Expert Cheltenham 2026 horse racing betting tips for w/c Tuesday, March 10th 2026

Excitement is at fever pitch with the 2026 Cheltenham Festival about to kick off!

Yes the waiting is finally over for National Hunt fans. The game's greatest equine athletes are all headed to Prestbury Park for four days of dramatic and pulsating action that will be enjoyed by thousands on course and millions more around the globe.

Such an occasion calls for a very special edition of the Odds Now Punters Panel. Every weekend, our experts from team Races Now offer up their best tips and insight ahead of the racing action. Now, they are here to mark your card ahead of the big one.

Let's see who's on panel duty...

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the four experts answering our key questions this week:

Stephen Darbyshire – The star of the show over on Races Now who has gained a cult following in the racing community for his tips, betting ring interviews and forthright insight.

Adam Smith - A betting industry veteran, flat lover and one half of our Races Now double act.

Craig Talbot - Head of the Ursa Major syndicate, bringing affordable racehorse ownership to the masses. Regular Races Now contributor.

Luke Parkinson - Social and Content Manager for the Tote. Huge racing fan of both codes.

Christian Williams - Leading Welsh racing trainer, who has two entries at this week's Festival in Gwennie May Boy (Stayers Hurdle) and Willethebuilder (County Hurdle).

Let us get into it then! Tuesday's feature, who wins the Champion Hurdle?

SD: At the time of writing, it isn’t clear where Lossiemouth goes. But were she to run here, she would probably win. The rest of them like The New Lion (needs further), Brighterdaysahead (doesn’t like Cheltenham) and Golden Ace (luckier than Les Dennis) all have legitimate questions to answers. Poniros and Alexei make some each way appeal given the upside in their price.

AS: I do not subscribe to the Brighterdaysahead 'doesn't like Cheltenham' theory and this she is by far the best bet here. Lossiemouth a worthy favourite but might want further to be at her best. The New Lion can't behave. Golden Ace might be the luckiest multiple Grade 1 winner ever. Brighterdaysahead had excuses last year (hampered) and beat Lossiemouth fair and square last time.

CT: Not a great renewable to be honest. Lossiemouth does appeal now running here but I’m on Golden Ace at 14/1 EW, so I’ll just let that run.

LP: I’m absolutely on the fence in this race, I don’t think there’s much between them but if I owned The New Lion, I wouldn’t fancy giving Lossiemouth 7lb knowing she is four from four at Cheltenham. She was beaten the last day by Brighterdaysahead but I don’t think heavy ground or Leopardstown show her to best effect, so I can see her reversing that form here. Whether that will be enough to win this race, time will tell.

CW: From a punter's perspective, you'd have to say Golden Ace is underrated as an existing Champion Hurdle winner in an open-looking field.

Onto Wednesday, we have a superb card headed by the Champion Chase. What's your take for the feature?

SD: Majborough will probably win but backing the horse at even money or shorter is festooned with risk. If he is in the same form as Leopardstown the way he travels and jumps, he should be winning this as there is a complete paucity of opposition. Most of whom have no real chance in this race.

AS: With Marine Nationale out, it is Majborough's to lose and a poor renewal. I think his Dublin Racing Festival win and rating thereof is being over-hyped as Marine Nationale was way off it for various reasons. Would I back Majborough at odds on? No thanks.

CT: I was very much in the Marine Nationale camp so this weeks news wasn’t good for me. I wouldn’t be touching the fav at odds on even without Marine Nationale. Race could cut up maybe the old boy Captain Guiness can continue his impressive record in the race of 2nd 1st 3rd at 66/1 there is worse bets as at least he will definitely run all being well.

LP: I’ve had Majborough in my ante-post book at 8/1 for the Champion Chase since the start of the season. The thinking being that if he could brush up on his jumping, he definitely had the engine to be a top 2m chaser, in fact a frighteningly good one. Now, that theory has only been proven right in one of his three runs this season, so I am still slightly hesitant for all that his DRF performance, in first time cheekpieces, was spectacular. With Marine Nationale out of the way, his task is that bit easier, so I’m sticking with him, but he’ll need to be every bit as good as Leopardstown to win this.

CW: Majborough wont jump well. Saint Segal is a massive price each way, so he will do for me.

READ MORE: Wrexham vs Chelsea preview and betting tips

Stayers Hurdle Day comes on Thursday. Who are you backing in that one?

SD: Kabrul Du Mathan has shown this season what an improved model he is, albeit with a notable transfer of stable from Nicholls to Skelton. Connections have thankfully come to their senses in running here and his Relkeel Hurdle win was eclectic. There is a slight stamina doubt, however I am satisfied he is the best horse in the race. Should his stamina ebb away in the closing stages, Ma Shantou would have a very good chance give his upward trajectory and obvious parallels to Paisley Park. Several Irish contenders have claims but are too short in the market.

AS: I usually hate this race as being full of slow animals that can't jump fences. But not this year, a really interesting renewal. Las year's winner Bob Olinger looks a great bet here to me, each way. And at a massive price I like Home By The Lee to run well, and even Friend Of The Channel agrees with me.

CT: I respect Teahupoo and Honesty Policy but I do really like Kabral Du Mathan and if he does run here I think will take all the beating. I’ve been very impressed by him. Doddiethegreat at 50/1 is a value EW bet he won the Pertemps well last year needs to improve massively on ratings but he will have been trained for this.

LP: I’ll keep it simple with Teahupoo. This has arguably been as good a season as he has had, going 3 from 3, all in Grade One company since coming 2nd to Bob Olinger at last year’s Festival.

CW: Honesty Policy has good claims and has been laid out for this, whereas there are some stamina/age doubts about the others.

The week finishes with a cracking Gold Cup renewal. Give us your best angle in...

SD: I think the holes in many but thankfully the track has been rectified. Jango Baie was not ridden optimally in the King George and this really should suit last year’s Arkle winner. I have backed Jango and Iknowthewayurthinkin who has extraordinary parallels to a hedgehog given he hibernates all winter and comes alive in the spring.

AS: Wide open and looks a cracker, but I still haven't decided. Gaelic Warrior did all sorts wrong when pulling at the DRF but still managed 2nd behind Fact To File who might be a superstar. He'd have a fair chance but I'm telling you nothing you don't already know there. Five horses between 4 and 8/1. Take your pick.

CT: Great race. I think we have a UK winner and at this moment I’ll be dutching Jango Baie and The Jukebox Man.

LP: I’m absolutely all over Gaelic Warrior here. He’s had a fantastic season and to my book is the form horse going into this Gold Cup, having danced every dance in the route to this race. He beat Fact To File in the John Durkan, was only beaten a short head in a King George and was then 2nd in the Irish Gold Cup on ground that was far from ideal from him over that trip. With Fact To File not going, and the ground likely to be on the better side of soft, I think he wins the Gold Cup.

CW: Jango Baie is improving at the right time and will stay. So he will be ready at 4pm on the 13th!

Give us your best bet from this year's Novice races?

SD: Thankfully, it would appear that connection or rather new connections have finally seen the light and Talk The Talk is going to run in the Turners. For all it was a very classy performance at Leopardstown, it rather demonstrated the propensity to improve when stepped up in trip.

AS: I really like Talk The Talk and happy he is going to the Supreme rather than Turners. Showed plenty of speed and class to win last time from way off the pace. I really like him.

CT: Old Park Star was a massive fancy but I am worried about Mighty Park. I would like to see No Drama This End win the Turners but the pick for me is The Big Westerner I hope it goes for the Brown Advisory to gain compensation for last year’s 2nd at the meeting.

LP: Bambino Fever in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Banker.

CW: Talk The Talk wherever he goesm because he did so well to win at Leopardstown!

Finally, give us any handicap fancies that could make readers a few quid, please!

SD: I will be waiting until final decs in the handicaps with enhanced place terms and more of an idea of what is running. I could write you some conjecture about this horse or the horse that is apparently well handicapped but this would piffle.

AS: Kel Histoire in the Martin Pipe, the last race of the whole week. Been running in Graded races and a mark of 137 looks more than workable, considering he was three lengths behind Salvador Mundi last January and he's now rated 156 over hurdles. JP McManus, Willie Mullins and the best conditional jockey in Ireland - what's not to like?

CT: Newton Tornado in the National Hunt Chase.

LP: Bronte Beach should go well in the amateur handicap at Chelmsford on Thursday night. 5:30pm. Definitely no bias, there...

CW: Endeavour has a great course record and looks really well handicapped if showing old form.