Last Updated on 03/05/2026 by Andy Clark
Templegate is The Sun’s horse racing tipster and one of the most widely read newspaper punters in Britain, with a following that peaks every year during Cheltenham Festival week.
He has published five confirmed ante-post selections for the 2026 Festival in The Sun, covering handicap races across all four days. On this page, you will find all of his confirmed Cheltenham 2026 selections with his full reasoning, his daily tips updated each morning throughout the four days, and a complete picture of his Festival best bets as they are published.
Templegate publishes his Cheltenham tips in The Sun newspaper and on thesun.co.uk in the weeks before the Festival, with a full race-by-race preview typically published the week before the meeting. During Festival week itself, his daily selections are published in The Sun each morning. They are among the most searched-for tips of the day — particularly on Gold Cup morning, when his NAP carries significant weight among Sun readers.
Templegate’s Cheltenham Day 4 Tips
Templegate’s Cheltenham 2026 Ante-Post Selections
Templegate has published five standout handicap ante-post picks for the 2026 Festival in The Sun. All five can be backed in non-runner money back markets, meaning stakes are returned if a selection does not run on the day.
Templegate’s Cheltenham 2026 Race-by-Race Analysis
Templegate has published full written reasoning for all five selections in The Sun. His thinking on each pick is below.
Kim Roque — Ultima Handicap Chase (25-1 each-way) and Jack Richards Chase (16-1 each-way), Tuesday
Joseph O’Brien has had this six-year-old French import for just three runs and two of them have been excellent efforts at Cheltenham. He followed up with another highly promising effort at Leopardstown on 1st February when fifth in a hot Grade 3. Templegate’s view is that Kim Roque went off too quickly that day — the first four all came from off the pace while he was on the lead throughout. With NRNB markets available in both races, Templegate recommends backing him each-way in the Ultima at 25-1 and the Jack Richards Chase at 16-1. He believes the horse would have every chance in either contest, making this a rare opportunity to cover both races while the prices are available.
Minella Emperor — Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (12-1), Thursday
Templegate had considered Supremely West of the Skeltons for the Pertemps but despite less than perfect form this season, the horse is 7-1 favourite with some books. At a more rewarding price, Minella Emperor looks a solid choice for trainer Emmet Mullins. He tried the three-mile trip for the first time at Haydock and came home strongly into second from off the pace, at a meeting where front-runners were dominating throughout the card — making his staying-on effort all the more notable. The Irish hike in the weights for the Festival is acknowledged, but Templegate considers 12-1 fair enough for a horse that stayed on strongly on his first attempt at the trip and should improve again for it.
Nurse Susan — Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle (16-1 each-way), Friday
Dan Skelton’s mare will be near the top of the weights for the Martin Pipe but clocked a big time when winning over the course and distance at Cheltenham in December. The form of that effort was underlined by another impressive run at Sandown last time. Nurse Susan tried to win this race last season after 15 months off the track and went well until getting tired late on. With those runs under her belt and a full season in her legs, Templegate believes it could be a different story this time. The 16-1 on offer looks more than fair each-way for a mare who already knows how to win around the track.
Saratoga — Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle (6-1), Tuesday
Templegate’s view is that Saratoga is likely to go off much shorter than 6-1 on the day and could easily be a JP McManus gamble into around half that price — making this one of his most time-sensitive ante-post recommendations. The son of Camelot stands out after back-to-back placed efforts at Naas when he finished with plenty left in the tank on both occasions. He likes a bit of cut in the ground and is likely to have the pick of conditional riders on the day. If you want to follow this tip, acting at the current 6-1 rather than waiting is the clear advice.
Waterford Whispers — Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase (14-1 each-way), Wednesday
Henry de Bromhead’s eight-year-old put up an excellent effort when a close-up third in a Leopardstown Grade 3 earlier this month. He made one mistake at a key moment before finishing strongly under Mark Walsh. He was second in the Martin Pipe as a hurdler and Templegate’s assessment is that he is still improving over the bigger obstacles. The 14-1 on offer for the Sun Racing Plate is fair each-way for a horse he considers has everything needed for the race — jumping ability, stamina and the course form to go with it.
Templegate’s Daily Cheltenham Tips — Updated Each Morning During the Festival
During the 2026 Cheltenham Festival — Tuesday 10th March to Friday 13th March — this section will be updated each morning with Templegate’s tips for that day’s racing from The Sun. His full race-by-race card is published in the newspaper and on thesun.co.uk, typically from the evening before each day’s racing.
Champion Day — Tuesday 10th March Templegate’s Champion Day tips will be added here on Tuesday 10th March.
Ladies Day — Wednesday 11th March Templegate’s Wednesday tips will be added here on Wednesday 11th March.
St Patrick’s Thursday — Thursday 12th March Templegate’s Thursday tips will be added here on Thursday 12th March.
Gold Cup Day — Friday 13th March Templegate’s Gold Cup Day tips will be added here on Friday 13th March.
Who is Templegate?
Templegate is the pseudonym used by The Sun’s horse racing tipster. The use of a tipster name rather than a byline is a long-standing tradition in British newspaper racing, and Templegate is one of the most recognised names in the sport — alongside counterparts such as the Daily Mirror’s Newsboy and the Daily Star’s Naps Table.
The name takes its origins from Templegate, a historic street in the city of York that has long been associated with horse racing, given York Racecourse’s prominence and the city’s deep connection with the sport.
The Sun’s racing coverage is among the most widely read in British tabloid journalism, and Templegate’s tips carry particular weight during Cheltenham Festival week when the paper’s racing pages are at their most prominent. His speciality is finding value in the handicap races at the major Festivals rather than simply following the market in the championship events — as his five 2026 Cheltenham selections clearly demonstrate, with prices ranging from 6-1 to 25-1. His NAP of the day during Festival week is one of the most searched-for tips in British racing journalism and is worth tracking each morning throughout the four days.
Bet on Templegate’s Cheltenham Tips with a Free Bet
The Cheltenham Festival is the best time of year to open a new betting account, with bookmakers offering their most generous sign-up deals to coincide with the four days of racing. The free bet offers below can all be used to back Templegate’s selections — whether that is his ante-post handicap picks now or his daily tips during Festival week itself. See our full Cheltenham free bets guide for the complete list of current offers.
More Cheltenham Festival Tipster Predictions
Templegate is one of several expert pundits whose Cheltenham 2026 tips we are tracking across the Festival. For more selections and race-by-race analysis from the leading voices in horse racing, see the pages below.
Ruby Walsh Cheltenham Tips — Paddy Power Racing Ambassador and ITV Racing pundit. All of Ruby Walsh’s confirmed 2026 Cheltenham selections and daily tips are updated throughout the week.
Tom Segal (Pricewise) Cheltenham Tips — The Racing Post’s Pricewise column. All of Tom Segal’s confirmed 2026 Festival selections across all four days.
Matt Chapman Cheltenham Tips — ITV Racing and At The Races presenter. Matt Chapman’s five championship race selections for 2026, updated throughout the Festival.
Mick Fitzgerald Cheltenham Tips — Former Gold Cup-winning jockey and ITV Racing pundit. Mick Fitzgerald’s Lucky 15 selections and daily tips updated throughout the Festival.
Newsboy Cheltenham Tips — The Daily Mirror’s Newsboy tips for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, updated daily throughout the four days.
Kevin Blake Cheltenham Tips — Irish racing expert Kevin Blake’s Cheltenham 2026 tips and ante-post selections.
Dave Nevison Cheltenham Tips — Professional punter and Racing UK pundit Dave Nevison’s Cheltenham 2026 tips and best bets.
For all pundit tips in one place, see our Cheltenham Festival Pundit Tips hub.