Many punters will lean towards the main five Cheltenham Festival trainers over 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.
With the Cheltenham trainer stats below UPDATED after two days of the Festival as we head into DAY THREE (Wednesday).
Cheltenham Festival Tips and Trends 2026 🏇🏽 📈
With the 2026 Cheltenham Festival on the horizon you can also see Andy Newton’s daily picks and all the key trends and stats.
- Thursday 12th March: Cheltenham Tips Day Three / Cheltenham Trends and Stats
- Friday 13th March: Cheltenham Tips Day Four / Cheltenham Trends and Stats
Cheltenham Festival Trainer Stats 2026: Which Yards Are In-Form Heading Into DAY THREE (Thurs)?
WILLIE MULLINS (18/73, 25%)
The winning-most Cheltenham Festival trainer is Willie Mullins with a staggering 118 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.
And has had five more over Tuesday and Wednesday.
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 Thursday (before racing), Mullins has sent out 18 winners from his last 73 sent to post (25%).
- Cheltenham Recent Overall: 45-352 (13%)
- Current Cheltenham Chase Record: 20-105 (19%)
- Current Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 21-207 (10%)
NICKY HENDERSON (8/25, 32%)
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 78 Cheltenham winners in his career, and heading into Thursday has had three winners at the meeting in 2026.
Old Park Star, Holloway Queen and Jingko Blue.
Hendo is also heading into day three of the festival in fair form – with 8 winners from his last 25 (32%).
- Cheltenham Recent Overall: 34-221 (15%)
- Current Cheltenham Chase Record: 11-66 (17%)
- Current Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 23-150 (15%)
DAN SKELTON (11-50, 22%)
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 12 Cheltenham Festival winners, but you feel that tally will be super-charged over the next 5-10 years.
With Madara winning on Tuesday in the Plate – to give him his first winner of 2026 at the meeting.
He’ll head into Friday with 11 winners from his last 74 runners in the last 14 days (15%).
With Kabral Du Mathan his big hope in the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday. As well as thew well-backed Supremely West in the Pertemps.
- Cheltenham Recent Overall: 41-278 (15%)
- Current Cheltenham Chase Record: 20-120 (17%)
- Current Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 20-139 (14%)
GORDON ELLIOTT (5-64, 8%)
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.
But heading into Thursday – he’s still to find a winner at the 2026 meeting.
However, with only 5 winners from his last 64 runners (8%), so punters might be thinking twice about backing the Elliott runners.
Elliott’s main hopes will be Wodhooh in the ITV Racing scheduled Mares’ Hurdle on Thursday.
- Cheltenham Recent Overall: 19-327 (6%)
- Current Cheltenham Chase Record: 6-147 (4%)
- Current Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 13-168 (8%)
PAUL NICHOLLS (2-22, 9%)
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 has already bombed out in the Turners on Wednesday.
Meaning there is still a slight concern to the form of the Ditcheat camp at the moment.
As Nicholls is currently just 2-28 (7%) with his runners in recent days – he’s got Regent’s Stroll in the Jack Richards on Thursday – a race he also won last year.
Should punters be worried?
- Cheltenham Recent Overall: 21-197 (11%)
- Current Cheltenham Chase Record: 12-105 (11%)
- Current Cheltenham Hurdles Record: 8-80 (10%)
Note: These Cheltenham Festival trainer stats are based on runners in the last 14 days (correct 12th 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.
