Tuesday 10th March 2026 | Cheltenham Festival Daily Horse Racing Tips – The Daily Trio

🐎 Today’s Daily Trio

Overview: The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is finally here — the highlight of the year for jump racing fans. After all the winter form study, ante-post plays, stable whispers, Willie Mullins bingo, and endless debate, the biggest week in National Hunt racing is ready to begin. What a day it promises to be.

As always, we have three selections for the Daily Trio bet, but because it’s Cheltenham Festival week I’ll also share my thoughts on the races on the card. For those wanting to jump straight to the main three selections, scroll a little further down.

1:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

The likely good ground, and the extra long run-in after the final hurdle now they have moved it back a bit, will surely help El Cairos motor home. This horse is a pure speedster. If Jack Kennedy can keep him on the bridle and within contention going to the last, it could be all over in the blink of an eye. I think he will leave Old Park Star standing still. The danger is Mighty Park — he could be anything.

2:00 – The Arkle

The selection is Lulamba. Kopek Des Bordes has looked unbeatable, but that was mainly over hurdles. He has had one chase run — an easy victory — and this is basically his chasing debut in proper Festival terms as he didn’t get challenged at all first time up. Kopek could still be a superstar, but there are doubts in my head. He is coming back off surgery to remove a piece of bone, which is why we haven’t seen him in quite a while. He looks like the type of horse that could just blow up. He either wins, or is pulled up / out the back of the telly.

Lulamba is more solid. He’s a proven jumper with experience, and whilst I think 2 miles is actually on the short side for him, he really should beat everything else in the race easily. The challenge will come from a fully fit, on-song Kopek Des Bordes — if Kopek is firing on all cylinders, that is. Lulamba will run his race and will probably look tapped for toe at one stage before showing his staying power. Let’s hope Nico de Boinville doesn’t ask him for any silly jumps and land on a fence.

2:40 – McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

I think Saratoga has been laid out for this. I’d go as far as saying they have been deliberately not trying to win with the fella to keep a nice handicap mark.

4:40 – Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase

A 23-runner few minutes of madness where probably ten horses will be in contention going towards the last fence. My money will be on McLaurey, a typical JP handicapper. Trainer Emmet Mullins won this with The Shunter for the same owner.