Many punters will lean towards the main five Cheltenham Festival trainers ahead of the 2026 four-day meeting – but are these top yards heading to Prestbury Park in-form?
We take a look at the recent form and strike-rate of the Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Paul Nicholls, Dan Skelton and Nicky Henderson stables – which might add further confidence (or not) if wagering on one of their 2026 Cheltenham Festival runners.
Cheltenham Festival Trainer Stats 2026: Which Yards Head To Prestbury Park In-Form?
WILLIE MULLINS (15/38, 39%)
The winning-most Cheltenham Festival trainer is Willie Mullins with a staggering 113 success on the biggest stage.
He fired in another 10 winners last season and will be well-fancied to get near that figure again in 2026.
Mullins runners will also be dotted all over many doubles, trebles and accas through the week.
And the good news for his followers is that the Closutton handler is heading to the Cheltenham Festival in decent order.
As of Friday, Mullins has sent out 15 winners from his last 38 sent to post (39%).
Meaning backers of some of his Cheltenham Festival bankers like Fact To File, Majborough, Dinoblue and Bambino Fever can sleep ease known his yard is in form.
- Cheltenham Overall: 40-317 (13%)
- Cheltenham Chase Record: 17-94 (18%)
- Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 19-188 (10%)
NICKY HENDERSON (5/15, 33%)
Next up is Nicky Henderson, who is the next best when it comes to winning at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Seven Barrows veteran has fired in 75 Cheltenham winners in his career and it will be a shock if he’s not adding to that tally in 2026.
Hendo is also heading into festival in fair form – with 5 winners from his last 15 (33%).
He won’t have Constitution Hill or Sir Gino in the Champion Hurdle – but he’s got other leading fancies over the four days.
Including Old Park Star, who is favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Lulamba in the Arkle Novices’ Chase – both on day one.
- Cheltenham Overall: 31-211 (15%)
- Cheltenham Chase Record: 10-63 (16%)
- Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 21-143 (15%)
DAN SKELTON (11-64, 17%)
The leader of the British trainers’ championship at the moment is Dan Skelton and he’ll be another punters favourite over the week.
Skelts might have only had 11 Cheltenham Festival winners, but you feel that tally will be super-charged over the next 5-10 years.
His Cheltenham trainer stats are fair too, with 11 winners in the last 64 runners (17%).
And will be pinning his hopes on The New Lion in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday – as he searches for his first success in the day one feature.
- Cheltenham Overall: 40-263 (15%)
- Cheltenham Chase Record: 19-114 (17%)
- Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 20-133 (15%)
GORDON ELLIOTT (6-44, 14%)
With 41 Cheltenham Festival winners Gordon Elliott is another of the big-gun yards that will have an army of runners over the meeting.
He only had one success last year – which came in the very last race (Martin Pipe) when his talented mare Wodhooh spared him a blank.
However, with only 6 winners from his last 44 runners (14%), so punters might be thinking twice about backing the Elliott runners.
In his defence – like a lot of the main yards – their recent runners are from their lower strings, but with a 14% SR there is still some small concern.
Elliott’s main hopes will be Brighterdaysahead in the ITV Racing scheduled Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.
Plus Wodhooh in the Mares’ Hurdle on Thursday.
- Cheltenham Overall: 19-299 (6%)
- Cheltenham Chase Record: 6-32 (5%)
- Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 13-158 (8%)
PAUL NICHOLLS (1-25, 4%)
The final of the main Cheltenham trainers we are looking at is Paul Nicholls, who has sent out 50 winners at the meeting.
That bullseye milestone came last season when Caldwell Potter landed the Jack Richards Handicap Chase.
While over the year’s Nicholls has had superstar Cheltenham winners like Kauto Star, Denman and Big Buck’s.
This season he’ll have many fair chances again, but his main hope looks to be No Drama This End, who is the jolly in the Turners on Wednesday.
However, there is a slight concern to the form of the Ditcheat camp at the moment.
As Nicholls is currently just 1-25 (4%) with this runners in recent days.
Should punters be worried?
- Cheltenham Overall: 21-191(11%)
- Cheltenham Chase Record: 12-103 (12%)
- Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 8-76 (11%)
Note: These Cheltenham Festival trainer stats are based on runners in the last 14 days (correct 6th March 2026) and subject to change
Cheltenham Festival Date 2026 🗓️
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival will run across four days, from Tuesday 10th March to Friday 13th March.
🏇 Tuesday 10th March 2026: Day 1 – Champion Day
🏇 Wednesday 11th March 2026: Day 2 – Ladies’ Day
🏇 Thursday 12th March 2026: Day 3 – St Patrick’s Thursday
🏇 Friday 13th March 2026: Day 4 – Gold Cup Day
You can also see Andy Newton’s daily horse racing cheat sheet and tips – including his popular NAP and Lay Of The Day picks.
