Cheltenham News: Gordon Elliott’s Best Horses, Entries & Festival Chances

With an impressive 41 previous Cheltenham winners, few trainers generate as much debate and make headlines quite like Gordon Elliott.

Currently fourth among all-time Cheltenham trainers – behind Willie Mullins (113 wins), Nicky Henderson (75 wins), and Paul Nicholls (50 wins) – he will be aiming climb the list and repeat his golden years at the 2026 Festival.

Elliot’s golden years spanned 2017 and 2018, when he secured a total of 14 wins, earning the title of leading trainer, marking Elliott’s most successful period at the Festival. He was the last holder of the title before Willie Mullins's dominance.

Last year, Gordon Elliott secured just one Cheltenham victory – Wodhooh in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle. This year, he’s bringing her back along with a substantial team across the Irish Sea – including “Brighterdaysahead”, “Favori De Champdou” and “Teahupoo” – for an enormous total of 146 early entries.

Here’s a race-by-race overview of the top four Gordon Elliott Cheltenham entries and an assessment of their prospects as Festival week approaches.

Gordon Elliott’s Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy Chances

The Unibet Champion Hurdle is the premier race for speed horses – it’s the one everyone aims to win if they have a true hurdling talent. 

However, Elliott has never claimed victory in the Champion Hurdle. He finished fourth last year with Brighterdaysahead and will be aiming for redemption at the 2026 Festival. 

This year, he’s got just one other runner entered in the Champion Hurdle – Casheldale Lad – but all eyes are on Brighterdaysahead for Elliot’s first day at the Festival. 

Brighterdaysahead for Gordon Elliott?

One of the best Gordon Elliott horses at Cheltenham – Brighterdaysahead is a 7-year-old mare owned by Gigginstown House Stud. 

Table: Brighterdaysahead Recent Runs 

Brighterdaysahead has shown good form in the last few months, most recently winning against Mullins’ “Lossiemouth” at Leopardstown in early February. 

This will be her third Cheltenham Festival, previously competing in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in 2024 and the Champion Hurdle Challenge in 2025. She’ll be looking to capitalise on her experience coming into this year’s running of the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy. 

Table: Brighterdaysahead Cheltenham Form

Brighterdaysahead is entered into two races in this year’s Festival – the Unibet Champion Hurdle and the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle. But with Elliott’s “Wodhooh” running the Mares’ Hurdle, her best chance of a win lies in the Champion Hurdle.  

Dan Skelton’s “The New Lion” and Willie Mullins’ “Lossiemouth” will, however, prove difficult to beat. Jeremy Scott’s “Golden Ace”, also entered in the Champion Hurdle, is the defending champion and has won both of Brighterdaysahead’s previous Cheltenham entries.  

The Event’s Most Successful Trainer: Gordon Elliott in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

Gordon Elliot is no stranger to the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase – he’s earned five wins in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, sharing the record as the event's most successful trainer alongside Enda Bolger. 

Elliot’s Previous winners include “Cause of Causes” in 2017, “Tiger Roll” in 2018 and 2019, and “Delta Work” in both 2022 and 2023. He’ll be looking to add “Favori De Champdou” to the list, cementing his legacy as the event's most successful trainer in 2026. 

Additional Gordon Elliott Cheltenham runners in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase include 

The Goffer, Conflated, Chemical Energy, Pied Piper.

Can Gordon Elliott’s Favori De Champdou Make it Six?

An 11-year-old bay gelding owned by Gigginstown House Stud, Favori De Champdou is the early favourite in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. 

Table: Favori De Champdou Recent Runs 

Favori De Champdou has been running well, earning first place at both Cheltenham in January and Leopardstown in December. 

The gelding may have experience at the venue, but Favori De Champdou has only run at the festival once, pulling up in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. Elliott is, therefore, putting a huge amount of faith in the horse's most recent run. 

Table: Favori De Champdou Cheltenham Form

Favori De Champdou is only entered in the one race in this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Elliott will be keen to add to his Cross Country Chase tally and to see how he runs before his entry alongside “Gerri Colombe” in this year’s Grand National.   

Can Gordon Elliott Secure a A First Time Victory in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle?

Elliot has never won the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle and placed a disappointing 7th with Kala Conti in 2025. He’ll be looking for his pioneering victory with what could be his best chance yet with Wodhooh in 2026. 

Both Wodhooh and Brighterdaysahead are entered to run the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle with the pair inside the early top 3 (behind Lossiemouth).  

Gordon Elliott’s Best Chance: Wodhooh Over Brighterdaysahead

One of the best Gordon Elliot horses at Cheltenham – Wodhooh is the bookies’ pick over Brighterdaysahead for the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle. 

Table: Wodhooh Recent Runs 

The 6-year-old bay mare is running in sublime form, winning three of her last four races. It is, however, that one who has question marks above her head. A second-place finish at Lossiemouth – the joint favourite for this event – in Aintree back in April has some questioning whether she has what it takes to claw back a win.  

But Wodhooh has a good history at Cheltenham. Although she’s only raced at the Festival once, a win against Act Of Authority in the 2025 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle shows she has what it takes. 

Table: Wodhooh Cheltenham Form

Wodhooh is entered into two races at this year’s Festival, the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle and the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle. It’s the Mares' Hurdle that she’s most likely to run and place – she’s currently the joint favourite alongside Willie Mullin’s “Lossiemouth”.

Gordon Elliott’s Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle Chances 

Elliot has previously won the Stayers' Hurdle twice in his career, once with “Sire Du Berlais” (2023) and again in the consecutive year with “Teahupoo” (2024). 

This year, Gordon Eillot will be hoping to make history repeat itself by reclaiming the title from Bob Olinger and restoring Teahupoo as the Stayers’ Hurdle Champion. 

Alongside Teahupoo, Elliot has three runners in the Stayers’ Hurdle – “Wodhooh”, “The Yellow Clay”, and “Honesty Policy”. 

Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo in Fine Form 

One of Gordon Elliott’s previous Cheltenham winners, Teahupoo, is a 9-year-old bay gelding owned by Robcour (previously Philip Prevost Baratte). 

Table: Teahupoo Recent Runs 

His 2025 season was nothing short of phenomenal, winning 3 of 4 races, placing second only in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle to Bob Olinger, who he went on to beat most recently at Leopardstown in December of last year. 

The 2026 Festival will be Teahupoo’s fifth, having previously entered and placed in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle three times. 

Last year’s battle with Bob Olinger will likely have hurt what could very well have been three-in-a-row. But a best-of-three isn’t bad – especially in an event as prestigious as this.  

Table: Teahupoo Cheltenham Form

Teahupoo is only entered in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle this year and is the current early favourite. He’ll be hoping to dethrone Bob Olinger and reclaim his Stayers' crown. 

Final Thoughts on Gordon Elliott’s Best Horses at Cheltenham

We’re unlikely to see Elliott break Mullins’ 10-win record at the 2026 Festival, but he’s got some great opportunities to make Cheltenham history. 

It’s looking like “Favori De Champdou” has the best chance to secure a win, not only adding to Gordon Elliot’s tally at Cheltenham (41), but securing a legacy as the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase's sole top trainer. The favourite is up against Gavin Cromwell’s “Stumptown” and Martin Brassil’s “Desertmore House”.  

Fans can explore Cheltenham betting offers and free bets before the Festival. Check back for updates as final Cheltenham declarations are confirmed.