Cheltenham Festival Tips

Four days of top-class National Hunt racing will return to Prestbury Park in March, with the 2027 Cheltenham Festival running from Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th March. As ever, the meeting will build towards the Gold Cup on Friday afternoon, while many of the sport's biggest names are expected to compete across the week.

Lossiemouth will return to Cheltenham as the reigning Champion Hurdle heroine after providing Willie Mullins with another major success at the Festival in 2026. Supreme third Mydaddypaddy could emerge as one of her leading challengers this time around. Old Park Star and Sober Glory, who filled the first two places in last season's Supreme, could switch to fences and renew their rivalry in the Arkle, where Dan Skelton's Kabral Du Mathan may provide strong opposition.

Another defending champion expected back in March is Il Etait Temps, who produced an impressive display to land the Champion Chase in 2026. Marine Nationale could attempt to regain his crown, while Kargese and Kopek Des Bordes give Willie Mullins further options in the two-mile chasing division.

The Ryanair Chase could produce one of the deepest fields of the meeting. Recent winners Fact To File and Heart Wood may return for another shot at the prize, while Lulamba, Grey Dawning, Romeo Coolio, Majborough and The Jukebox Man are other potential contenders. The New Lion, meanwhile, looks likely to remain over hurdles, with Dan Skelton's charge potentially taking on Jasmin De Vaux, Zeus Power and Teahupoo in the Stayers' Hurdle.

Gaelic Warrior will be one of the headline names in the build-up to the 2027 Cheltenham Gold Cup after producing arguably the outstanding performance of last year's Festival. Willie Mullins' star swept aside his rivals to claim an emphatic victory and is already a strong favourite to retain his title. Jango Baie could return after filling the runner-up spot in 2026, while Final Demand, Kitzbuhel, Caldwell Potter and Soldier In Milan are among the other horses who could develop into Gold Cup contenders during the season.