2026 Horses: Paddy Power’s Top Picks | Betting Odds

Cheltenham Festival: Five Horses Backed to Win Big This Week

Cheltenham, UK – March 9, 2026 – Punters are placing their bets as the Cheltenham Festival approaches, and Paddy Power has highlighted five horses attracting significant backing. Hyland is favored for Tuesday’s Ultima Handicap Chase, although Kateira is expected to perform well in Wednesday’s BetMGM Cup. All eyes are on Hewick for Thursday’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, with Mon Creuset and Karbau tipped for success on Friday in the Triumph Hurdle and County Hurdle respectively. These selections represent a mix of seasoned performers and promising newcomers, setting the stage for a thrilling four days of racing.

Nicky Henderson’s charge Hyland is set to return to a course where he previously secured two novice chase victories in 2024. Remarkably, he boasts three wins from five outings at Cheltenham. Currently, the nine-year-old has yet to achieve a win this season in three starts, having been pulled up before the second last in last year’s Grand National. Although, his recent performance at Ascot, where he was only beaten by a length and a half by Deep Cave in the Howden Silver Cup, demonstrates his improving form.

His current handicap mark of 143 appears highly workable, especially considering his second-place finish to Katate Dori in last season’s Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton off a 4lb higher rating. Although his jumping wasn’t always fluent that day, Henderson has been diligently working on improvements at home. He was runner-up to The Jukebox Man, now a leading contender for the Gold Cup, in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.

Dan Skelton’s mare, Kateira, represents a strong contender in this competitive handicap, given Skelton’s previous successes in the race with Langer Dan in both 2023 and 2024. On her best form, Kateira is exceptionally good, having convincingly defeated last year’s Champion Hurdle heroine, Golden Ace, by 28 lengths in a mares’ hurdle at Wetherby on her seasonal debut in November.

Her subsequent form has been somewhat inconsistent, including a ninth-place finish of 15 in a handicap hurdle at Ascot in February, where jockey Nico De Boinville reported she was never travelling comfortably. However, her training regime suggests she has been showing promise on Skelton’s gallops, and her past performance includes a memorable victory over Jango Baie, a leading Gold Cup contender, at Aintree in 2024.

Hewick’s remarkable career, highlighted by victories in the King George, Galway Plate, and American Grand National, has captivated racing fans. These successes have unfortunately made him a significant liability for bookmakers going into the Festival. Despite a fifth-place finish in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November, where he was beaten by fellow Stayers’ Hurdle candidate Impose Toi, Hewick’s potential remains undeniable.

It often proves beneficial to overlook a single poor run, as Hewick displayed excellent form when beating Moon D’Orange by four and three-quarter lengths in a long-distance hurdle at Thurles last October. His story is one of a horse who has captured the public’s imagination, much like Constitution Hill.

This four-year-old could be unbeaten heading into his third start, attracting significant attention from punters after Willie Mullins described him as “a nice price for each-way” for Friday’s opener. Mon Creuset began his career with a win in a French bumper for Fabrice Foucher before being acquired by Gigginstown House Stud and transferred to Mullins.

His highly anticipated Irish debut saw him go off as a heavily backed evens favourite in a maiden hurdle at Naas in January. Although travelling easily, he encountered trouble at the second last, sprawling on landing and ultimately finishing fourth to Kai Lung. The outcome remains uncertain, but the third-place finisher, Saratoga, is now favoured for this race after a subsequent second-place finish to the unbeaten Highland Crystal in a rated hurdle at Naas last month.

Karbau is a noteworthy contender for Willie Mullins’s formidable team in a race he has won eight times, including with future Champion Hurdle hero State Man. This will mark Karbau’s first foray into handicap company, having previously been placed third in two Grade 1 novice hurdles at Aintree and Punchestown last season.

His starting price of 33-1 at Aintree may have been surprising, given he was beaten 57 lengths by stable companion Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. However, his credible effort in Liverpool led to a starting price of 22-1 in Punchestown. Despite failing to justify favouritism in his one outing this season in a Grade 3 hurdle at Naas in January, he was only beaten a length by a fit Glen Kiln, and the betting suggests connections believe he is better than his current handicap mark of 150.

The 2026 Cheltenham Festival promises a thrilling spectacle, with several horses poised to make a significant impact. Hyland’s return to form, Kateira’s class, Hewick’s captivating story, Mon Creuset’s potential, and Karbau’s handicap debut all contribute to an exciting lineup. Keep a close watch on these contenders as the Festival unfolds.

Q: What is the Ultima Handicap Chase?
A: It’s a handicap chase race held on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Q: Who is Hewick?
A: Hewick is a popular horse known for his victories in multiple prestigious races and his unique story.

Q: What is the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle?
A: It’s a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race for horses aged four years or older.

Q: What is the Triumph Hurdle?
A: It’s a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race for four-year-olds.

Q: What is the County Hurdle?
A: It’s a handicap hurdle race for horses aged four years or older.

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