With the curtain coming down on another Cheltenham Festival, Andy Newton looks ahead to the next instalment with some 2027 Cheltenham Festival ante post tips and thoughts.
Cheltenham Festival Ante Post Tips 2027: EIGHT Horses To Look Out For Next Season
See below EIGHT 2027 Cheltenham Festival ante post tips and options ahead of the four day meeting next season.
With the 2027 Cheltenham Festival dates slightly later than 2026. With the action getting going on Tuesday 16th March.
ROCCONTIER (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle) @ 33/1
This Nicky Henderson-trained 4yold went into many notebooks after his smooth debut win at Market Rasen on Sunday 15th March.
Of course, it’s impossible to know what he beat, but you can see his victory below for yourself.
He’s got a solid jumping pedigree and is related to the former useful staying hurdler Mighty Man.
Henderson also landed the Supreme in 2025 with Old Park Star and has now had six wins in the race.
Which is two behind Willie Mullins, who is the winning-most handler in the Supreme.
A lot can change between now and the race on 16th March 2026.
But at 33/1 you’ll be well-rewarded if this hurdler continues to improve.
Impressive debut 👀
Roccontier makes a winning start for @sevenbarrows and @NdeBoinville in the @CopyBetUK opener @MarketRasenRace pic.twitter.com/um1wtMQCUd
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 15, 2026
OLD PARK STAR (Arkle Novices’ Chase) @ 9/2
Has improved no end this season – winning all four starts over hurdles.
The last, of course, came in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on day one of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Showing great guts to out-battle Sober Glory and Mydaddypaddy in the closing stages.
After the win, Henderson said we are unlikely to see him again this season and will be sent straight over fences for the 2026/27 campaign.
Meaning a possible title at the Arkle Novices’ Chase looks on the cards – where he’s around 9/2.
LOSSIEMOUTH (Champion Hurdle) @ 3/1
Horse racing fans final got to see Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle – the day one showcase race – and she didn’t disappoint.
Winning by an easy 6 1/2 lengths and turning the tables on Brighterdaysahead, who beat her in the Irish Champion Hurdle.
She was already a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner with a Triumph and two Mares’ Hurdles, plus is now 5-5 at the track overall.
Lossiemouth is also still only 7yold (will be 8 come 2027) so has a few more years at her peak.
She also became a millionaire when landing the Champion Hurdle. With £1,170,261 banked after that race.
Being the champ, it’s hard to see connections not running her again here and even though she’s short at 3/1 – you feel she won’t be that on the day.
She’s reliable, loves Cheltenham and will again get the handy 7lbs mares’ allowance.
Plus, there is talk of one of her main rivals Brighterdaysahead going chasing next season.
There’s a lot to like.
FACT TO FILE (Ryanair Chase) @ 6/1
The JP McManus-owned Fact To File was pulled out of the Ryanair Chase late on in 2026 – with connections stating the ground wasn’t soft enough.
Therefore, with no Festival run we can expect to see the horse at Aintree or Punchestown (or both), but there is a good chance we’ll also see him back in the Ryanair Chase in 2027.
Yes, this 9yold will be 10 in another year and there is also a chance the Gold Cup might be on the agenda – but the last 10yold to land Gold was Cool Dawn in 1998.
Whereas, the Ryanair, a race Fact To File won in 2025, division doesn’t look as strong, even if Lulamba takes this route next season.
With that in mind, the 6/1 looks fair value for a horse that will only have this race (or the GC) as his targets.
Let’s just home the ground is soft enough in 2027!
WODHOOH (Mares’ Hurdle) @ 3/1
The Cheltenham Festival trainer stats for 2026 tell us Wodhooh was the only winner for Gordon Elliott.
Which was the same as 2025, after his talented winning machine mare took the Martin Pipe in 2025 and the Mares’ Hurdle in 2026.
There is a chance this 6yold, who will be 7 come the 2027 Festival, will head to the Champion Hurdle, but I’m not sure.
The way Lossiemouth won the Champion Hurdle, she’s sure to scare horses off and that will pave the way for Wodhooh to mop-up the Mares’ Hurdle again.
In fact, at her age – unless some more ‘Girl Power’ comes out of the woodwork, there is every chance Wodhooh could win the next three runnings. As she’d still only be aged 9.
We’ll see, but at 3/1 in a weak division and with this race looking a bit of a penalty-kick for the Elliott mare.
That still seems a fair price to me.
THE NEW LION (Stayers’ Hurdle) @ 20/1
The Dan Skelton Cheltenham Festival winners for 2026 were two, but The New Lion wasn’t one of them.
He was only third in the Champion Hurdle (see below), behind impressive winner Lossiemouth.
However, with Lossie sure to be back to defend her crown, this might make some others re-think their 2027 Cheltenham races.
Including The New Lion, who don’t forget won the 2026 Turners Novices’ Hurdle over 2m5f, meaning the Stayers’ Hurdle (3m) could be an option.
The JP McManus-owned 7yold is around 20/1 for the race and with the older lot like Teahupoo and Bob Olinger on the way down – this leaves the division open to some new blood.
JP has Honesty Policy in this sphere too but could go two-pronged at the big Thursday Cheltenham Festival race.
Plus, when asked the question recently his trainer Dan Skelton certainly didn’t dismiss the possibility.
“I couldn’t talk him out of it. We had a go at the Champion and it’s something we’ll possibly explore.”
“We’ll try the extended distance over hurdles first before we contemplate chasing.”
“We know he stays two and a half miles and we’ll see how Aintree goes – it might be that we consider trying him over a little bit further down the line.”
Given his National Hunt pedigree, you’ve got more hope that three miles is a reality than Kabral Du Mathan perhaps.”
Dan Skelton told the Racing Post.
GAELIC WARRIOR (Gold Cup) @ 4/1
For many, the Gold Cup win for Gaelic Warrior was the highlight of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
He travelled supremely well through the race and powered away to beat Jango Baie by an easy 8 lengths.
The win made Paul Townend the winning-most Gold Cup jockey (5 wins). The win also gave trainer Willie Mullins his fifth success in the race.
Gaelic is also an Arkle Novices’ Chase winner at the meeting (2024) and is now 2-2 over fences at Prestbury Park.
It feels like Gaelic has been around a lot longer than his age (8) suggests.
Meaning he’ll still only be 9 come 2027 and that will still give him a big chance according to the Cheltenham Gold Cup trends.
His 2026 win also saw him collect the £351,687.50 Gold Cup prize money – and like Lossiemouth, who is also owned by Rich Ricci, became a millionaire at the meeting.
As Gaelic Warrior saw his winnings hit £1,100,486 after landing the biggest Cheltenham Festival prize.
So, providing he stays sound, the 2027 Gold Cup will be the route again next season.
And unless there’s a stayer to come out of the woodwork – it’s hard to see those in behind him in 2026, like Jango Baie and The Jukebox Man, closing the gap.
Snap up the 4/1 now.
IT’S ON THE LINE (Foxhunters) @ 6/1 (e/w – or back him to be second)
The final 2027 Cheltenham Festival ante post tip is a bit random.
It’s in the Foxhunters and really it’s not for the horse to win.
The Emmet Mullins-trained It’s On The Line was runner-up in 2026 and that seems to be his preferred position in this race.
After all, he’s picked up the silver a staggering FOUR times now in the Friday Foxhunters.
Barton Snow was the horse that chinned him in 2026 and could be back for more at 6/1 too.
But maybe the bookies will create a market on It’s On The Line coming second – if so, there could be some value here!
He’s still only 9, so will be aged 10 in 2027. As four of the last 7 winners of this race were aged 10 too.
Note: All Cheltenham Festival 2027 odds listed at subject to change
