Irish Favourites for Cheltenham 2026 – Bookmaker’s Odds
For keen horse racing fans, the prestigious Cheltenham Festival is always a spectacle of an event, guaranteed to deliver plenty of thrills, twists, and turns along the way. This hugely popular annual event begins Tuesday 10th March, kicking off with Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle, and culminating on Friday 13th with the showstopping Cheltenham Gold Cup.
This year, things couldn’t be tighter, particularly the Champion Hurdle, though if past experience is anything to go by, we can expect some truly dominant performances from the Irish. When you consider the likes of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott being at the helm, that’s hardly surprising.
So, which Irish stars are sure to shine at Cheltenham this year? Will it be a clean sweep for Mullins with Gaelic Warrior for the Gold Cup, and Lossiemouth for the Champion Hurdle, or could we see an upset?
Here are a few Irish favourites for Cheltenham 2026, and what sort of bookmaker’s odds you can expect.
Champion Hurdle Irish Favourites and Odds
Last year’s Unibet Champion Hurdle was an incredibly exciting event which saw Brit Jeremy Scott’s horse Golden Ace bring home the win, at odds of 25/1. This was considered quite the opposite and proves that anything can happen on race day.
We all know how dominant the Irish are here, so which Irish horses are the bookies backing, and what sort of odds are you looking at?
Brighterdaysahead
While it’s Willie Mullins who often steals the headlines at these events, Gordon Elliot is another Irish trainer you should never count out. He’s certainly done a stellar job with Brighterdaysahead.
Despite struggling at Cheltenham in recent years, she recently proved her worth on the hurdles, defeating Mullins’ Lossiemouth in the process, and bringing home the win at Leopardstown.
BOYLE Sports currently have her at 3/1, whereas Ladbrokes are offering 5/2 odds.
Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth is currently the bookies’ second fav pick to win the Champion Hurdles event, with Ladbrokes and BOYLE Sports both offering odds of 11/4 as of this writing.
When you look at the previous track record of this top-tier Willie Mullins mare, that’s hardly surprising. She has enjoyed an enormously successful twelve months, racking up numerous wins, including the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last year.
With a 2nd place finish at the Irish Champion Hurdle, G1 in Leopardstown last month, she’ll also have momentum on her side.
Poniros
If you’re looking to have a cheeky flutter on somewhat of a dark horse with decent odds, Poniros is the gelding for you.
Another Willie Mullins beast (no surprises here) Poniros has proved to be a highly capable horse when it comes to the hurdles. After a break of nearly nine months, he placed 3rd at the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle in February. He’s also previously brought home the 2025 Triumph Hurdle, with astonishing odds of 100/1.
Speaking of odds, if you do decide to have a punt, you can enjoy 10/1 odds with Ladbrokes, and 8/1 with BOYLE Sports.
Gold Cup Irish Favourites and Odds
Wrapping up the festival on Friday 13th, we have the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Here are a few Irish-trained horses who are most certainly worth a cheeky flutter.
Inothewayurthinkin
As we’re talking about the Gold Cup, Inothewayurthinkin is a horse we simply cannot overlook.
Having won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last year, J.P. McManus’ horse has been in, shall we say, questionable form as of late, and this is reflected in the odds. Despite this however, Gavin Cromwell will be looking to come good this year and make it two for two.
If you are looking to back this horse, Ladbrokes are offering 6/1 odds, whereas BOYLE Sports are providing odds of 7/1.
Gaelic Warrior
Next up we have Willie Mullins’ Gaelic Warrior, a gelding more than capable of stealing the win, especially after a 1st place finish at Punchestown late last year.
With fantastic staying power, particularly over longer distances, Gaelic Warrior is most definitely a worthy contender.
BOYLE Sports and Ladbrokes are both currently providing odds of 5/1 for this magnificent gelding.
Galopin Des Champs
And finally, we have another Willie Mullins horse, this time in the form of a multi-time Gold Cup-winner.
Galopin Des Champs is no stranger to victory at Cheltenham, having scooped the Gold Cup in both 2023 and 2024. While his form may have dipped ever-so-slightly since then, he is still capable of brilliance. This is evident in the fact that he took 1st place at the Savills Chase, G1, Leopardstown just before the New Year.
If you are looking to back the former champ, both Ladbrokes and BOYLE Sports are currently providing 7/1 odds.