Cheltenham Festival 2026: Complete Review — Every Winner, Best Moments & Grand National Free Bets
Four days of extraordinary jump racing have come to a close at Prestbury Park. From Lossiemouth’s Champion Hurdle demolition to the open Gold Cup showdown, here is a full account of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival — plus the best bookmaker offers to claim ahead of the Grand National.
Cheltenham Festival 2026: 28 races, four days, the greatest stage in jump racing.
- Lossiemouth dominated the Champion Hurdle on Day 1, winning by six lengths at 7/5F under Paul Townend
- Il Etait Temps took the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 5/2 — another Grade 1 for Willie Mullins
- Home By The Lee produced a stunning 33/1 shock in the Stayers’ Hurdle on Day 3 — fifth time lucky at 11 years old
- Heart Wood won the Ryanair Chase after odds-on Fact To File was withdrawn over ground concerns
- Gaelic Warrior stormed to Gold Cup glory at 3/1 — winning by 8 lengths under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins in a dominant display
- Apolon De Charnie caused a 50/1 shock in the Triumph Hurdle — another stunning result for bookmakers in 2026
- Ireland won the Prestbury Cup 15–13 — their seventh triumph in the competition, Britain’s most competitive challenge in a decade
- The Grand National is next at Aintree — claim your free bets from QuinnBet, Betnero and Parimatch below
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Cheltenham 2026 has delivered everything the Festival promised — and then some. Across all four days, we have seen champions crowned, outsiders shock the market, and a Prestbury Cup contest that went down to the wire. Ireland ultimately claimed the trophy 15–13 in the closest contest in years, with Gaelic Warrior’s dominant Gold Cup victory the crowning moment.
Below is a full race-by-race breakdown of every winner across all four days, plus the best Grand National free bet offers to claim before Aintree.
Final Prestbury Cup standings 2026. Ireland claim the trophy for the seventh time.
| Time | Race | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:20 | G1Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle | Old Park Star15/8F | Sober Glory (9/2) | Mydaddypaddy (6/1) |
| 2:00 | G1Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy | Kargese7/1 | Kopek Des Bordes (11/8) | Lulamba (11/10F) |
| 2:40 | Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle | Saratoga10/1 | Winston Junior (5/1) | Klycot (40/1) |
| 3:20 | Ultima Handicap Chase | Johnnywho18/1 | Jagwar (3/1F) | Quebecois (10/1) |
| 4:00 | G1Unibet Champion Hurdle | Lossiemouth7/5F | Brighterdaysahead (7/2) | The New Lion (3/1) |
| 4:40 | Festival Plate Handicap Chase | Madara3/1F | Will The Wise (10/1) | Moon D’Orange (25/1) |
| 5:20 | National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup | Holloway Queen12/1 | King Of Answers (22/1) | One Big Bang (11/1) |
The opening day belonged to the mares and the Irish. Lossiemouth was imperious in the Champion Hurdle, winning by over six lengths in a display that left the rest looking pedestrian — Paul Townend barely moved on her. The Supreme Novices’ was a rare British clean sweep with Old Park Star, Sober Glory and Mydaddypaddy filling the first three positions. JP McManus had a day to remember with winners in the Ultima (Johnnywho, 18/1) and the Fred Winter (Saratoga).
| Time | Race | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:20 | G1Turners Novices’ Hurdle | King Rasko Grey11/1 | Act Of Innocence (10/1) | Zeus Power (50/1) |
| 2:00 | G1Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase | Kitzbuhel11/1 | Final Demand (7/2) | Salver (25/1) |
| 2:40 | Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle | Jingko Blue9/2F | Franciscan Rock (50/1) | Storm Heart (5/1) |
| 3:20 | Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase | Final Orders7/1 | Favori De Champdou (2/1F) | Vanillier (13/2) |
| 4:00 | G1BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase | Il Etait Temps5/2 | Libberty Hunter (50/1) | L’eau Du Sud (13/2) |
| 4:40 | Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase | Martator66/1 | Jazzy Matty (12/1) | Break My Soul (10/1) |
| 5:20 | G1Weatherbys Champion Bumper | The Mourne Rambler15/2 | Mets Ta Ceinture (14/1) | Bass Hunter (8/1) |
Wednesday was the day bookmakers breathed a sigh of relief. Martator’s 66/1 Grand Annual win was the shock of the week so far, while two Grade 1 novice races were taken by 11/1 shots in Kitzbuhel and King Rasko Grey. Il Etait Temps duly delivered in the Champion Chase for Mullins — another Grade 1 on the board. Conor Stone-Walsh and Final Orders provided the cross country’s most dramatic finish.
| Time | Race | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:20 | Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle | White Noise40/1 | Bambino Fever | Oldschool Outlaw |
| 2:00 | Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase | Meetmebythesea— | — | — |
| 2:40 | Pertemps Network Final | Supremely West— | Lavida Adiva | Ikarak |
| 3:20 | G1Close Bros Mares’ Hurdle | WodhoohOdds-on | Jade De Grugy | Feet Of A Dancer |
| 4:00 | G1Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle | Home By The Lee33/1 | Ballyburn | Bob Olinger |
| 4:40 | G1Ryanair Chase | Heart Wood9/2 | Jonbon (2/1F) | — |
| 5:20 | Kim Muir Amateur Chase | Ask Brewster— | Road To Home | — |
Home By The Lee became the oldest ever Stayers’ Hurdle winner at 11 years old — and at 33/1, it was the most generous winner of the week. Joseph O’Brien’s gelding had tried and failed in four previous attempts at the race before JJ Slevin conjured an extraordinary performance. The main talking point was Fact To File’s late withdrawal from the Ryanair Chase after Willie Mullins objected to the going — handing Heart Wood a comfortable 10-length win over Jonbon, who continued his agonising Festival record of four runner-up finishes in four visits. Jonbon is brilliant. Cheltenham just does not love him back.
🏆 Day 4 — Gold Cup Day
| Time | Race | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:20 | G1JCB Triumph Hurdle | Apolon De Charnie50/1 | Maestro Conti (5/1) | Minella Study (7/1) |
| 2:00 | William Hill County Handicap Hurdle | Wilful10/1 | Sticktotheplan | — |
| 2:40 | Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase | DinoblueFav | Only By Night | Panic Attack |
| 3:20 | G1Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle | Johnny's Jury20/1 | Fruit De Mer | Doctor Steinberg |
| 4:00 | G1Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup | Gaelic Warrior3/1F | Jango Baie (5/1) | Inothewayurthinkin (8/1) |
| 4:40 | Princess Royal Challenge Cup Hunters' Chase | Barton Snow— | Its On The Line (7/2F) | — |
| 5:20 | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle | Air of Entitlement12/1 | — | — |
Gold Cup Day delivered a dominant performance from the market leader. Gaelic Warrior, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, won by eight lengths from Jango Baie — barely extending himself up the hill. It was Townend's fifth Gold Cup success, making him the most decorated jockey in the race's history. The day began with a 50/1 shocker as Patrick Mullins steered Apolon De Charnie to a stunning Triumph Hurdle win for his father's yard. Dinoblue retained her Mares' Chase crown in a commanding display, and Johnny's Jury swooped late at 20/1 in the Albert Bartlett to cap a memorable week of big-price winners. Harry Redknapp's sentimental favourite The Jukebox Man could not reproduce his King George heroics and faded from contention.
2026 Gold Cup — Race Analysis
Gaelic Warrior (3/1F — Winner): A masterclass. Townend positioned him perfectly, hit the front three out and was never seriously challenged. Willie Mullins equalled Tom Dreaper's record of five Gold Cups as a trainer. Rich Ricci completed a remarkable double with Lossiemouth having won the Champion Hurdle on Day 1.
Jango Baie (5/1 — 2nd): Ran his race honestly and was clearly the second-best horse on the day. Eight lengths was a fair reflection. Nicky Henderson said he will be older and wiser next year.
Inothewayurthinkin (8/1 — 3rd): A creditable effort from the defending champion given his troubled season. Gavin Cromwell's horse kept finding to grab third place on the hill.
The Jukebox Man — Unplaced: Harry Redknapp's sentimental favourite could not repeat his King George heroics. Connections suggested he may have had a wind problem on the day.
Grand National 2026 — Free Bet Offers to Claim Now
Cheltenham is over — Aintree is next. The Grand National takes place in April 2026 and the best time to claim your free bet offers is now, while the Festival buzz is still fresh. All three operators below have strong Grand National promotions and competitive each-way terms for the Aintree showpiece.
New customers only. Best Odds Guaranteed on horse racing. Strong each-way terms across Aintree and the Grand National card.
Competitive sign-up offer for new customers ahead of the Grand National. Full horse racing markets available including ante-post and day-of betting.
Join Parimatch ahead of the Grand National and take advantage of their new customer welcome offer. Wide range of Aintree markets available.