Cheltenham Trials Day 2026 Preview: @RoadCheltenham Ponders The Key Questions

The eyes of the racing world will be on Prestbury Park on Saturday afternoon for what should be an informative day of action on Festival Trials Day. We’ve got eight exhilarating races on the card and there will be plenty of Cheltenham clues with less than seven weeks until the greatest week on turf.

Here, I ponder some of the main questions and talking points ahead of Festival Trials Day – it has the makings of a very exciting day of National Hunt racing.

Novices' Handicap Form Usually Works Out

The opening race on Festival Trials Day is a 2m4f Novices' Handicap Chase and two of the last three winners have gone on to score at Cheltenham in March. Stage Star won this race in 2023 before his success in the Turners Novices' Chase while Jagwar was victorious last year en route to winning the Plate Handicap Chase. Even Ginny’s Destiny, successful in 2024, went close in a Grade 1 at the Festival as he was just two lengths adrift of Grey Dawning and so this is a race to keep an eye on.

There are a range of form lines in here, but PUSH THE BUTTON is the one that I’m most intrigued by and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares on Saturday afternoon. He looks progressive over fences and the form of his last two chase starts looks strong enough – he could turn out to be superior to his current mark of 137.

Who’s Best Of The British In Triumph Trial?

While Adam Nicol’s Minella Study sets the standard for the home team at this stage, we may see the leading British hopeful in the Triumph Hurdle on Saturday. Given ONE HORSE TOWN was put in his place by Nicol’s charge in December, you’d hope that either MINELLA YOGA or MAESTRO CONTI would be the one here.

Both will receive weight from Harry Derham’s runner and you’d imagine both will be on the premises given what they’ve shown in their most recent outings. If One Horse Town runs his race, his proximity to the two market leaders may tell us a bit about whether Saturday’s winner should be taken seriously or if the Irish are booked to win the race yet again. Backers of Minella Study, still 16/1 for March’s race, will hope to see Derham’s horse in the winner’s enclosure but either way we’ll learn more about the British challenge.

Last Chance Saloon For Spillane’s Tower

0-3 over fences in open company, I’m willing to give SPILLANE’S TOWER one more chance to showcase his talent and hopefully we’ll see the best of him this weekend. He gets his ground for the first time over fences since the 2024 John Durkan Chase and he ran a huge race that day, finishing less than a length behind Fact To File.

In addition, he was in front of dual Grade 1 winner Fastorslow and dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs and that form is incredibly strong on paper. Jimmy Mangan’s stable star has disappointed several times since then but he is a much better horse on softer ground and there should be plenty of cut at Cheltenham. With Jack Kennedy back in the saddle for the first time since that Punchestown run, I’m willing to take the favourite on – especially with Spillane’s Tower receiving 6lbs.

The New Lion On A Redemption Mission

Doubts remain over whether THE NEW LION is a genuine two-miler and he’ll need to be if he is to prevail against Sir Gino in the International Hurdle on Saturday afternoon. In receipt of 3lbs and just 4lbs inferior to Nicky Henderson’s runner, the pair are closely matched on official ratings and there will be no hiding place for either horse. He must prove that he can jump at championship pace over two miles, having fell when bidding to make all in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

The pattern of the race is likely to suit him better here, with Nico de Boinville likely to try and force the issue on Sir Gino and we may see The New Lion in a better light. Whether he’ll be good enough or not is another question. It’s an intriguing contest and fingers crossed the clash lives up to the hype – this is a race you won’t want to miss.

Impose The One To Beat In Cleeve?

Saturday is a big day for Nicky Henderson and IMPOSE TOI can cement his status as the main British hope in the Stayers division if he wins the Cleeve Hurdle. While he would undoubtedly prefer nicer ground, he has the beating of his opponents on all known form and main market rival STRONG LEADER is 0-5 at Cheltenham. He’s still odds against and that could turn out to be a very generous price come 4pm on Saturday, with little to suggest that the opposition are capable of winning at this level.

This will be his fourth run of the season so he’s been busy enough but he should have the class and staying power to cope – especially as he’s beaten Strong Leader in each of his last two starts. I’m struggling to find an alternative angle in the race. I suppose MA SHANTOU has won twice at Cheltenham this season so could be the play to finish second but he has a mountain to climb to prevail.