After a 100-1 ante-post winner at Cheltenham, Nick Watts returns with 16-1 and 33-1 tips for 2026

Despite ten winners for Willie Mullins and 20 for Ireland across the four days, you could never describe the 2025 Cheltenham Festival as predictable.

Even Mullins found new ways to win. He took the Triumph with Poniros, a horse who had never jumped a hurdle on a racecourse before, then shortly afterwards the Albert Bartlett with Jasmin De Vaux, who at times this season looked as if he had never jumped a hurdle anywhere. Has Mullins ever tried turning water into wine? it would probably work.

Jasmin De Vaux is fascinating for next season. Mullins intimated after the race the horse would go chasing, which would be a bold move. I’m going to take a chance he ends up back over hurdles and grab the 16-1 available for the Stayers’ Hurdle.