Nicky Henderson plots clear plan for Cheltenham Festival

Nicky Henderson has made it clear where his horses will go this Cheltenham Festival, with a surprising early game plan.

With scratchings across the 28 races at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, there are a few races where trainer Nicky Henderson has decided who are his best shots in certain contests.

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In the traditional curtain raiser of the festival, the Supreme, Henderson scratched all his previous entries leaving just one strong contender left in the race for the Lambourn based trainer.

Old Park Star is the hot favourite in the race and clear choice from the stable as Henderson removed Fire Warning, Act Of Innocence and Soomaroy.

Henderson also has just one runner in the Arkle, as Lulamba needn’t be joined by a stablemate, proving himself a great favourite winning at Newbury in the Grade 2 William Hill Game Sprit Chase earlier this month.

With Act Of Innonence out of the Supreme he’s been plotted for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle instead, a horse more adept to two and a half miles.

While there’s little chance of landing the feature races Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase, Seven Barrows have a runner each at big odds for both.

Lucky Place would be a shock winner to land the Champion Hurdle, but at this stage it’s wide open with further scratchings likely at the various declaration stages.

Constitution Hill is also still entered into this race, but his plans could change depending how he fares on his new venture, appearing on the flat at Southwell on February 20th.

Jonbon is the only entry from the yard for the Champion Chase at a big ante-post price but is also entered into the Ryanair Chase.

But the consistent horse wouldn’t be a surprise grabbing at least a place so is worth a shot at this stage, considering the gelding has never finished out of the top two over fences.

Usually a month away many trainers will still have multiple entries into a variety of races, but Seven Barrows look to have confirmed a few with a distinct plot to land a few top contests.

The one exception for that will be the Triumph Hurdle, which is of no surprise given the context of the race, being for four-year-olds.

Last year’s Arkle hero Jango Baie is entered into two races but doesn’t look destined for the Ryanair Chase and is sure to head for the biggest race of the week, the Gold Cup.

Where the seven-year-old is right up there amongst the favourites after his first run over 3m was incredibly promising, finishing just half a length off of The Jukebox Man in the King George VI Chase.

Nicky Henderson Cheltenham Festival Runners by Race

• Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Old Park Star
• Arkle Novices’ Chase – Lulamba
• Champion Hurdle – Constitution Hill & Lucky Place
• Turners Novices’ Hurdle – Act Of Innocence
• Champion Chase – Jonbon
• Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Khrisma
• Mares’ Hurdle – La Pinsonniere
• Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – Impose Toi & Doddiethegreat
• Ryanair Chase – Jonbon & Jango Baie
• Triumph Hurdle – Fantasy World, Manlaga, Feel Gut, Mustang Du Breuil
• Albert Bartlett – Reckless Spending
• Gold Cup – Jango Baie

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