With the nights getting longer and the temperatures starting to fall, most people are lighting the fires, kicking the leaves, and hankering for a cosy night in.
However, it is a different story for National Hunt racing connections and enthusiasts. With Cheltenham racecourse holding their their curtain-raising Showcase Meeting this weekend, the National Hunt game is very much on.
I actually feel a quiet sense of excitement when the last race on Ascot Champions Day is complete. This is finally the moment when the focus of racing is now firmly on the jumps and the inevitable road to the pinnacle of the season: The Cheltenham Festival.
We take this opportunity to preview what could be another exciting and surprising season. We check out latest ante-post odds for the big races at Cheltenham Festival 2026, catch up with some of the biggest changes announced for The Cheltenham Festival next year and take a peek at some of the key autumn races coming up.
Our partner firms Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports provide top odds and best Cheltenham Festival 2026 bets and best national hunt ante-post bets.
Major Changes Announced For Cheltenham Festival 2026
The Mares Hurdle
The big talking point of the last week is the rerouting of The Mares Hurdle, which has traditionally taken place on the Champions Day, the opening day of The Festival.
The race will now be staged on the Thursday, thereby sharing top billing with The Stayers Hurdle and Ryanair Chase. As a result, the TrustATrader Plate, has been moved to the opening day Tuesday for the sixth race on the card.
This now makes the opening day a more enticing day for betting with a busier handicap schedule. The reasoning is to improve the prestige of the Mares Hurdle as it was considered to be dwarfed by the significance of The Champion Hurdle.
Addressing The False Start Issues
Some of the approaches and start positions have been altered in order to reduce the number of false starts and fields have been reduced, along with reducing the maximum number of runners allowed in hurdle races run over 2 miles and five furlongs and 2 miles and one furlong hurdle start on the New Course.
Consequently, this has resulted in the Coral Cup and County Hurdle being reduced to a maximum of 24 entrants, whilst The Champion Bumper is down to 22.
Drinks Prices!
This has been the subject of much discussion on social media, especially disgruntled Guinness drinkers having to fork out £7.80 for a pint. The Irish stout beverage, a highly ubiquitous feature of The Cheltenham Festival, has been reduced to the 2022 price of £7.50.
Crowds
It is no secret that attendance to The Cheltenham Festival has significantly decreased since 2022, with punters citing astronomical accommodation, food and drink prices as the maim deterrent.
Some have even swapped The Cotswolds for a week in Spain to watch the races on big screens in the sun at a reported lower cost. Overcrowding has also been a factor mentioned on customer feedback; therefore, Cheltenham Racecourse has reduced the maximum daily attendance limit from 68,500 to 66,000.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Latest Ante-Post Odds
The Champion Hurdle
This is a now a strong division indeed. Rising stars such as The New Lion will now take on the established stalwarts, State Man, Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill in what looks to be a mouth-watering clash come March.
However, if Constitution Hill is back to his 2022 Champion Hurdle winning form, there should be on paper, not much of a contest at all. As things stand, The New Lion will get his first crack at the Seven Barrows trained enigma at The Fighting Fifth hurdle at Newcastle in late November.
Best each way bet could be Anzadam, a highly unexposed Willie Mullins youngster on the threshold of stardom. Ruled out for most of last season, the five year old could also line up in The Fighting Fifth according to Mullins.
Best odds:
The New Lion 4/1 (William Hill, Betfred)
Lossiemouth 6/1 (Betfred)
State Man 7/1 (Bet365)
Constitution Hill (Bet365, William Hill, Boylesports)
Anzadam 14/1 (Betfred)
The Champion Chase
The odds reflect an open market, although this could change quickly if current champion Marine Nationale has improved further on his excellent Champion Chase victory.
Sir Gino and Majborough still have questions to answer whilst Il Etait Temps could well be the ace in the pack after his devastating three wins in the late spring, including a demolition of Jonbon et al in the Sandown Celebration Chase.
Jonbon should not be written off as his performance in the Champion Chase is very much open to debate, considering his gallant late surge for second after a terrible error at the 6th last. The Nicky Henderson charge is without doubt the each way value in the race.
Best Odds
Marine Nationale 4/1 (Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred, Boylesports)
Sir Gino 4/1 (William Hill)
Majborough 8/1 (Bet365)
Il Elait Temps 10/1 (William Hill)
Jonbon 14/1 (William Hill)
The Cheltenham Gold Cup
On current ratings, current champion Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs will be renewing their rivalry. It is open to debate to which Galopin turned up last March in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but there is a general consensus that the Willie Mullins dual winner was well below par. Game on.
There is a good chance they will meet at Punchestown over the Festive period as Mullins has ruled out a return for Galopin in the John Durkan chase next month. Fact To File, Gaelic Warrior and Fastorslow are all somewhere in the mix although Fact To File is probably well exposed by now, along with Fastorslow whereas plenty of interest will be focussed on Gaelic Warrior as he steps up in distance.
However, the each way bonanza has to be Haiti Couleurs who followed up his Cheltenham Festival win, over Gold Cup course and distance, with a sensational triumph in the Irish National. Plenty more to come from this Rebecca Curtis trained horse.
Best Odds:
Inothewayurthinkin 4/1 (Betfred)
Galopin Des Champs 6/1 (Bet365, William Hill)
Fact To File 12/1 (William Hill)
Gaelic Warrior 16/1 (Bet365)
Haiti Couleurs 25/1 (Bet365, William Hill, Betfred)
Major National Hunt Races In Autumn
The Paddy Power Gold Cup
Some interesting entries here including The Jukebox Man, owned by Harry Redknapp, who could be very well handicapped having not been seen out since his Kauto Star Novices chase win back in December.
Paul Nicholls has a splendid hand with last year’s winner Il Ridoto and Festival winner Caldwell Potter both getting quotes at this stage. However, the latter is most likely to be seen first time out at The Betfair Chase, end of November.
Best odds: all odds provided by William Hill
Jagwar 4/1
Il Ridoto 8/1
Caldwell Potter 12/1
The Jukebox Man 12/1
The Betfair Chase
The first Grade One staying chase at Haydock could provide a lot of information on the key intentions of some big Gold Cup contenders. This is likely to be Caldwell Potter’s first outing whilst the Skelton trained Grey Dawning will be bidding to go one up after his defeat to Royale Pagaille in this race last year.
Inothewayurthinkin is getting a quote, whilst Haiti Couleurs could also find this a useful starting point and a tester to see where he can go this season.
Best Odds: all odds provided by William Hill
Grey Dawning 5/4
Caldwell Potter 4/1
Nick Rockett 10/1
Haiti Couleurs 10/1
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