Cheltenham Festival 2026 Handicap Tips: Three Early Antepost Selections From RoadCheltenham

With the 2026 Cheltenham Festival handicap entries fast approaching, I’ve had a look through the markets and have landed on three fancies for next month’s meeting. We’re now just a few weeks out from the Festival and several firms are offering NRNB on the action – take a scroll down and read my three best handicap bets at this stage.

Thursday, 16:40 - Pertemps Final

I was at Cheltenham in October when SUPREMELY WEST finished third in the Pertemps qualifier and I’d imagine that a return for the Final has been the plan since. Dan Skelton knows how to get one ready for the big day and he looks a real exciting type for March.

Hold up tactics seemed to work a treat that day and he finished behind two nice types in Ma Shantou and Electric Mason. The former is now a 154-rated Grade 2 winner while the latter is up 11lbs after winning a lucrative race at Haydock.

Meanwhile, Supremely West is rated 2lbs lower than he was at Cheltenham and one would assume that Harry Skelton will revert to hold-up tactics, having gone forward on two of his three subsequent starts. He certainly seemed to relish coming from off the pace in October…

He’s been given a huge chance by the handicapper and I’d imagine he will be one of the yard’s best chances of the week. It doesn’t look a massively strong race and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him challenging for favouritism come the day.

Thursday, 17:20 - Kim Muir Challenge Cup

It’s a slight stab in the dark in terms of target but KIM ROQUE in the Kim Muir looks a big price to me. He’s got a good profile for a race like that and I’d be expecting him to be well backed – no matter what race he lines up in.

He has raced just six times over fences, but he’s got lots of experience in big fields and he should be fine with the hustle and bustle of a Festival handicap. He jumps very well and I’d love to see him dropped in and given time to ease his way into the race.

Joseph O’Brien is an excellent target trainer and I’d love to see Kim Roque step up in trip at Cheltenham. He looked the winner for much of the race at Leopardstown before he was passed at the final fence but he stayed on well despite making the running.

Rated 129 in Ireland, he’d be very likely to get into the race. At the time of writing, he isn’t qualified for the National Hunt Chase so it’d be this race or the Jack Richards Novices Handicap Chase but I’m banking on connections going here.

Friday, 17:20 - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

My strongest handicap fancy of the week is THE PASSING WIFE and he’s likely to run in the Martin Pipe – the final race of the meeting. It’ll be a long wait for punters but it may prove prudent to get him in the book given he ticks plenty of boxes for this race.

This son of Passing Glance brings a wealth of experience to the table, with a total of 11 runs under rules yet he’s ran just five times over hurdles. Given an Irish rating of 139, all eyes will be on the BHA handicapper for his own assessment ahead of Cheltenham.

His form behind Thedeviluno and Skylight Hustle reads extremely well and he has been running over an inferior trip for much of the campaign. He stepped up in trip the last day and bolted up, beating the well touted Doctor Du Mesnil on the bridle.

If he gets a British mark of 145 or under, you’d imagine this race will be the target and he is likely to have Eoin Staples in the saddle. If he runs, I’d be very hopeful The Passing Wife will be bang there at the finish and fingers crossed he can come out on top.