The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, March 9, 2026, is set to captivate over 50,000 spectators at Prestbury Park, with the Champion Hurdle at 4:00 pm serving as the headline event. Following last year's dramatic fall of favorite Constitution Hill, which left the crowd in stunned silence, this year's race promises renewed excitement as Golden Ace returns to defend her title after benefiting from that incident.
Lossiemouth Emerges as Top Contender
However, the spotlight shifts to Willie Mullins' grey mare, Lossiemouth, a seven-year-old with an impeccable record at Cheltenham. She has won all four of her starts at the course, including three consecutive Festival victories: the Triumph Hurdle in 2023 and the Mares' Hurdle in both 2024 and 2025. Despite a recent defeat to Brighterdaysahead at Leopardstown, experts believe she will bounce back strongly, especially with the addition of first-time cheekpieces, a tactic that has proven successful for Mullins in the past.
Lossiemouth is currently priced at 15/8 with BetMGM, who are offering a free bet promotion for day one of the Festival. Her stamina over distances beyond two miles positions her as a formidable competitor likely to dominate in the closing stages of the race.
Other Key Races and Selections
In the Champion Hurdle, Poniros, last year's Triumph Hurdle winner, is also in contention. Advised ante-post at 16/1 each-way, this horse could deliver a strong performance if ridden strategically by Danny Mullins, making him a valuable pick for hitting the frame.
The Ultima Handicap Chase at 3:20 pm features a strong field, with JP McManus holding the top two in betting through Jagwar and Iroko. Notably, Johnnywho, rated 146 and considered McManus' third string, is tipped as a potential winner. After a wind operation and wearing first-time cheekpieces, his odds of 12/1 present an attractive opportunity, particularly on McManus' 75th birthday.
Additionally, Konfusion has been a standout performer this season, winning three races and rising 30 pounds in the handicap to a mark of 145. Trained by Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith, who previously won this race in 2021, this improving eight-year-old is an each-way selection at 18/1, following an impressive victory in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby.
Betting Summary and Insights
With a fast-paced race expected due to frontrunner Tutti Quanti, conditions should favor horses like Lossiemouth and Poniros, who are likely to be ridden off the pace. The absence of Constitution Hill, whose jumping errors have become habitual, opens the field for these contenders to shine.
As the Festival kicks off, punters are advised to consider these expert picks for a thrilling day of racing, blending proven track records with strategic betting angles to maximize potential returns.
