CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2026 - TUESDAY

It's day one of the biggest racing festivals in the world, and we kick off the Cheltenham Festival as the Racing Daily team previews all seven races on Tuesday. 13:20 CHELTENHAM

A strong field heads to post in this year’s Supreme Novices Hurdle, and for once, what seems like a fair split in terms of British and Irish chances. Old Park Star has done no wrong this season and rightfully heads the market, he has shown plenty of pace but equally should have no problems climbing the hill! Mighty Park won by a facile 38 lengths on hurdles debut and might not tick many boxes on just his 2nd start but you couldn’t help but be impressed, the 2nd that day was beaten just 3 lengths by El Cairos, who has his jumping frailties. I think Mighty Park falls into the future superstar category and he’s not even favourite!

MIGHTY PARK (WIN)

written by Toby Darby

14:00 CHELTENHAM

The Arkle is a widely anticipated race every year at the festival named rightly in honour of himself as still referred to across the Irish Sea. This years race revolves around two runners Kopek Des Bordes and Lulamba. After his facile Supreme Novices win here last year many expect Kopek Des Bordes to show his class again this time over fences. Granted he has only been over the timber once since and has had a minor operation his gallop work has been excellent and I believe his speed over the obstacles will overhaul Lulamba who followed him home before and I think needs further to see his best. I think his jumping is slower and this will be the difference. Away from the front two Steel Ally has had a fine campaign and will follow the pair home.

KOPEK DES BORDES (WIN)

written by John Arnold

14:40 CHELTENHAM Plenty of suspected plots abound in the tight Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle but nearly all recent winners have won a race and the last eight have come from Ireland. Saratoga doesn’t quite fit the pattern as a maiden over hurdles but went down narrowly to the unbeaten Highland Crystal and stretched away from the keen-going Munsif, (current reserve). UK juvenile form never seems to have much depth but Manlaga and Winston Junior have been supported. It’s possible that Mustang Du Breuil could improve past them. SARATOGA (E/W) MUSTANG DU BREUIL (E/W)

written by Alan Morris

15:20 CHELTENHAM 

There have been a couple of dual winners of this in recent times, namely Un Temps Pour Tout and Corach Rambler, and it’s the latters yard that bids to emulate that with Myretown.

It would take a huge leap of faith to suggest he can repeat the feat based on this season’s performances along with his current mark.

The Short Go knows how to run well around here and could go well at a price, but there’s no getting away from Jagwar.

He’s a very good operator around this track and he’s been crying out for this trip. His handicap mark still looks favourable, and he can win this en route to a tilt at the National.

JAGWAR (WIN)

written by Matt Polley

16:00 CHELTENHAM

Prior to the confirmation that Lossiemouth would be included in Tuesday’s showpiece contest, The New Lion looked a confident option. Still, the mare, who remains unbeaten after three previous festival outings, should throw down a very serious challenge to the Skelton runner. It’d be foolish to discount a runner trained by Mullins, especially considering she gets a weight allowance over the previous race favourite. It’s hard to split the pair, so perhaps it’s wiser to look elsewhere.

Brighterdaysahead deserves a shot at this contest, especially after beating Lossiemouth last time out, but her disappointing efforts at Cheltenham are enough to put me off.

You don’t want to be overly dismissive of last years race winner Golden Ace but you have to concede she was a tad fortunate to win the 2025 renewal and the best she can hope for this time around is a placed finish.

At much bigger odds, former course and distance winner Alexei and the supplemented Tutti Quanti need to show they can compete at this level, but could fight it out for minor money.

All that being said, although tough to split the two at the head of the market they look lightyears ahead of the rest and should fill the top two spots.

THE NEW LION & LOSSIEMOUTH (REV FORECAST)

written by Rory Paddock

16:40 CHELTENHAM

Mclaurey looks a typical JP McManus handicap runner. He’s been carrying big weights over shorter than ideal trips and making late gains without troubling the winner so looks potentially well handicapped now upped in trip. Dan Skelton’s Madara has threatened to get his head in front on a couple of occasions since joining the stable but a deep dive on the stables previous Cheltenham runners show those that raced in February prior to arriving at Prestbury Park are 0 from 32.

Peaky Boy has failed to fire since moving to Jonjo O’Neill and as such he’s hard to recommend in current form, however he’s unbeaten in three over track and trip so it’s not unreasonable to think a return to the course could spark improvement. A final mention goes to Booster Bob who disappointed over track and trip last time out but was progressing well before that and should appreciate the return to a sounder surface so gets a tentative vote in a fiendishly competitive renewal.

BOOSTER BOB (E/W)

written by Dean Kilbryde

17:20 CHELTENHAM

One Big Bang appeals as a lively contender for the James Owen yard in the day one finale.  

A valuable handicap hurdle winner at Haydock last term, he finished fifth the Pertemps Final here before posting a strong third to Jeriko Du Reponet in Listed company at Punchestown which shows he has some class about him and he has adapted well to chasing this season. 

Runner-up in a Listed event at this track on his chase debut he recorded a comfortable win at Southwell next time and a combination of softer ground and a shorter trip were both against him when only third at Doncaster latest. 

A return to this course over a much more suitable distance and Alex Chadwick’s valuable 3lbs allowance a bonus, the Masked Marvel gelding can him run a big race.

ONE BIG BANG (E/W)

written by Brian Healy

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