Nicky Henderson is the most successful British trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival with 75 winners spanning 40 years. In 2012 he saddled seven Festival winners and he boasts an incredible 9 victories in the Champion Hurdle. Sadly, there will be no Constitution Hill (2023 winner) in this year’s renewal but Henderson will still be well represented throughout the week.
The Irish trainers, and Willie Mullins in particular, have enjoyed a period of unprecedented dominance at the Festival in recent seasons. However, Henderson remains at the helm of the home defence and will be optimistic of adding to his impressive tally of Cheltenham Festival winners. The decision not to risk Constitution Hill followed the injury sustained by stable companion Sir Gino, himself a leading Champion Hurdle candidate. Constitution Hill had lost his confidence over hurdles and will now be restricted to races on the flat. Horses likely to fill the void include exciting young chaser Lulamba and leading novice hurdler Old Park Star.
Henderson’s Cheltenham entries in the big festival handicaps are always worth a second look and this year include Jeriko Du Reponet (Kim Muir), Iberico Lord (Coral Cup) and Manlaga (Fred Winter). Other possible Henderson Cheltenham runners include Impose Toi and Doddiethegreat in the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle, although the former’s participation may hinge on the ground. He is known to favour good ground and did not enjoy the soft going when beaten on Cheltenham Trials Day.
We have selected five of Nicky Henderson’s leading Cheltenham entries and assessed their chances as Festival week approaches.
Will it be a sixth Nicky Henderson Supreme Novices’ Hurdle victory?
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle opens the Festival meeting to the traditional Cheltenham roar. Henderson has won the curtain raiser on five occasions; River Ceiriog (1986), Flown (1992), Altior (2016), Shishkin (2020) and Constitution Hill (2022). Altior went on to become a chasing legend while both he and Shishkin went on to win the Arkle Chase the following season. Constitution Hill claimed the 2023 Champion Hurdle and will be paraded before the big race this year.
Nicky Henderson Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Old Park Star strongly fancied
Henderson’s Cheltenham runners kick off in the Supreme with ante-post favourite Old Park Star. The six-year-old has Cheltenham form in the book with a 12 lengths victory in December. He was even more impressive when winning the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock in January. He is a strong traveller and is likely to up with the pace from the outset.
Mullins threat to Nicky Henderson Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hope Old Park Star
Over the past 13 seasons, only Henderson (2020, 2022) and Tom George (2018) have managed to repel the Irish challengers in the Supreme. Willie Mullins trained six of those recent winners and is certain to be well represented again this year. Wide margin Fairyhouse winner Mighty Park looks his most likely candidate while Joseph O’Brien’s Talk The Talk and Gordon Elliott’s El Cairos are also prominent in the betting. Mighty Park also holds an entry in the Turners Novices Hurdle but has been well supported for this race in recent days.
Nicky Henderson Arkle Novices’ Chase record speaks for itself
The Arkle is the championship race for novice chasers and usually establishes a leading candidate for the following year’s Champion Chase. Henderson has won it a record eight times: Remittance Man (1991), Travado (1993), Tiutchev (2000), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Simonsig (2013), Altior (2017), Shishkin (2021) and Jango Baie (2025). Remittance Man, Sprinter Sacre and Altior went on to win five Champion Chase titles between them.
Lulamba bids to give Nicky Henderson Arkle Novices’ Chase win number nine
Lulamba is undoubtedly one of Henderson’s best Cheltenham chances at the 2026 Festival. He carries the yellow and black Donnelly colours with which Henderson has enjoyed great success with the likes of Shishkin and Sir Gino. Lulamba has only suffered one defeat since joining the Lambourn trainer, a neck defeat in last season’s Triumph Hurdle. He reversed that form at Punchestown in May and has looked a natural over fences winning at Exeter, Sandown and Newbury by an aggregate 26 lengths.
Nicky Henderson Arkle Novices’ Chase hope Lulamba set for thrilling duel
The big market rival to Lulamba is last year’s Supreme Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes, trained by Willie Mullins. Mullins has won the Arkle six times previously, all within the last eleven years. Kopek Des Bordes made an impressive chasing debut at Navan in November and is often very keen in his races. With Lulamba also an enthusiastic jumper, it promises to be a fascinating duel over the first few fences. Kargese and Romeo Coolio are the only other entries currently priced in single figures.
Nicky Henderson Cheltenham Gold Cup hope rated best chance in over a decade
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the week and one of the most coveted prizes in the sport. Henderson won it with Long Run in 2011 and Bobs Worth in 2013. Although he has trained many top class chasers since, notably Champ and Shishkin, it has been a while since he had a strong candidate for the top steeplechasing prize.
Nicky Henderson Cheltenham Gold Cup runner Jango Baie steps up in trip
Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie is already a Cheltenham Festival winner having outstayed his rivals to win the Arkle last season. He has stepped up in trip this season, winning over an extended two and a half miles at Ascot in June before finishing fourth in a thrilling renewal of the King George VI Chase at Kempton. Henderson is confident that Jango Baie represents his best chance of winning the Gold Cup in recent seasons, although this will be the first time he has raced beyond three miles.
Jango Baie King George form holds key to Nicky Henderson Cheltenham Gold Cup chances
The King George form appears to hold the key to the Gold Cup this year with the first four home separated by less than a length. The Jukebox Man beat Banbridge, Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie in a thrilling finish. The puzzle for form students is the difference between three miles at Kempton and a more testing three and a quarter miles at Cheltenham.
Jango Baie appeared to be staying on as strongly as any but it is unknown territory for all four horses. The stamina of Irish Gold Cup winner Fact To File is also open to question, an impressive winner of the Ryanair last season and needing to be supplemented if he is to take his chance in the Gold Cup.
Late call expected on Nicky Henderson Ryanair Chase entry
The Ryanair Chase has grown in stature over the years having originally been introduced to bridge the gap between two-mile Champion chasers and staying Gold Cup horses. It was first run in 2005 when the Cheltenham Festival meeting was extended to four days. Henderson has won the two miles and five furlong event twice with Fondmort (2006) and Riverside Theatre (2012). Nicky Henderson’s Cheltenham entries include Jonbon who is also entered in the Champion Chase and a late decision will be made on his participation.
Jonbon Ascot victory gave Nicky Henderson Ryanair Chase option
Jonbon has been one of the best Henderson horses at Cheltenham in recent years but a Festival victory still eludes the ten-year-old. He has never finished out of the first two, finishing runner-up in his three previous Festival visits. His win in the Ascot Chase in February has given Henderson the option of tackling the longer distance of the Ryanair Chase this year. He is much shorter in the Cheltenham betting for the Ryanair than he is for the Champion Chase but a final decision will depend on the owner who has other fancied runners in both races.
Fact To File decision key to Nicky Henderson Ryanair Chase Jonbon plans
Jonbon races in the famous colours of JP McManus who also has ante-post Ryanair favourite Fact To File. He is currently odds-on favourite to repeat last year’s victory but could yet be diverted to the Gold Cup. Connections of Gaelic Warrior face a similar dilemma so the market could change dramatically when the final declarations are made. Racing fans should check latest Cheltenham betting offers, including free bet promotions available ahead of the Festival.
Nicky Henderson Coral Cup entries led by Iberico Lord
The Coral Cup is one of the top handicap hurdle races of the meeting over two miles and five furlongs. The race was first run in 1993 and only Langer Dan (2023, 2024) has managed to win it twice. Henderson is currently the leading trainer in the history of the race with four victories; Spirit River (2010), Whisper (2014), William Henry (2019) and Dame De Compagnie (2020). The keenly contested handicap often attracts a high quality field with eight of the last ten winners carrying 11 stone or more.
Iberico Lord leads Nicky Henderson Coral Cup challenge
Nicky Henderson’s Coral Cup entries this year are Iberico Lord, Jingko Blue, Lucky Place and La Pinsonniere. Iberico Lord has already claimed two of the most competitive handicap hurdles in the racing calendar and looks the pick of the quartet. He won the 2024 Betfair Hurdle and was considered good enough to compete in the Champion Hurdle that season.
Iberico Lord lost his way last season but bounced back to form to win the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January. That race is traditionally a good trial for the Coral Cup. He has a touch of class and looks to have each-way claims. Henderson’s Cheltenham runners for this race also include Jingko Blue, runner-up in the Relkeel Hurdle here on New Year’s Day and he looks best of the remainder.
Nicky Henderson Coral Cup hope Iberico Lord can repel Irish raiders
The Coral Cup is notable for some late market movers and there is no clear favourite in the ante-post market. I Started A Joke has already shown his ability in large fields at Punchestown and Leopardstown and leads a typically strong Irish challenge. The Yellow Clay, runner-up to The New Lion in the Turners last year, and Gowran Park winner Storm Heart are others to catch the eye.
Nicky Henderson Cheltenham Overview
Nicky Henderson is one of the most respected figures in National Hunt racing and his decision not to risk Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle will only have enhanced his reputation. He believes there is every reason to be optimistic from the British perspective going into this year’s Cheltenham Festival and will, once again, be leading from the front.
2024 was a rare blank for the stable but he bounced back with two victories last year. His best chances appear to be on the opening day with Lulamba and Old Park Star. A victory for one of his leading lights will enable the veteran trainer to relax and enjoy the rest of the meeting with plenty more Henderson Cheltenham entries to look out for. Check back for updates as final Cheltenham declarations are confirmed.
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