Cheltenham Festival

The latest news, views, analysis and opinions on Cheltenham from the Irish Examiner sports desk and our team of award-winning horse racing writers, tipsters and fans.

Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh

The voice of racing

Paul Townend on Lossiemouth celebrates winning 10/3/2026
Cheekpieces explainer: The items that have had a transformative effect on Lossiemouth
Darren Norris explains what Cheekpieces are, what they do and why are they in vogue?

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Festival 2026 - Ladies Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
King Rasko Grey powers to Turners glory for Mullins and Townend
Favourite No Drama This End was unable to make an impression on the race

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day One
McManus' big guns in great shape for Ryanair Chase head-to-head
Fact To File is one of the leading lights of McManus' all-star team for the meeting, but there is no horse the owner holds with more affection than Jonbon, Nicky Henderson's 12-time Grade One winner.

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Ruby Walsh during From The Horses Mouth 29/12/2023
Ruby Walsh’s Morning Line: The champion columnist's top tips for Day 2 at Cheltenham
Ruby Walsh on the form of Gordon Elliott's horses, No Drama This End being opposable in the Turner's Novices Hurdle, and Majborough being unopposable in the Champion Chase

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Jade Holland Cooper arrives 10/3/2026
Ladies Day returns to Cheltenham festival promising ‘glamour and glory’
Jockey Club says aim is to get more women watching racing and revival is not a response to ‘woke’ jibes

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Watch: Ruby Walsh explains difference between Cheltenham inside and outside the rails
Watch: Ruby Walsh explains difference between Cheltenham inside and outside the rails
During his career as a Ruby Walsh never really got to experience to mania around Cheltenham. 

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Townend hoping Bambino Fever can provide yet more Cheltenham joy 
Townend hoping Bambino Fever can provide yet more Cheltenham joy 
Last year’s Champion Bumper heroine heads the market for the Grade Three Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and Townend is confident she’ll run a big race in the opening race on day three.

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Danny Mullins on Kargese comes home to win 10/3/2026
A Mug's Game: It'll be all downhill from here
A good start to the week indeed for our man Enda McEvoy.

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day One
S Ruby Walsh: Majborough impossible to oppose but there's real value in Saint Baco
I think the bookies will get a result, so going back to November time, when the geese start to become swans on the Closutton gallops, Saint Baco stood out to me.

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Mark Walsh on Majborough celebrates winning The Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase 31/1/2026
Hard to see how anyone gets near Majborough in Champion Chase
Seven odds-on shots have failed to win the Champion Chase over the last decade. Majborough can make light of that trend on Wednesday at Cheltenham

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Festival 2026 - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Solid start for Irish trainers as Cheltenham kicks off in style
More than 57,000 attended day one of horse racing's biggest festival

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Festival 2026 - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Lossiemouth and Cheltenham are an irresistible combination
The grey mare’s Cheltenham record was flawless going into Tuesday’s feature race and remained so afterwards the two miles

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Festival 2026 - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Willie Mullins' Kargese foils Kopek and Lulamba in Arkle surprise
A mistake at the last may have cost the Cork-owned Kopek des Bordes the victory.

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Festival 2026 - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Old Park Star rules Supreme for Nicky Henderson at Cheltenham
Old Park Star has claimed the opening race of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Festival 2026 - Champion Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Festival, Day One tips, results and live updates
The Irish raiders will look to start as they mean to go on in the battle for the Prestbury Cup.

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Watch: Ruby Walsh on crowds, covid and Cheltenham 
Watch: Ruby Walsh on crowds, covid and Cheltenham 
Our champion columnist on criticisms of the fan experience at Cheltenham in recent years, and on how the festival’s covid experience has shaped it.

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Ruby Walsh’s Morning Line: The champion columnist's top tips for Day 1 at Cheltenham
Ruby Walsh’s Morning Line: The champion columnist's top tips for Day 1 at Cheltenham
Ruby Walsh gives his view ahead of the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival 

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Brace yourself for that Christmas morning feeling: three things we will learn on Tuesday at Cheltenham
Brace yourself for that Christmas morning feeling: three things we will learn on Tuesday at Cheltenham
In terms of the quality of the field, it looks like the deepest Supreme Novices Hurdle renewal for many years.

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day One
Fermoy's McCarthy family dream of more Cheltenham glory with Kopek Des Bordes
Kopek Des Bordes is back at Cheltenham for the Arkle a year after his success in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. "It'll take a fair horse to beat him," trainer Willie Mullins recently told owner Charlie McCarthy

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Fancy a flutter: There's always value lurking in the handicaps 
Fancy a flutter: There's always value lurking in the handicaps 
From Winston Junior in the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle to Konfusion in the Ultima, two each-way chances could offer the best betting value away from the headline races on day one at Cheltenham

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Paul Townend onboard Lossiemouth comes home to win 29/12/2025
S Ruby Walsh: Sober Glory has Supreme value to get us all off to a flyer 
Lossiemouth's addition has given the Champion Hurdle one hell of an injection but there are still many questions to be answered 

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Two
The New Lion can give JP McManus perfect Cheltenham birthday present
The New Lions surrendered his unbeaten record in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle but returned to winning ways at Cheltenham trials day. The suspicion is we have seen his best form. It should materialise in the Champion Hurdle

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

The 2013 Punchestown Festival - Thursday 25th April
S Ruby Walsh: If I knew then what I know now about Cheltenham
Cheltenham's winningest jockey on the secret creases of Prestbury Park, the difference between a rookie pilot and a wily old jockey. And how you painfully learn the absolute dos and donts over the course and distance

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Festival 2025: Day Four
JP McManus and the hunt for the ‘Great Eight’
McManus' best year at Cheltenham was 2020 when he landed seven winners. These are the horses who could make it eight for the Limerick man this year

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Festival Gallops Morning - Kempton Park Racecourse
Six battles battles to savour at Cheltenham 2026
Only time will tell whether any of the battles that will unfold this week will claim similarly iconic status to Native River v Might Bite, Kauto Star v Denman, or Arkle v Mill House but the potential is there. Here's half a dozen duels to relish at Cheltenham

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Gold Cup Day
Gold Cup 1986: The Gloucestershire sky peppered by hats and newspapers thrown high in celebration
The Dawn Run story from 40 years ago reads like a novel with five chapters: horse, owner, trainer, jockeys, and drama of the race

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Henry de Bromhead celebrates after Rachael Blackmore wins with Bob Olinger 13/3/2025
De Bromhead Cheltenham hopes hinge on veterans Bob Olinger and Envoi Allen
Henry de Bromhead believes Bob Olinger can become one of the few 11-year-olds to win the Stayers Hurdle.

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Sam Ewing takes a fall from The Yellow Clay 2/5/2025
Three horses who could outrun their odds this week
Who will give you a Cheltenham run at a working man's price? 

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Watch: Ruby Walsh's earliest Cheltenham memories and the excitement of the weighing room on Day One
Watch: Ruby Walsh's earliest Cheltenham memories and the excitement of the weighing room on Day One
Our columnist and former champion jockey Ruby Walsh sets the scene for Cheltenham by sharing his special, early memories of the Festival and taking us inside the weigh room.

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Sportsfile Images of the Year 2024
113 wins later, Willie Mullins is still feeling Cheltenham strain
Reigning champion Inothewayurthinkin winning the Gold Cup would be the greatest comeback since Lazarus. The real fairytale would be Spillane's Tower striking for Jimmy Mangan.

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Aintree Races
S Ruby Walsh: Guiding your pocket through a turbulent Cheltenham week
The Gold Cup course is made for Gaelic Warrior, and his ability to get three miles over hurdles as a five-year-old at Punchestown leaves no doubt about his stamina.

Sun, 08 Mar, 2026

Willie Mullins confirms Galopin Des Champs to miss Cheltenham Gold Cup
Willie Mullins confirms Galopin Des Champs to miss Cheltenham Gold Cup
Mullins told Sporting Life: "Unfortunately Galopin Des Champs has been ruled out for the rest of the season."

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Fairyhouse Races - Saturday February 21st
TG4 to screen Cheltenham preview show on Saturday
The 30-minute preview, repeated on Monday, looks back on Dawn’s Run history making Cheltenham Gold Cup win 40 years ago and also provides a selection of tips ahead of the four-day meeting

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Festival Trials Day - Cheltenham Racecourse - Saturday 24th January
Dan Skelton believes The New Lion ticks all boxes for Champion Hurdle glory 
"I think we have all the things he needs to win a Champion Hurdle"

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day One
The Constitution Hill conundrum: should he go in the Champion Hurdle?
Constitution Hill is the biggest name in National Hunt racing but he has fallen on three of his last four starts over obstacles. Here's the case for and against him going in this year's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Willie Mullins is interviewed 11/2/2026
Cheltenham decision looms for Fact To File but Mullins 'reasonably happy' ahead of Festival
Willie Mullins revealed he is giving serious consideration to fielding a runner against Constitution Hill in his high-profile Flat race at Southwell Friday week

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

‘Everything bouncing right’ for Gordon Elliott as he targets Cheltenham rebound
‘Everything bouncing right’ for Gordon Elliott as he targets Cheltenham rebound
It took until the final race of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival for Gordon Elliott to land a winner. The feeling this year is that he should have more than one victor in the Cotswolds

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

'It’s lovely to hear' - Jack Kennedy flattered by Ruby Walsh praise 
'It’s lovely to hear' - Jack Kennedy flattered by Ruby Walsh praise 
The 26-year-old admits hearing such glowing praise from a racing legend like Walsh means plenty.

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Sportsfile Images of the Year
Cheltenham woos back racegoers with cheaper Guinness and return of Ladies Day
The Cheltenham festival attendance, which hit a high in 2022, has been in sharp decline over the last three years. 

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Two
Cheltenham look-back: Overshadowed moments from Prestbury Park
There were many great takeaways from the 2025 meeting which may have been overshadowed during a hectic week. 

Thu, 20 Mar, 2025

Inothewayurthinkin meets Rachel Russell at Skryne GAA club 18/3/2025
Crowds turn out to hail Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin
Meath GAA legends Colm O'Rourke and Trevor Giles were among those in attendance at the new champion's homecoming parade

Tue, 18 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival - Friday
The best Gold Cup-winning performances of the last 25 years
Where does Inothewayurthinkin's stunning Friday afternoon upset sit in our ranking of the last quarter century of Gold Cup greatness?

Sat, 15 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Gold Cup Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham proves that not even Willie Mullins gets it right every time
It looked as if the Closutton magician could do no wrong but his luck turned at the worst possible moment on Friday

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Four
Mugs Game: Up top for 'thinkin but down to the betting shop floor for my torn-up dockets
Awful day Tuesday, decent day Wednesday, good day Thursday, awful day Friday. Instead of an early start to the St Patrick’s Day celebrations it will be an early night. Unothewayimthinkin.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Gold Cup Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Gordon Elliott in tears as he finally breaks Cheltenham week duck in last race
Elliott - twice champion trainer at the showpiece meeting - was  emotional following the victory for Wodhooh, acknowledging a "really tough week" in the Cotswolds.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

A Champs no more as 70,000 Cheltenham shoulders slump in unison after Gold Cup upset
A Champs no more as 70,000 Cheltenham shoulders slump in unison after Gold Cup upset
Willie Mullins' iconic two-time winner may have seen his bid for immortality ended by a good horse in Inothewayurthinkin but it still took the air out of a historic afternoon

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Festival 2025 - Gold Cup Day - Cheltenham Racecourse
Inothewayurthinkin tears up Galopin Des Champs' Gold Cup script
It looked as though 8-13 favourite Galopin Des Champs was about to become the first three-time winner since Best Mate, but Inothewayurthinkin (15-2) was cruising in behind and in the end he fairly sprinted home to win by six lengths.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Four
Friday at Cheltenham Festival: live updates, news and reaction from Gold Cup day
After a Cheltenham week full of emotion and drama, we go again for Gold Cup day in the Cotswolds. 

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Day Four
Watch: Cheltenham's ability to take your breath away remains but crowds continue to dip 
Tommy Lyons and Brendan O’Brien talk through the latest, alarming dip in crowd numbers at the Cheltenham Festival, even as the quality of racing and the drama continues to take the breath away.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

Darren Norris: Galopin Des Champs will show class to make Gold Cup history
Darren Norris: Galopin Des Champs will show class to make Gold Cup history
Surely only bad fortune can deny Galopin Des Champs from becoming the first Irish-trained horse since Arkle to complete a Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick.

Fri, 14 Mar, 2025

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