Last Updated on 10/02/2026 by Andy Clark
The Cheltenham Exchange podcast is ramping up its previews ahead of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, and its latest video discusses the results of recent polls put to its audience about the Day 1 races on Tuesday, 10th March.
Each year, the lads from The Cheltenham Exchange let their followers vote on each race across the four days, before getting together to discuss the results and any interesting angles from the punters’ comments. They have kicked off their 2026 coverage with a run-through of the seven races on day 1, and the results can be found below, along with a link to the full video on YouTube. You can also listen to The Cheltenham Exchange on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.
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Supreme Novices Hurdle
It is no surprise to see Old Park Star lead the way in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle poll, amassing over 66% of the vote.
Ian, from The Cheltenham Exchange, said:
He’s he’s been very good considering I think the original plan was for for Old Park Star to be the the turners or the old Balymore horse and act act of innocence was supposed to be the supreme horse but he just wowed everybody with his with his two runs and I think some of his I had to check some of his speed figures his run at Haydock is 35% which is like out this world he’s such a quick speedy horse and 66% I think it just shows how impressed how impressive he’s been this season. He’s wowed a lot of people.
Ginger Joe said:
“I wouldn’t say Old Park Star is Altior part two whatsoever. It’s a very good horse, but they’re completely different. If anything, Old Park Star is more like Constitution Hill, quite exuberant.
And if you watch his last few wins, he just gets quicker and quicker and quicker as the straight goes on, and his jumping becomes slicker and slicker and slicker. So there’s nothing not to like about what he’s done so far. And we’ll find out in five weeks if he is the real deal, I suppose. He’d probably be where I am for the time being anyway. But I wouldn’t say he’s a banker just yet.”
Arkle Novices Chase
The poll is closer in this one, with Kopek Des Bordes taking the win with 44% of the vote compared to just over 40% on Lulamba. Kopek Des Borders skipping the Dublin Racing Festival will be a concern to ante-post punters. Romeo Coolio got just over 8% of the vote, but he could run in the Browns Advisory Novices Chase instead.
Ginger Joe had a different opinion on this race, saying:
“What I wouldn’t sleep on is Steel Ally, who won this weekend. He’s an 8-year-old as well, so he’s a little bit older, but I don’t see that as a massive negative because he didn’t go chasing until this season. He’s three for three now and a really, really fast horse.
He’s quick. He jumps, no problem. I’d be inclined to take some sort of swipe at him at 14/1″
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Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter)
The first handicap of the Cheltenham Festival is now the 2m juvenile hurdle, formerly the Fred Winter. Saratoga won the poll for this one in what looks set to be a wide-open renewal. Winston Junior and Saratoga are currently 5/1 joint favourites.
Ultima Handicap Chase
The second handicap of the week is the Ultima, and unsurprisingly, the vote was close for this one. Myretown just got the vote ahead of Jagwar. At the time of writing, Myretown is 8/1 with bet365.
Champion Hurdle
The Cheltenham Exchange followers cannot get away from Constitution Hill for the 2026 Champion Hurdle. It is easy to say, but you have to think if he gets around, he will win by open lengths. The New Lion was second in the vote, but there was a strong divide of opinion in the comments. If Lossiemouth runs here, she must have a great chance, but Brighterdaysahead beat her at the Dublin Racing Festival, and it looks likely she will run in the Mares Hurdle.
Alex read out some of the comments live on the podcast:
“The Bookies foe said the short list is comical. Phil Daniel said, “Lossiemouth will run in this and will win it. Unbeaten at Cheltenham comes alive in the spring. Brighterdaysahead not in the same form last two Festivals, and The New Lion won’t be able to give her 7lb. And then CovBoyinEssex says 2026 and Con Hill still getting the most votes in polls like this. It’ll be single figures if you’re entering the 2030 Champion.”
Ian said:
Constitution Hill is due to run in a bloody flat race at Southwell. I still don’t think he’ll even come to the Festival myself, and The New Lion only just beat Nemean Lion.
So, would Golden Ace be a silly bet again? She’s always there. She’s the defending Champion and she won at the Fighting Fifth as well. I know she got well beaten by Sir Gino but she was 5/1 to 7/1 in places. You probably could take her each way at the moment.
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Plate Handicap Chase
Madara was the clear winner of the vote in this one, but it’s another wide-open handicap, and we won’t get a clearer picture until closer to the start of the Festival. It’s currently 7/1 the field.
National Hunt Novices Chase
The last race on day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival is the National Hunt Chase, and the punters are spreading their seed far and wide in this one. There are lots of different opinions and still a lot of uncertainty around the runners.
Watch The Cheltenham Exchanges’ Day 1 Preview
Watch the full preview of day 1 below, with more discussion and opinions from Ian, Alex and Ginger Joe ahead of the opening day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. All the poll results are discussed in more detail, and there are some golden nuggets of information to help with your Cheltenham ante-post betting.
Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers. The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest weeks on the sporting calendar, and his expertise in betting promotions and marketing means you always get the best offers.