The 2026 Festival is nearly upon us, and it promises to be one of the best renewals in recent times.
The racecourse executive has finally listened to feedback from racegoers, so the race day experience should be second to none, with even the pints of Guinness costing less than they did last year.
The racing also looks set to be more competitive. There are fewer odds on favourites, and a more even battle between the British and Irish trainers looks assured.
All of this, though, is merely window dressing. For most regular Festival goers, the meeting has always been about picking winners.
Not just for the financial rewards that might follow, but for having the views you’ve held throughout the winter about who actually is the best of the best being proved right on the biggest stage of them all.
As regular followers of the site will know, we like to start our Festival punting with a Lucky 15 made up of four of our each way fancies across the meeting.
This year’s accumulator starts with a horse running in what is traditionally one of the hardest races of the meeting to predict – the BetMGM Cup (formerly the Coral Cup).
We are expecting a big 2026 for trainer Nicky Henderson and he looks to have a number of decent chances in this race. Pick of them may prove to be JINKO BLUE, who is in the same ownership as Gold Cup favourite Jango Baie.
Henderson does really well with horses he switches back to hurdles from fences and JINKO BLUE’S spell over the larger obstacles was curtailed after he unseated his rider in the Reynoldstown, just over a year ago.
Going into that race he was a leading fancy for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, so his quality isn’t in doubt.
He has had two encouraging prep runs over hurdles so far this campaign, including a second here last time out behind Stayers’ Hurdle fancy Kabral Du Mathan.
The ground is coming in his favour and he looks a great each way option.
Our next fancy also runs on Wednesday – this time in the Brown Advisory.
WENDIGO he has been top of our shortlist for this race throughout the winter and he looks the ideal type for a contest that puts a real emphasis on stamina.
He has course / Festival form in the bag already, having been an unlucky fifth in last season’s Albert Bartlett (where he was badly hampered after the second last).
He has been crying out for a stiffer test over fences and our only doubt is the ground.
Hopefully, it won’t dry out too much – if he is in contention turning for home few horses will come up the hill better.
Speaking of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, we have a strong early fancy for that race this year.
Paul Nolan is a Festival trainer we really respect and THEDEVILUNO looked a horse to follow when bolting up in the River Don at Doncaster at the end of January.
That was his first try at 3 miles, but he had enough class to beat the highly rated Skylight Hustle over 2 miles back in November.
The Doncaster race looks a strong piece of form – on the clock, it was the pick of the hurdles races contested that day and it was strongly run affair, just as this race will be.
He was confidently ridden that day and was still on the bridle coming to the last, suggesting there is more to come.
The fourth and final leg of our Lucky 15 has to be reserved for the biggest race of them all – the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
This year’s race could be a vintage renewal, with bookmakers still going 6-1 the field.
Ever since he won last year’s Arkle, we have fancied JANGO BAIE for the race and nothing that has happened since has changed our mind.
The Arkle has always been a great guide to future Gold Cups, especially if you can spot a horse staying on strongly in that race – which is exactly what JANGO BAIE did.
The likes of Kicking King, Sizing John and War of Attrition all contested the Arkle, and Best Mate would have done but for the foot and mouth outbreak.
The further JANGO BAIE has been stepped up in trip, the better he has looked and he ran the perfect trial for this race in the King George last time out.
In Constitution Hill’s absence, let’s hope Jinko and Jango can help make it a week to remember for us and the Seven Barrows team!
For those looking for a win only option, we would suggest siding with KOPEK DES BORDES, MAJBOROUGH, BAMBINO FEVER and JANGO BAIE.