A proper Britain v Ireland Cheltenham Festival battle looks on the cards in March
There are only eight weeks until the opening day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and for the first time in a long time it looks as though the Brits have plenty of chances of landing the feature Grade 1 events, including the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Could the tide finally be turning in the age-old battle against the all-conquering Irish invaders? writes Paul Alster.
For the last decade, Irish trainers such as the great Willie Mullins, ably supported by the likes of Henry De Bromhead, Gordon Elliott, Joseph O’Brien and others, have run riot at the showcase Prestbury Park fixture. There have been days when they have completely swept the board, the Brits knocked sideways time and again by the talent and power of the Irish challengers.
Over the last five Cheltenham Festivals the total winners tell the full story; 97 wins for Ireland and just 42 for Britain. Last year the final score was Ireland 20–8 Britain. I am not predicting a complete turning of the tables between March 10-13, but it is not impossible that this time there will be no more than a handful of winners between the two sides.
On day one, the Unibet Champion Hurdle is currently dominated by the rejuvenated Britain’s Sir Gino (pictured above), trained by Nicky Henderson, a top price 11/8 favourite following his reappearance romp in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton where he beat Jeremy Scott’s reigning champion hurdler, Golden Ace (now 16/1 to retain her crown), with plenty to spare. Dan Skelton’s exciting prospect The New Lion (4/1), winner of the Grade 1 Turners Novice Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, was still in front when falling two out in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his reappearance, a race that eventually went to Golden Ace. He has every chance of landing the spoils with a clear round. The shortest priced Irish contender is currently Lossiemouth, Willie Mullins’ fine mare also having the option of defending her Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle crown should connections choose to duck a fight with the big two British contenders.
The main highlight on day two, on the other hand, the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, currently looks at the mercy of a high-class Irish challenge. Marine Nationale (Barry Connell) slammed Jonbon by 18 lengths in the 2025 renewal and only narrowly failed to make a winning return when beaten just half a length by Solness after recovering from a momentous blunder in the Grade 1 2m1f chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival. He is 9/4 favourite to retain his title, while Solness, trained by Joseph O’Brien is a 20/1 shot. Willie Mullins’ Il Etait Temps (pictured above) is a solid 11/4 second-favourite, odds which could shorten again if he builds on his growing reputation with a win in either the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday, or at the upcoming Dublin Festival. There are currently no British-trained runners in single figures in the ante-post market for this two-mile championship event.
Day three of the meeting includes two showcase races; the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle, and the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase. Ireland’s Teahupoo (pictured above), trained by Gordon Elliott, won the 2024 Stayers Hurdle and was just outstayed by fellow Irish star Bob Olinger in last term’s renewal. Since then he is unbeaten in three Grade 1 starts and the 7/4 favourite is the leading Irish hope. Impose Toi (Nicky Henderson) has really blossomed since stepping up to three miles and his latest impressive win in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot a few days before Christmas, suggested the 11/2 shot could be a major force to reckon with.
The Grade 1 Ryanair Chase of 2025 was won in runaway fashion by the Willie Mullins-trained Fact To File (pictured above), currently a best priced 2/1 favourite to land the prize once again for Ireland despite finishing only sixth in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, nine lengths behind his stable companion Gaelic Warrior (third), and Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie (fourth) in one of the most exciting races of recent times won by The Jukebox Man. Gaelic Warrior (8/1) and Jango Baie (8/1) also have entries in the Cheltenham Gold Cup making bookies cautious about offering generous odds about a Fact To File repeat win.
The Grade 1 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, scheduled on Friday 13th March, could be an absolute gem of a race as it appears to be the most open renewal for decades with bookies offering as big as 6/1 the field! Dual winner Galopin De Champs (Willie Mullins) just about heads the market at present having failed to land the hattrick last March when beaten at 8/13 by the new Irish star on the block, Inowthewayurthinkin, trained by Gavin Cromwell, a 7/1 chance to prove that win no fluke, but badly out of form in two runs so far this season. Galopin De Champs probably just needed the outing on his seasonal return at Leopardstown at Christmas when a close third to surprise winner Affordale Fury, trained by Noel Meade, another who could well take his chance for Ireland and offered at 20/1.
The Brits, for the first time in quite a while, have a strong Gold Cup team headed by the ‘King George’ winner The Jukebox Man (Ben Pauling), an 8/1 shot. The Jukebox Man (pictured above) has a great attitude and won’t lie down easily, while Jango Baie, beaten just half a length in the Kempton race and only 7/1 for the Gold Cup now, will surely be dangerous over the extra two furlongs and the stiffer Cheltenham. Haiti Couleurs (Rebecca Curtis), a fine winner of the Welsh National over Christmas and 14/1 to follow up in the Gold Cup, is another potential British challenger. Dan Skelton’s tremendously impressive Grade 1 Betfair Chase winner, Grey Dawning, a 12/1 shot, carries plenty of stable confidence and adds further strength to the British team.
All in all, the 2026 Cheltenham Festival promises to see more balanced competition in the major races between the British and Irish horses than we have seen for a number of years and should provide the usual feast of thrills and spills, triumph and heartbreak over the four days of ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’.
Paul Alster has broadcast and reported on the British racing industry for four decades as a commentator, journalist, TV and radio presenter, betting correspondent, SP Returner, tipster and form analyst, among other things.