 |
RacingBetter News |
| Saturday 25th October 2025 | |
Early Fancies for Cheltenham Festival 2026
It may only be October, but racing journalist and broadcaster Ed Quigley picks out his early four fancies for the big four races at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. While Cheltenham is still a way out, you can head over to FIRST.com for today’s odds.
Champion Hurdle
This division arguably has more question marks than answers at the moment. The New Lion has to prove he can step up from the Novice ranks. State Man isn't getting any younger.
Golden Ace had her moment in the sun last season - and I don't think anyone knows whether Constitution Hill can reclaim former glories.
Instead, I think at a big price, WILLIAM MUNNY is a horse not to forget about looking at this race from a long-range point of view. Barry Connell says he considered going chasing with him, but has decided to stay over smaller obstacles.
He was a very smart novice last season, finding only Kopek Des Bordes too good in the Supreme Novices. And with that horse switching to fences, it is another horse out of the way in the division.
William Munny is a little bit of a forgotten horse and could easily make waves this season and due to reappear on the track in November.
Champion Chase
Paul Nicholls is determined to get his big guns firing again when it comes to the Cheltenham Festival, and looks to have a terrific prospect in his yard in the form of KALIF DU BERLAIS. The youngster started the season well before losing his way a little bit during the depths of the winter.
But he got back on track in no uncertain terms when winning in superb fashion in a Grade 1 at Aintree's Grand National meeting.
Nicholls has made no secret about how highly he regards Kalif Du Berlais, and he is likely to be seen at Exeter next month as a first port of call, and then after that he can hopefully shape up into a Champion Chase contender.
On ratings he doesn't have masses to find to get in the mix of the elite two-mile division, and I think we will be seeing some exciting performances from Kalif Du Berlais this season.
Stayers' Hurdle
This is a division that has a history of causing massive upsets, with the likes of Cole Harden and Lisnagar Oscar in the last 10 years underlining that view, and was won by 10-year-old Bob Olinger last season. In what feels like a wide-open year once again I wouldn't rule out the Nigel & William Twiston-Davies trained POTTERS CHARM, moving from left of field to get involved in division.
He showed some smart form during the previous campaign, and only really put in one below performance when finishing fifth in the Turners' Novice Hurdle. His pedigree suggests that three miles should be on the radar, and this unexposed sort can make up into a smart stayer.
Likely to start in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby, he can use that as a springboard for the rest of the season and he remains a horse with plenty of potential.
Gold Cup
The biggest of all the prizes, and the Irish will be hoping to dominate again with all being the well, the likes of Galopin Des Champs and the defending champion Inothewayurthinkin are obviously class acts.
I do wonder, however, if Wales could have something to say about this, with the Rebecca Curtis representative HAITI COULEURS. The 8-year-old had a terrific time of things last season, capping off his fourth win from five starts over fences by winning the Irish Grand National.
That came on the back of a superb display when jumping his rivals ragged at the Cheltenham Festival, and this proper old fashioned stayer looks just the type who can take the step up needed to reach the highest level over fences.
Likely to be seen at the Charlie Hall Chase first time out, he has infinite reserves of stamina, and is one I would like to keep onside.
Champion Hurdle - William Munny
Champion Chase - Kalif Du Berlais
Stayers' Hurdle - Potters Charm
Gold Cup - Haiti Couleurs
