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Cheltenham Festival 2026 is next month!
Just a matter of weeks now until the greatest show on turf. We take this opportunity to highlight the best Cheltenham Festival 2026 antepost bets in the novice chase markets featuring 2-mile championship race, The Arkle Chase on Day One (Tuesday) and the stayers’ event on Day 2 (Wednesday), The Brown Advisory Novices Chase.
Best Cheltenham Festival 2026 bets provided by our partner firms, Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Bet Victor and Boylesports.
Antepost Betting
Most of the betting odds advertised are strictly under full ante-post rules. This means that any bets taken for Cheltenham Festival 2026 will automatically be lost if the chosen horse fails to take their place, for whatever reason (injury, change of race, going unsuitable).
A lot of horses have multiple declarations for Cheltenham Festival 2026 races. At some point, all of our partner firms will offer NRNB (Non-Runner No Bet) nearer to the start of Cheltenham Festival 2026.
This rule ensures that any stakes are returned if the horse fails to declare for any given Cheltenham Festival 2026 race.
William Hill are now offering NRNB (Non Runner No Bet) on the two races we are featuring, however at much lower odds.
The Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase: Tuesday March 10th
Latest Betting
Lulamba 5/4 (William Hill NRNB)
Kopek Des Bordes 4/1 (Bet365)
Romeo Coolio 9/2 (William Hill NRNB)
Kargese 6/1 (Bet365, Betfred, Boylesports)
Mambonumberfive 16/1 (Bet365) 14/1 with William Hill NRNB
Lulamba
The Nicky Henderson Triumph Hurdle runner-up from last years has been in devastating form all season, picking up commanding wins at Exeter andin the Grade One Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown.
It is evident that the horse has not beaten anything of serious calibre, however, with question marks surrounding his rivals, Lulamba goes into this 2 mile novice chase championship as a deserved 6/4 favourite.
Kopek Des Bordes
The Cheltenham Festival 2025 Supreme Novices Hurdle winner kicked off his season by winning a Navan beginners chase in some style but has been dogged with setbacks since, including the removal of a bone chip from his knee.
This resulted him missing a run in the Christmas fixture program and trainer Willie Mullins has declared him to be “not up to speed” for an appearance in the Dublin Racing Festival.
Therefore, Kopek Des Bordes will go straight to Cheltenham Festival 2026 and take his chance with just one run over fences. This has to be a risky proposition but there is no doubting this horse’s ability.
Romeo Coolio
Despite beating Kargese narrowly over the weekend at Leopardstown, it is no foregone conclusion where this horse will end up with entries confirmed for this race and the Brown Advisory.
Romeo Coolio can certainly dig deep when needed but will need to improve further to compete with the likes of Lulamba.
Kargese
Last March’s County Hurdle winner ran a blinder to get within a neck of Romeo Coolio in the Leopardstown Grade One over the weekend and could improve further to give Lulamba something to think about.
Mambonumberfive
This Ben Pauling trained Grade 2 Newbury winner, who was purchased for 450,000 euro faces a stiff up in class for The Arkle. However, this is a talented four-year-old who has plenty of scope for improvement.
Mambonumberfive enters each way calculations if he gets decent ground on the day.
The Brown Advisory Novices Chase, Wednesday 11th March
Latest Betting
Final Demand 4/1 (Bet Victor)
Kaid D’Authie 9/2 (Bet365) 4/1 William Hill NRNB
The Big Westerner 5/1 (William Hill NRNB
Romeo Coolio 12/1 (Bet365)
Final Demand
This Willie Mullins trained entry has held favouritism for most of the season but his price tumbled after flopping on Sunday’s Grade One novice chase at the Leopardstown Dublin Racing Festival, when a strong odds on favourite.
The run could have a line drawn through it as it was too bad to be true but this is an open race and better value to be found elsewhere.
Kaid D’Authie
This supposed second string of Willie Mullins demonstrated his ability to stay extended distances by winning the big Leopardstown Grade One and making race favourite Final Demand look very ordinary indeed.
Newly added cheekpieces and bold jumping style will almost certainly mean this McManus owned entry will run a big race in the Brown Advisory.
The Big Westerner
Trained by Henry De Bromhead, this Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle runner-up has yet to run beyond 3 miles. However, he has shown plenty of ability and should improve to compete with the likes of Kaid A’uthie.
Romeo Coolio
Connections are probably edging towards the Arkle, although a decision will be made nearer the day.
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (4pm 5th December 2026) and are subject to change
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