Top 5 jockeys and trainers to follow at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

Feb 28, 2026 - 08:30

The Cheltenham Festival is rarely won by horses alone. Year after year, the same elite jockeys and powerhouse trainers shape the meeting, turning meticulous preparation into Grade 1 glory.

With the 2026 Cheltenham Festival fast approaching now, understanding which stables are peaking at the right time and which riders consistently deliver on the biggest stage can give punters a crucial edge.

This can prove the difference between a solid week and a spectacular one. Below are the five jockeys and five trainers most likely to influence the narrative in March, supported by Festival statistics and recent performance trends.

Top 5 jockeys at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

1. Paul Townend

Cheltenham Festival winners: 38
Top Jockey at Cheltenham 2025 (with 4 winners)

When it comes to Cheltenham, Paul Townend remains the rider many punters naturally gravitate towards. As Willie Mullins’ number one, he is regularly entrusted with the yard’s headline acts across novice races, handicaps and championship contests.

That volume of quality rides makes him a major factor every year. He gets offered the best of the best and will be hoping he can hunt down Ruby Walsh’s Cheltenham record of 59 winners.

It’s not just the strength of his book that sets him apart. His calmness in large fields, instinct for race positioning and knack for producing when it matters most have become hallmarks of his riding. With 38 Cheltenham Festival winners to his name, he has long since secured his place among the leading jockeys of his generation.

Betting angle: If Mullins enjoys another dominant week, Townend is likely to be at the heart of it. A reliable cornerstone for accumulators.

2. Mark Walsh

Cheltenham Festival winners: 13
Joint-second leading jockey in 2025 (with 4 winners)

Mark Walsh has developed into one of the Festival’s most dependable operators, particularly aboard JP McManus runners. His record in competitive handicaps stands out and he has repeatedly shown he can handle the pressure of championship company.

Harry Cobden has been confirmed as JP’s Number 1 from next season and since that news has broke Mark Walsh seems to be riding with a sense of freedom and some would argue better than ever.

His style has always been well suited by Cheltenham’s demands. He tends to be patient early, well positioned down the hill and then decisive when the opportunities do open up. When a McManus runner is primed for the Festival, Walsh is usually the man trusted to execute the plan.

Betting angle: A key jockey for handicap shortlists and late market strength.

3. Jack Kennedy

Cheltenham Festival winners: 12
Gold Cup-winning jockey (Minella Indo)

Jack Kennedy remains the first port of call for Gordon Elliott’s leading contenders and has built an impressive Festival record at a relatively young age despite injuries. He rides with maturity beyond his years measured through the early stages and committed when the race develops.

The fact he has already achieved so much can be marked up as he has been injury ridden as well breaking his leg six times but coming back better and stronger than before.

Elliott’s runners are often campaigned with Cheltenham in mind (exactly how his mentor Martin Pipe used to operate) and Kennedy’s understanding of how those horses are prepared gives him a notable edge. When the Cullentra yard hits form during the week, he tends to capitalise quickly.

Betting angle: Particularly dangerous in staying contests and strongly run novice races.

4. Nico de Boinville

Cheltenham Festival winners: 15

As Nicky Henderson’s stable jockey, Nico de Boinville is frequently Britain’s leading hope in key championship races. His partnership with Henderson has produced consistent Festival success and his experience in high-pressure situations makes him a significant presence each year.

Even in seasons dominated numerically by Irish runners, Henderson-trained horses often run with credit and de Boinville’s tactical awareness keeps them competitive throughout. The absence of Constitution Hill this year is a blow to the team but they still have plenty of good horses and should be right in amongst it again.

Betting angle: A solid option for each-way and place angles when Henderson fields a genuine contender against short-priced Irish favourites.

5. Harry Cobden

Cheltenham Festival winners: 6

Harry Cobden remains central to Paul Nicholls’ Festival ambitions and continues to grow in stature on the biggest stage. When Nicholls has a serious Grade 1 contender, Cobden is almost invariably in the saddle.

His strength and assertive riding style can be particularly effective in novice chases and strongly run handicaps, where positive positioning often proves decisive. No Drama This End seems to be their leading hope this year and while the stable might not be the strength of old they still have the potential to have a good week.

Betting angle: Nicholls doesn’t overload the Festival with runners, so when one is prominent in the market with Cobden booked it’s usually there with serious intent. His leading hopes are rarely wasted entries.

Top 5 trainers at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

1. Willie Mullins

Cheltenham Festival winners: 113 (record)
10 winners at the Cheltenham Festival last year.

Willie Mullins has redefined what Festival dominance looks like. His depth across every division is unmatched and he frequently saddles multiple live contenders in the same race. Whether it’s short-priced Grade 1 favourites or handicap runners slightly under the radar, his strength in numbers is relentless.

For punters, the challenge lies in identifying which runners represent the stable’s strongest hand and which may offer overlooked value at bigger prices.

Betting angle: Vital for multiples but don’t ignore his supposed second strings in handicaps especially if the market speaks positively.

2. Nicky Henderson

Cheltenham Festival winners: 75

Nicky Henderson remains Britain’s most successful modern Festival trainer. His leading novices are typically campaigned with March as the clear objective and when he has a championship-level performer, they are usually primed to peak at the right moment.

He continues to be particularly influential in novice hurdles and two-mile championship events.

Betting angle: Notable late market confidence in Henderson runners is rarely insignificant.

3. Gordon Elliott

Cheltenham Festival winners: 41

Gordon Elliott’s Festival record speaks volumes. He excels in handicaps and staying contests and his runners are often tough, resilient types well suited to Cheltenham’s demanding finish. If the ground turns testing, his team can become even more formidable.

Betting angle: One of the strongest yards for each-way opportunities, especially in deep handicaps.

4. Paul Nicholls

Cheltenham Festival winners: 50

Paul Nicholls’ Festival legacy is secure and despite recent Irish dominance he remains Britain’s most experienced championship operator. His ability to target specific races and prepare horses meticulously for this meeting remains a major strength.

When Nicholls brings a genuine contender, they are rarely there simply to make up the numbers.

Betting angle: Focus on quality over quantity. His best runners are usually worth serious consideration.

5. Dan Skelton

Cheltenham Festival winners: 11

Dan Skelton continues to strengthen his position as a major Festival player. His yard has grown in depth and consistency and he has become particularly adept at placing progressive types in handicaps and novice events.

While he may not match the sheer volume of the Irish superpowers, his well-targeted runners often run above market expectation.

Betting angle: A key trainer to consider when compiling handicap shortlists.

How to use this list for betting at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

Identifying the right jockey-trainer combinations remains one of the smartest approaches to Cheltenham Festival betting. In races where margins are slim and competition is intense, experience and preparation frequently prove decisive.

For accumulator players, siding with leading operations such as Willie Mullins and riders like Paul Townend can provide dependable anchors throughout the week.

For those favouring each-way singles, trainers like Gordon Elliott and Dan Skelton often supply value when markets gravitate toward short-priced favourites.

It is also wise to monitor market activity in the final 24 hours before each race. Strong support for runners from major yards such as Nicky Henderson or Paul Nicholls often reflects stable confidence.

Cheltenham ultimately comes down to execution under pressure. Backing the right people can be just as important as backing the right horse.

Useful betting trend stats at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

There’s a few important rules about jockey and trainer performance to remember when figuring out who you want to bet on.

Favourite and form trends

When analysing Cheltenham Festival trends, recent form remains one of the strongest indicators of success. Horses arriving at the Festival off a win or second-place finish last time out consistently produce a higher strike rate than those beaten further.

While blindly backing them at starting price hasn’t historically generated long-term profit, runners finishing first or second on their previous start significantly outperform those coming in off defeats. For punters building Cheltenham shortlists, strong recent form is still a major box to tick.

Trainer strike rates

Looking at Cheltenham Festival trainer stats over the past decade, Willie Mullins dominates in overall winners but he doesn’t top every metric.

In fact, over a 10-year sample on the Old Course, Gavin Cromwell boasts the best strike rate of any trainer, underlining how targeted raids from smaller yards can be just as effective as strength in numbers. It’s a reminder that at Cheltenham, quality and placement often outweigh volume.

Our Cheltenham 2026 tips and guides

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

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