Cheltenham Festival 2026 Tips - My top five bets for next week
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner, promising thrilling races. Among the top value bets are Imperial Saint (20/1) in the Ultima Handicap Chase and Predators Gold (33/1) in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, providing great opportunities for punters. Carrigmoornaspruce (12/1), Sixandahalf (16/1), and King's Bucks (25/1) round out a promising lineup for this year's festival. These selections focus on finding the best value for bettors looking to capitalize on the upcoming racing action.
- My top five tips for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival
- This "greatest show on turf" begins on Tuesday afternoon
- Predators Gold and King's Bucks make my top five
- (Day 1, 3:20pm) Ultima Handicap Chase Tips: Imperial Saint
- (Day 2, 2:00pm) Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Tips: Predators Gold
- (Day 3, 1:20pm) Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tips: Carrigmoornaspruce
- (Day 4, 2:00pm) County Hurdle Tips: Sixandahalf
- Day 5, 3:20pm) Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Tips: King's Bucks
- Honourable Mentions
Cheltenham 2026 Top Five Bets
We're now just days away from the 2026 Cheltenham Festival getting underway, and the fields are starting to take shape.
I've already published free guides for all 28 races during the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. I'll be publishing through the card tips for each day once the fields have been finalised, and I'll be highlighting my favourites in the Daily Tips on every morning of the meeting.
I don't mind backing horses at short prices, but I prefer to seek value when the opportunity presents itself. Here are five of my top value selections at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 Tips - My Top Five Bets
| Race | Name | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ultima | Imperial Saint | 20/1 |
| 2026 Brown Advisory | Predators Gold | 33/1 |
| 2026 Mares' Novices' Hurdle | Carrigmoornaspruce | 12/1 |
| 2026 County Hurdle | Sixandahalf | 16/1 |
| 2026 Albert Bartlett | King's Bucks | 25/1 |
(Day 1, 3:20pm) Ultima Handicap Chase Tips: Imperial Saint
I was part of the monster gamble that landed when IMPERIAL SAINT (20/1) won the Peter Marsh at Haydock. Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's star could have been backed at 25/1 when the field was confirmed, but ended up going off at 7/2, and got up in the nick of time to claim a narrow victory.
I'd been itching to back Imperial Saint over three miles all season long, and Callum Pritchard's mount saw out 25-and-a-half furlongs strongly. This eight-year-old has only had two starts over three miles or further in his life, finished first at Haydock and a close second to Cruz Control in the Freebooter at Aintree last spring.
Imperial Saint has raced at Cheltenham twice before, placing a close third in the 2025 Betfair Exchange Handicap on Trials Day, before a sixth-place finish behind Glengouly in this season's December Gold Cup. Both races were run over 2m4f on the New Course, and I'm convinced that the Ultima course-and-distance will be much more suitable.
Imperial Saint has won on all kinds of ground, and Pritchard has already been confirmed in the saddle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. This eight-year-old is still well-treated off a mark of 144.
(Day 2, 2:00pm) Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Tips: Predators Gold
Lecky Watson claimed a shock victory in last year's Brown Advisory, and there's more than a bit of "Lecky Watson" about PREDATORS GOLD (33/1).
Willie Mullins campaigned his seven-year-old at the highest level in novice hurdles - finishing second in two Grade Ones around Leopardstown - before he spent a year out through injury. Predators Gold marked his return to action by beating Slade Steel and Wingmen at Navan, after which I was expecting him to be stepped up to three miles.
Instead, Mullins' charge was sent off at 4/6 for the 19-furlong Super Sub Novice Chase at Punchestown. Paul Townend's mount looked a little outpaced throughout, but jumped the last in the lead, only to get outpaced late on by Kappa Jy Pyke and Jacob's Ladder.
Kappa Jy Pyke is heading for the Arkle Challenge Trophy and Jacob's Ladder won a two-mile handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, so it was only sheer pace that got Predators Gold beaten that day. Lecky Watson ran in almost identical prep races before his shock victory in last year's Brown Advisory. Willie Mullins might have a similar plan in mind.
(Day 3, 1:20pm) Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tips: Carrigmoornaspruce
CARRIGMOORNASPRUCE (12/1) showed plenty of class in bumpers last term. Declan Queally's mare beat Sortudo on the level at the 2024 Leopardstown Christmas Festival, stayed on to finish third behind Bambino Fever at the Dublin Racing Festival, and went on to beat hot-favourite Seo Linn in the Grade Three Mares' Flat Race at the Punchestown Festival.
Carrigmoornaspruce dominated on her hurdling debut at Listowel, making all to beat four future winners by a comfortable margin. Queally's mare suffered a shock defeat in the Grade Three at Down Royal in August, but bounced back in Grade One company at Leopardstown over Christmas, staying on well from the rear to finish a five-length second behind Skylight Hustle.
When presented with a fast pace to aim at, Carrigmoornaspruce always seems to produce her best. I loved the way she travelled into the contest at Leopardstown, and Queally must think the world of her to have thrown her in with some of the best novices that Ireland has to offer.
You need a strong traveller in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle. The pacesetters always go out hard and fast. Jumping isn't particularly important on the New Course, as there's only one obstacle in the six furlongs on the hurdles track. That's probably why horses with good bumper form - like Carrigmoornaspruce - prosper on the New Course, and decent ground on St Patrick's Day at the Cheltenham Festival will suit this likeable mare.
(Day 4, 2:00pm) County Hurdle Tips: Sixandahalf
The one who captures my imagination in the County Hurdle is SIXANDAHALF (16/1). Gavin Cromwell's mare went off as the clear favourite for last year's Mares' Novices' Hurdle. Keith Donoghue's mount didn't jump well, but picked up nicely after the last, only to get run down by the charging Air Of Entitlement.
Sixandahalf again didn't jump fluently when surprisingly beaten at Punchestown, and struggled a little on the flat over the summer. Cromwell's six-year-old got turned over as the 1/3 favourite on her return to hurdles at Sligo in October, but Colonel Mustard is a worthy adversary for anyone, and he went on to land the Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle next time out.
Conor Stone-Walsh was in the saddle when Sixandahalf finished fourth behind Wodhooh at Leopardstown over Christmas. Cromwell's mare jumped better on that occasion, she simply didn't stay the trip as well as Wodhooh, Feet Of A Dancer and Dream On Baby. Returning to the minimum distance seems like a sensible plan, and Sixandahalf travelled beautifully on the New Course last year. If she jumps well, she's got more than half a chance.
Day 5, 3:20pm) Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Tips: King's Bucks
My beloved Minella Indo was a maiden when he won the Albert Bartlett. Henry De Bromhead will be represented this year by another maiden in KING'S BUCKS (25/1), whose form looks solid and he gained valuable experience around the course at Cheltenham's November Meeting.
A winning point-to-pointer who finished second to an impressive winner on his sole bumper start, King's Bucks finished a one-paced fourth on his hurdles debut at Galway - where both the ground and trip were too sharp for his liking. Despite that defeat, De Bromhead still sent his six-year-old to Cheltenham for the Hyde Novices' Hurdle.
No Drama This End was never going to get beaten in that Grade Two. King's Bucks was held up by Darragh O'Keeffe and came home strongly up the hill, getting within a neck of catching the runner-up Heads Up - a Listed winner since - and putting four lengths between himself and fifth-placed Moneygarrow.
King's Bucks was beaten at odds-on at Limerick over Christmas. Yet, Mike O'Connor's mount was only narrowly touched off by Willie Mullins' You Proof - who sat prominently in the betting for the Turners Novices' Hurdle after that win, and was due to run in the Nathaniel Lacy before meeting with a season-ending setback.
With Darragh O'Keeffe likely to choose Fruit De Mer, Mike O'Connor will get the chance to renew his partnership with King's Bucks on Gold Cup day at the Cheltenham Festival. Soft going seems to be essential for his chances, but there has been some rain forecast for the end of the week, so hopefully that softens the ground in his favour.
Honourable Mentions
With a red-hot pace guaranteed, I think we'll see the best Mydaddypaddy in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Vanillier looks nailed on to challenge in the Cross Country, but at 7/1 and 8/1 respectively, neither offers excellent value in the each-way markets.
I think Ryan's Rocket has got a big chance in the Grand Annual. Gaelic Warrior has made his way to the head of the betting for the Gold Cup, and Steel Ally continues to be overlooked in the Arkle market.
Verdict
My Top Five Tips for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival:
Imperial Saint
2026 Ultima Tips
@20/1 - 5 Units
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Predators Gold
2026 Brown Advisory Tips
@33/1 - 5 Units
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Carrigmoornaspruce
2026 Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tips
@12/1 - 5 Units
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King's Bucks
2026 Albert Bartlett Tips
@25/1 - 5 Units
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