Cheltenham 2026 for Australians: The Trainers and Jockeys Who Will Define the Festival

There is no more important sentence in Cheltenham Festival betting than this: Willie Mullins has trained 104 winners at Cheltenham. His runners have won 46 races from 372 starts over the last five years — a 12.4% win rate that, given the quality of opposition, is extraordinary. Nearly half of all Mullins runners finish in the first three.

Operating from Closutton in County Carlow, Ireland, his team for 2026 is, by his own admission, the strongest he has ever assembled. His challenge spans every major race: Galopin Des Champs & Gaelic Warrior (Gold Cup), Lossiemouth & Ballyburn (Champion Hurdle), Majborough & Il Etait Temps (Queen Mother Champion Chase), Fact To File (Ryanair Chase), and Brighterdaysahead (Mares’ Hurdle).

Skelton has transformed himself from a promising young trainer into the dominant force in British jumps racing. His 14.8% strike rate is actually higher than Mullins’ on a percentage basis. Operating from Lodge Hill Farm in Warwickshire, his string is built around horses specifically prepared for the Festival.

His key runner for 2026 is Protektorat in the Ryanair Chase, placed in the Gold Cup twice and now aimed at the shorter trip.

Henderson has been training winners at the Festival for over 40 years. His place rate of 54.6% is the highest of any trainer in the analysis — nearly every Henderson runner at Cheltenham finishes in the first three. He prepares his horses meticulously for the Festival and they consistently run their best races here.

Key runners for 2026: Lulamba (Arkle), Jonbon (Queen Mother Champion Chase), and Jango Baie (Ryanair Chase).

Elliott sends a very large number of runners to the Festival, many of whom are outsiders in competitive handicaps — which explains his lower win rate. He excels in the big handicaps, and his runners in races like the Ultima, the Plate, and the Pertemps Final are always worth considering.

Key runners for 2026: Brighterdaysahead (Champion Hurdle), Romeo Coolio (Arkle), and Broadway Ted (Champion Bumper).

De Bromhead sends a smaller team to Cheltenham than his rivals, but the quality is exceptional. His 15.1% win rate is the highest of any trainer with more than 100 runners at the track, and his 50% place rate reflects the remarkable consistency of his horses.