Cheltenham betting: 2026 Plate Handicap Chase contenders and tip

The penultimate race of day one of the festival is the Plate Handicap Chase. Coral has Cheltenham betting fans covered with an explanation of our tip.

Coral's Plate Handicap Chase Cheltenham 2026 tip

With a full-sized field of 23 runners, this is an open contest which could go any way. 

With Ben Pauling’s yard in such excellent form so far this season, his eight-year-old No Questions Asked looks worth considering, stepping back from Grade Two races in handicap company. He’ll be happy if there’s rain or not, and can hold his own here. 

Olly Murphy’s Booster Bob ran a good race here last time for fifth of 11, and he’s lower in the weights this time which should help him and he could pick up a place. 

JP McManus again runs more than one horse, with McLaurey as his first string and Down Memory Lane as his second. McLaurey is interesting here, stepping up in trip for the first time to a distance he is bred to excel over.

Henry De Bromhead’s Downmexicoway was disappointing last time at Leopardstown in Grade One company but is more within his comfort zone here in handicap company. He should have the stamina for this, having won well on testing ground, and his trainer has a very strong record at Cheltenham, so he must be considered.

Further down the weights, Moon d’Orange has been raced often at Cheltenham this term and might be able to improve for the application of a first-time visor here. 

Coral’s big-race tip: McLaurey at 5/1

View the latest Cheltenham Festival 2026 betting odds

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.