CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 3 TIPS 2026

This tends to be a race for the purists. Run over 2m5f, it attracts jump types, the best of whom have that touch of class. One or two have even gone on to win a Champion Hurdle. Indeed, last year's winner The New Lion fits that template perfectly, as he's one of the principal players in the Champion Hurdle this time. This year's running won't be vintage – the Supreme looks a lot stronger – but it's an important one for Paul Nicholls with this contender. No Drama This End, one of the British bankers at the festival.

The most recent winner of this staying novice chase to go on to land the Gold Cup was Lord Windermere (2013), with Denman (2007) and Bobs Worth (2012) also completing the double. Willie Mullins is the race's leading trainer with seven wins, including Fact to File and Lecky Watson in the last two runnings, while Nicky Henderson has won the race on four occasions, most recently with Champ in 2020.

The Charles Byrnes-trained I Started A Joke is one of the favourites for the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle at 14-1 (previously known as the Coral Cup Hurdle), followed by Storm Heart and Jump Allen, both trained by the legendary Willie Mullins. Henderson's runner, Jingko Blue, emerges as another potential value to complete the list of contenders with better chances of winning this 2m5 Premier Handicap Hurdle.

Favori De Champdou has enjoyed a fine resurgence this season, causing a 66-1 shock in the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas before impressing in the cross-country chase on Trials Day in January. His trainer, Gordon Elliot, is convinced that the 11-year-old has a big chance of winning. This race was introduced when the festival expanded to four days in 2005 and began as a handicap but was changed to a conditions race in 2016. Now it reverts back to a handicap, although with a 19lb weight range, in an effort to attract high-quality chasers.

The Charles Byrnes-trained I Started A Joke is one of the favourites for the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle at 14-1 (previously known as the Coral Cup Hurdle), followed by Storm Heart and Jump Allen, both trained by the legendary Willy Mullins. Henderson's runner, Jingko Blue, emerges as another potential value to complete the list of contenders with better chances of winning this 2m5 Premier Handicap Hurdle.

This hotly contested 2m handicap chase had a significant change four years ago by moving from the new course to the old. The Old course is slightly sharper and tighter, favouring a quicker, strong-travelling type. Previous trainer winner in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase, Dan Skelton, could possibly repeat a triumph in 2026 with Be Aware, one of the shortest in the market, followed by Fengal O’Brien’s horse, Ryan Rocket. Tipsers also favoured Golden Joy, a horse from Gordon Elliot; Inthepocket, trained by Henry De Bromhead; and Ballysax Hank, trained by Gavin Cromwell.

The 2026 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival may look tricky given the limited evidence on most runners, but recent trends suggest it is often dominated by well-fancied horses, particularly from Willie Mullins, who has won six of the last eight renewals. Ante-post favourite Love Sign D'Aunou impressed with a 24-length debut win at Naas, though the strength of that form and testing ground conditions raise questions at short odds, while stablemate The Irish Avatar also passes the eye test but comes with a typical “Mullins tax". Instead, the value may lie with The Mourne Rambler, trained by Noel Meade, who shaped powerfully when landing a strong Leopardstown bumper at Christmas and looks suited by the race’s flat nature, especially with top jockey Colin Keane booked. Although British challengers have a poor record, Bass Hunter represents an interesting contender for Chris Gordon in what promises to be another informative and competitive renewal. Improve – probably an apt description of the whole field.