Mares Chase)
DINOBLUE is a strong nomination in the Mares Chase. She was a really good winner of the event last season and is at the top of her game, winning five of her last six starts. She has recorded back-to-back wins since her encouraging second on her return and is undoubtedly the one to beat next month.
I’m struggling to see past her the more I look at the opposition as she sets a clear standard for the rest to aim at. This does look like it’s going to be a stronger renewal with the likes of Only By Night and Panic Attack in the field, but she’s proven herself at the Festival, especially over this trip, so she is fancied to write herself into the history books.
Doctor Steinberg (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle)
In the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, I’m all over DOCTOR STEINBERG. Willie Mullins’ leading candidate has looked like an absolute monster in winning all three starts over hurdles, including a Grade 1 at Leopardstown by eight lengths last time out.
Even despite running freely under the testing conditions, the gears he displayed to lengthen away from his rivals was sublime. This race looks tailor-made for him, so while favourites don’t have a particularly good record in it, I think this progressive unbeaten hurdler can buck the trend by landing the spoils.
