Joe Tizzard Cheltenham Festival 2026 stable tour

Ahead of Cheltenham Festival 2026 next week, the highlight of the horse racing calendar, Coral ambassador Joe Tizzard shares an in-depth stable tour.

Rock My Way – Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase

This fellow was second in the NH Chase at last year’s Festival, and although we’ve kept him running over those longer trips this season, including a win in the Berkshire National at Ascot, I think the pace they will go in this 3m 1f race will suit him and of the three we have in the race he’s the one we want to run.

Alexei – Champion Hurdle

He’ll be our first runner in the race, and with Constitution Hill out, I think it’s a wide open race.  He’s kept surprising us this year, and won the Greatwood in really taking style, so we know he acts on the course.  I wasn’t too disappointed by his third place at Ascot before Christmas as he was lumping a big weight that day, and he booked his place here winning the Kingwell Hurdle.  I’m sure he’s got an each-way chance and am really looking forward to this.

First Confession - National Hunt Chase 

It was great to get a confidence boosting win with him at Carlisle last time, he put his Exeter fall behind him nicely.  I think the marathon trip will suit, Brendan [Powell} can ride him in this race now, and I really think he can outrun his odds.

Kripticjim – Turners Novices’ Hurdle or Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

We’ll leave it late to decide where he runs, better ground and it will probably be the longer Albert Bartlett, and that can often be the slightly easier option. He won well here in the gloom on Trials day, and while he’s a lovely chaser for next year, I don’t think he’ll be out of place this year as a novice hurdler. 

JPR One – Ryanair Chase

He is in the Champion Chase too, but he’s just not quite got the toe to compete with the best over that trip, and after his win at Musselburgh over 2 ½ miles, that made up our mind to go Ryanair.  Take out Fact To File and it might not be that deep a race, so it’s worth a go, and he’s such a consistent sort he won’t let us down.

Best of the rest

Western Knight has a few options but we’re thinking the Jack Richards Novice Handicap for him as the trip looks ideal if he gets in.  Sunset Marquesa is stepping up in grade for the Mares’ Hurdle but she’s so consistent she’s earned a crack at a big one.  Ambion View qualified for the Pertemps Final with a third at Chepstow and I think he’ll get in so we’ll have a go.   

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