There are eight races on the card for Festival Trials Day 2026 from Cheltenham on Saturday, 24 January. Five Grade 2s and three handicaps provide horses with a final chance to advertise their claims before the major meeting comes to Prestbury Park in March. Chief among the races here are the Cotswold Chase, Unibet International Hurdle and Cleeve Hurdle.
These are longstanding trials for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle respectively. Race organised have added a Cross Country Chase that couldn’t be staged in November to the card. Everything kicks off with the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase and then a Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial where we’ll know more about the leading British juvenile hurdlers.
A Premier Handicap Chase, one of many such races over two-and-a-half miles at Cheltenham throughout the jumps season, is another event on the Festival Trials Day 2026 card to note as well. That comes before the Cross Country action unfolds in the middle of the course. From then on, it’s Grade 2s all the way with the Cotswold Chase first, followed by the Unibet International Hurdle.
After the Cleeve Hurdle, the concluding race is a trial for potential Turners Novices’ Hurdle or Albert Bartlett types. There is plenty to keep traders on Cheltenham betting sites busy on this bumper day, then. Also studying the card in its entirety as our horse racing experts. They looked into the form book, so you don’t have to. What follows are their Saturday selections.
Combining the available prices with past performances in search of value odds is their approach. This tried and tested method helps punters looking to whittle down fields to shortlists of runners if necessary. Our experts’ views aren’t prescriptive, but still worth knowing. See who they fancy and why below…
Festival Trials Day 2026 Preview Race by Race
12:05 – 2m 4f 127y Class 2 Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase
Thriller! 📸
Jordans Cross rallies late to deny Go West in a pulsating finish at @DoncasterRaces…@Rex_Dingle @honeyballracing pic.twitter.com/umIA9i5EnD
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 13, 2025
This is a very trappy opener. Anthony Honeyball has a strong hand for it, however, courtesy of JORDANS CROSS and KDEUX SAINT FRAY. Both have falls next to their names on past Cheltenham race cards here this season, but proved no worse for taking those tumbles and landed their next starts. Jordans Cross shaped as though he needed this more testing track when just getting up at Doncaster last time out.
Kdeux Saint Fray, meanwhile, bumped into subsequent Windsor scorer Guard The Moon at Aintree. Nudged up 2lb for that Aintree defeat, he’s still 3lb better off with his stable companion Jordans Cross from their November Meeting encounter. Away from the Honeyball pair, joint-topweight Califet En Vol hasn’t got up the Cheltenham hill on his two chase outings to date.
Push The Button also frames the weights for Mark Walford, but it seems harsh of the handicapper to up him 1lb for a comprehensive nine-length defeat at the hands of Steel Ally at Ascot before Christmas. The third home, No Questions Asked, advertised the form when successfully dropping back in trip off a strong pace when landing the Lightning Novices’ Chase last Friday.
Barlovento beat Secret Des Dieux by a length-and-three-quarters around Kempton over Christmas, meanwhile, but there’s now a 3lb swing in the weights towards the latter. James Owen’s charge could well turn the tables on a more galloping track now. Paul Nicholls saddles chasing maiden Quebecois down in trip, but he looks badly handicapped. Scorses didn’t act around here earlier in the season.
12:40 – 2m 179y Grade 2 Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Registered as the Finesse)
Favourite beaten!
The @PFNicholls-trained Minella Yoga sees off former Ditcheat stablemate Act Of Innocence at @NewburyRacing!@CobdenHarry pic.twitter.com/ZGvxrqj7TU
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 29, 2025
Maestro Conti won as he should’ve done around Kempton. One Horse Town saw a winning run come to an end over course and distance in December, meanwhile. This is no easier under a 5lb penalty. Tenter Le Tout doesn’t get the usual fillies allowance here after landing the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas. This demands more of her, though.
Gordon Elliott saddles improving Leopardstown winner Hardy Stuff, but you sense he has better juveniles to unleash at the Dublin Racing Festival on his side of the Irish Sea next weekend. There might be some each-way value in unbeaten filly La Luna Artista, who’s done nothing wrong in landing both of her career starts and now steps up in class for Jane Williams.
1:15 – 2m 4f 127y Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
🗣 “The turbo kicking in” 🚀
Booster Bob impressed again with a win in the @Coral Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Steeple Chase 🏆 pic.twitter.com/nOCU10i25D
— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) December 6, 2025
Olly Murphy and Diana Whateley combine with this eight-year-old, who does have a 9lb hike for readily landing the Sir Peter O’Sullevan last month. Re-opposing third Prairie Wolf and the fourth home, King’s Threshold, have both won since, so that reads well. Booster Bob’s Greatwood Gold Cup victory over Vincenzo and Saint Segal also looks like a smart piece of form.
Triple Trade likes it here for Joe Tizzard, but finds himself off an 8lb higher mark than when scoring by a neck at The Showcase in October. This longer trip is worth exploring more with the 10-year-old, though. Moon d’Orange landed this off 1lb lower 12 months ago, but hasn’t been in the same form since. Frontrunner Javert Allen probably doesn’t have the stamina for this, meanwhile.
Dan Skelton runs two, but Boombawn remains stubbornly high in the weights. The rain in midweek won’t suit Silver Trophy scorer Riskintheground. Nigel Hawke’s Donnacha has run well at the course in the past, placing twice over hurdles, so he could go well at a big price after a couple of seconds. Uncle Bert drops markedly in trip after being the subject of a gamble for the Welsh Grand National where he fell when well held two out.
1:50 – 3m 5f 56y Class 2 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
Another winner for Keith Donoghue over the Cross Country Course!
Final Orders lands the @glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase pic.twitter.com/a5hHjvwaa9
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) December 12, 2025
Of those in-behind re-opposing, Placenet might also be one to take out of the race. He was no match for the front two, but went fourth on the run-in while Davide Cotin stable companion Iceo Madrik laboured in a tiring third. Elliott amazingly switches Paddy Power Chase hero Favori De Champdou back to this discipline despite his Leopardstown heroics over Christmas.
He’s up 9lb in Ireland and 7lb in the UK for posting that shock result. Nothing else in the field really makes much appeal. Most are golden oldies with Latenightpass the elder statesman now aged 13. Some Scope is an interesting recruit to Cross Country off the back of a last time out win around Doncaster. Richard Hobson’s eight-year-old is the last one who isn’t racing from out of the handicap.
2:25 – 3m 1f 56y Grade 2 Cotswold Chase
The value alternative could be SPILLANE’S TOWER, based on his wins around galloping tracks Fairyhouse and Punchestown in Ireland. Jimmy Mangan sends the JP McManus runner over from the Emerald Isle after spending the first part of the season over hurdles. Spillane’s Tower returns to fences here as the youngest in the line-up. He could have more progress in him than the others.
Two 11-year-olds complete the small but select field. The long absent Flooring Porter loves it here with plenty of favourable Cheltenham results in his career. It’s whether Gavin Cromwell can really get him fit after an injury layoff without races under his belt. L’Homme Presse ran a blinder off topweight on his own reappearance and the form has been franked since, but he looks vulnerable to younger legs.
Despite winning this 12 months ago, Venetia Williams’ charge represents a stable that simply hasn’t had a good season. Similar comments apply to the Cromwell yard. It leaves a poor renewal on paper lacking much depth. Jack Kennedy picks up the spare ride on Spillane’s Tower with McManus’ outgoing retained rider Mark Walsh needed at Fairyhouse.
3:00 – 2m 179y Grade 2 Unibet International Hurdle
It’s hard to bet against an undefeated racehorse, especially when you consider Sir Gino defied a racecourse absence of a year to win his reappearance. At the prices on offer, however, THE NEW LION provides an attractive alternative if there are no ill effects from falling in the Fighting Fifth. Skelton and McManus combine with one of last season’s top novice hurdlers here.
The New Lion receives 3lb from Sir Gino and, adjusting official ratings to reflect weight carried, in brings them very close together for this clash. It’s surprising that Skelton hasn’t put any headgear on his horse as he wasn’t always concentrating on the job up at Newcastle. Quickly turned out pair Brentford Hope and Nemean Lion are in their own private battle for third place, meanwhile.
3:35 – 2m 7f 213y Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle
Impose Toi has gone from handicapper to scoring at the highest level. He does need producing late, but Nico de Boinville has got that right around Aintree, Newbury and Ascot. Any ante-post punters who backed Ma Shantou each-way will feel pleased as he looks to have every chance of a top three finish here, meanwhile.
Emma Lavelle’s horse has won a couple of handicaps at Cheltenham races earlier in the season over the trip. Ma Shantou still has 11lb to find with Impose Toi off these terms, however, and it’s a big ask for him to improve that much again here. There are reasons to take on the remainder, though. This undulating track simply hasn’t suited Strong Leader in the past.
Last year’s winner Gowel Road carries the same penalty as Impose Toi, while fellow course and distance scorer Doddiethegreat is a fellow veteran at the age of 10 giving Seven Barrows handler Henderson a second string. Kamsinas represents the Cheltenham local Fergal O’Brien stable, but chasing hasn’t worked out for him and he ran poorly in the Relkeel here on New Year’s Day.
4:10 – 2m 4f 56y Grade 2 AIS Novices’ Hurdle (Registered as the Classic)
No Drama This End (IRE) wins the G2 Winter Novices hurdle under Harry Cobden for Paul Nicholls at @Sandownpark. ✨
Congratulations to the winning connections.👏pic.twitter.com/HwgoXgZEMK
— ITM (@IREthoroughbred) December 5, 2025
The winner has gone on to land the Challow, while the third home ran well under topweight when runner-up in a strong novices’ handicap hurdle during the Berkshire Winter Million last weekend. The Blue Room has also seen the form of his hurdling bow franked by Came From Nowhere, who has won twice since. Plenty of other contenders will fancy their chances here, however.
Ben Pauling’s Taurus Bay brings an unbeaten record into the contest, but this is a stiffer test than wins around Stratford and Aintree. Champion Bumper second Heads Up is back for another spin at Cheltenham here after also chasing home No Drama This End for John McConnell in November. Gordon Elliott sends Open Secret over from the Emerald Isle too.
After just doing enough over course and distance on New Year’s Day, Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls need more from Step Ahead under a 3lb penalty in a deeper race. Murphy also runs Adonedeal, who hasn’t suffered defeat yet, but maintaining that streak demands plenty of further improvement. Kripticjim has won his last two for Team Tizzard, but needs to brush up on his jumping. Fortune Timmy completes the line-up.
