Cheltenham Festival 2026: Triumph Hurdle race analysis and preview

British National Hunt racing will stage its showpiece event in just over two weeks’ time, as the 2026 Cheltenham Festival gets underway. 

Four days of unmissable action will see racing fans flock to the Gloucestershire hills, to see 28 races in which Britain and Ireland’s elite yards go head-to-head. 

One of the main races to look out for is the JCB Triumph Hurdle and it will open the card on Gold Cup day, beginning at 13:20 GMT. 

Runners and riders will negotiate two miles and one furlong of Prestbury Park’s new course, where there are eight scheduled hurdles to jump, as they compete for a share of £150,000 in prize money. 

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Minor blip

This year’s race has been blown wide open following last week’s news that the (11/8) ante-post favourite Narciso Has would miss the Festival. 

Frank Berry – racing manager for owner JP McManus – said: “It’s bad luck for everybody. 

“We’ll know a bit more in a week’s time, but we’re hopeful we might have him back for Punchestown.

“Long-term he’ll be all right, so it’s just a question of how soon he’ll come back and we’ll know more in the next week or ten days. 

“It’s a minor blip, which rules him out of Cheltenham. 

“It’d be great if we got him back before the end of the season, but we’ll see.”

Ideal type

Owner and stablemate Proactif has inherited favouritism and he currently trades at 7/2 to give trainer Willie Mullins his fifth consecutive win in the race. 

He has raced only twice in his career so far, winning once in France before transferring to Mullins’ stable – where he has won his only race. 

After the race, Berry said: “He’s a grand, big horse. Mark (Walsh) said he jumped well but was still a little bit green sometimes in front.

“He galloped and jumped, we’re very happy with him.

“He stays and jumps, he looks the ideal type (for the Triumph Hurdle).” 

That effort came in January and he defeated his Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned stablemate Macho Man, who is entered into this race, priced at 10/1. 

The latter has a similar profile to his McManus-owned team-mate, having won his only start in France before beginning his time with Mullins – where the aforementioned race remains his only start. 

Stable debut

Mullins has two other representatives within the top seven of the betting market, with Rich Ricci-owned pair Selma De Vary and Charme De Faust aiding his chance in winning his seventh Triumph Hurdle. 

The former finished second to Narciso Has on his stable debut, which remains her only start outside of France, where she shed his maiden tag at the fifth time of asking. 

She had trainer Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout behind her (third) on her Irish debut, a horse who had won her only start in France and had defeated Narciso Has on her second run for Elliott when the pair met at Fairyhouse, in November. 

Mange Tout had already won her on stable debut and seasonal comeback, whilst Narciso Has was making his first start for Mullins in what was his first race of the season. 

Elliott’s horse is out at 8/1 to win this race, whilst the aforementioned Charme De Faust will arrive here having won her stable debut by nine lengths, after finishing second in her only French start. 

British challenge

Minella Study leads the British challenge in this race, trading at 7/1 to win this race for trainer Adam Nichol. 

He is one of the more experienced runners entered into the race, having campaigned in Ireland last season. 

Following four unplaced runs at shorter distances, his maiden victory came on his hurdles debut, which preceded a good effort back on the flat over two miles – on his final start last season for trainer John Nallen. 

His time under Nichol began with a second-placed run in Class Five Handicap, before he won back-to-back Hurdle races on his latest two starts. 

He is joined in representing a British yard in this race by trainer Dan Skelton’s Maestro Conti, who took his form to a new level by winning the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle last month. 

Good appetite

He defeated the then favourite for this race Minella Yoga, who remains highly thought of by trainer Paul Nicholls. 

In his column for Racing TV, Dan’s brother and stable jockey Harry Skelton wrote: ‘He was keen enough through the race but got the job done well.

‘He’s got a good appetite for racing – he jumps well and stays strongly – which is a big help for a juvenile.

‘He was pulling clear and was well on top by the end, so it was a nice performance. We’ll have a crack at the Triumph Hurdle now. 

‘That’s going to be a little bit different as it will be run at a stronger pace, which should help him settle better.’ 

Feel Gut is entered into this race for Nicky Henderson, who has won this race more than any other trainer (7). 

He runs in the same colours as Macho Man, having finished second to him on his only start in France. 

The four-year-old gelding began his time at Seven Barrows with a win at Warwick in January, which remains his only start in the UK. 

He is one of a pair priced at 16/1, alongside trainer Faye Bramley’s Winston Junior, ahead of Elliott’s Highland Crystal – who is out at 20/1. 

READ MORE: Cheltenham Festival 2026: Gold Cup race analysis and preview