Cheltenham Festival Horse Owners
The trainers may get most of the glory in horse racing, but it takes a racehorse owner to fuel the fire.
These aren’t all faceless characters diversifying their investment portfolios. Some impressive hands-on owners have the records to prove it. With records comes data and the opportunity for bettors to recognise patterns.
While we wait for confirmation of the runners for Cheltenham Festival 2026, we can take a closer look at the potential entries, including what races they are likely to compete in and their winner odds.
Two of the most successful horse owners in Cheltenham history are John McManus and Gigginstown House Stud, so let's start with the former.
John P. McManus
- Festival wins: 84
- Best year: 2020 (7 wins)
- Champion Hurdle winners: Istabraq (1998-2000), Binocular (2010), Jezki (2014), Buveur d'Air (2017, 2018), Espoir d'Allen (2019), Epatante (2020)
- Gold Cup winner: Synchronised (2012) and Inothewayurthinkin (2025)
There’s no better place to start in the breakdown of Cheltenham Festival horse owners than with John P. McManus. The most successful owner of all time, he’s entering the 2026 Festival with 84 wins under his belt.
McManus’ top contenders for 2026 include Inothewayurthnkin, who won the 2025 Gold Cup, Majborough, Jonbon, Lecky Watson and Fact To File - five powerhouses in the racing world. Check out all of John McManus’ potential entries for the 2026 Festival below.
Potential Entries in the 2026 Cheltenham Festival
Day 1: Champion Day - Tuesday, 10th March 2026
We are still a month away from the big occasion, however McManus looks to have two big contenders on the opening day of the festival, with Irancy in The Arkle Novices' Chase and The New Lion in The Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Irancy, who is being trained by Willie Mullins, is currently 20/1 to win the The Arkle Novices' Chase, while The New Lion has emerged as the favourite in The Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Check out the table below to see John McManus' potential entries on day 1 of Cheltenham Festival 2026:
| Race | Horse | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Arkle Novices’ Chase | Irancy | Willie Mullins | 20/1 |
| The Unibet Champion Hurdle | The New Lion | Dan Skelton | 11/4 |
Day 2: Ladies Day - Wednesday, 11th March 2026
As always, The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase looks to be the highlight of Ladies Day Wednesday, with Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon expected to compete again at 14/1. The other potential entry is in the same race after Fact To File won the Ryanair Chase in 2025, with her odds starting at 25/1.
A full breakdown of John McManus’ potential entries for day 2 at Cheltenham Festival 2026 can be found in the table below:
| Race | Horse | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase | Jonbon | Nicky Henderson | 20/1 |
| The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase | Fact To File | Willie Mullins | 25/1 |
Day 3: St. Patrick’s Thursday - Thursday, 12th March 2026
While it's yet to be confirmed, it seems likely that McManus will have at least three entries on day 3, with Fact To File, Majborough and Jonbon going up against each other in The Ryanair Chase.
The favourite as it stands is last year's winner, Fact To File (5/2), with Majborough (8/1) and Jonbon (14/1) also amongst the top contenders.
A full breakdown of John McManus’ potential entries for day 3 at Cheltenham Festival 2026 can be found in the table below:
| Race | Horse | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ryanair Chase | Fact To File | Willie Mullins | 5/2 |
| The Ryanair Chase | Majborough | Willie Mullins | 8/1 |
| The Ryanair Chase | Jonbon | Nicky Henderson | 14/1 |
Day 4: Gold Cup Day - Friday, 13th March 2026
Gold Cup day is always huge in the world of Cheltenham racing and this time around will be no different. McManus is likely to have Dinoblue, 7/2 favourite, in The Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase, before this year's winner Inothewayurthinkin, Fact To File and Lecky Watson potentially face each other in The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A full breakdown of John McManus’ potential entries for day 4 at Cheltenham Festival 2026 can be found in the table below:
| Race | Horse | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase | Dinoblue | Willie Mullins | 7/2 |
| The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup | Inothewayurthinkin | Gavin Cromwell | 7/2 |
| The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup | Fact To File | Willie Mullins | 12/1 |
| The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup | Lecky Watson | Willie Mullins | 25/1 |
Gigginstown House Stud
- Festival wins: 33
- Best year: 2018 (7 wins)
- Gold Cup winners: War of Attrition (2006), Don Cossack (2016)
The Gigginstown House Stud is perhaps the most famous name in horse racing ownership, largely thanks to its owner, Michael O'Leary, the Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair.
With 33 Festival wins, Gigginstown House Stud has proved to be one of the top-performing owners in the history of Cheltenham. The firm secured Gold Cup wins in both 2006 and 2016 with War of Attrition and Don Cossack, respectively and earned the personal record of 7 victories in 2018.
However, it was a victory outside of Cheltenham that gained Gigginstown House Stud the most notoriety. In 2018, Tiger Roll - trained by Gordon Elliot - won the Grand National only to repeat the feat just one year later. He became the first horse to win two consecutive Grand Nationals since Red Rum in 1974.
Although Michael O'Leary is said to be winding down horse racing, there are still plenty of entries into 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Check out the day-by-day breakdown below.
Potential Entries in the 2026 Cheltenham Festival
Day 1: Champion Day - Tuesday, 10th March 2026
Gigginstown House Stud is yet to confirm it's entries for the opening day of the festival, but it seems likely they will have at least two runners, with Brighterdaysahead and Karniquet competing in The Arkle Novices' Chase.
A full breakdown of Gigginstown House Stud’s potential entries for day 1 at Cheltenham Festival 2026 can be found in the table below:
| Race | Horse | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Arkle Novices’ Chase | Brighterdaysahead | Gordon Elliot | 20/1 |
| The Arkle Novices’ Chase | Karniquet | Willie Mullins | 50/1 |
Day 2: Ladies Day - Wednesday, 11th March 2026
There's always plenty of excitement as day 2 rolls around, however the only one of Gigginstown House Stud's horses currently showing odds is Brighterdaysahead again in The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. Make sure to come back to this page closer to the time, as this is extremely likely to change.
A full breakdown of Gigginstown House Stud’s potential entries for day 2 at Cheltenham Festival 2026 can be found in the table below:
| Race | Horse | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase | Brighterdaysahead | Gordon Elliot | 25/1 |
Day 3: St. Patrick’s Thursday - Thursday, 12th March 2026
It's another huge day of racing on St. Patrick's Thursday and the owners are expected to have at least another two contenders with Brighterdaysahead competing in the The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle and Croke Park in The Ryanair Chase.
A full breakdown of Gigginstown House Stud’s potential entries for day 3 at Cheltenham Festival 2026 can be found in the table below:
| Race | Horse | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle | Brighterdaysahead | Gordon Elliot | 16/1 |
| The Ryanair Chase | Croke Park | Gordon Elliot | 66/1 |
Day 4: Gold Cup Day - Friday, 13th March 2026
On the final day of the festival, Gigginstown House Stud could have three runners, one in each of The Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase, The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
A full breakdown of Gigginstown House Stud’s potential entries for day 4 at Cheltenham Festival 2026 can be found in the table below:
| Race | Horse | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase | Brighterdaysahead | Gordon Elliot | 5/1 |
| The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup | Croke Park | Gordon Elliot | 150/1 |
| The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle | He Can’t Dance | Gordon Elliot | 100/1 |
Top Owners Championship Races
Looking at the pattern of owners winning championship races and one race winner is highlighted more than the rest - J. P. McManus.
McManus has won the Champion Hurdle a record 9 times, the most recent of which was in 2020 with Epatante. In 2025, efforts were focused on Inothewayurthinkin, who won the Gold Cup, The New Lion, winner of the Turners Novices' Hurdle and Fact To File, who was victorious in the Ryanair Chase.
A full breakdown of the top owners in each of the championship races can be found in the table below:
Runners & Odds – 2026
| Race | Horse | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| JCB Triumph Hurdle | Wendrock | Gordon Elliott | 66/1 |
| Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle | Patter Merchant | Gordon Elliott | 100/1 |
| Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle | Bleu De Vassy | Gordon Elliott | 40/1 |
| Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle | The Enabler | Gordon Elliott | 40/1 |
| Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase | Conflated | Gordon Elliott | 200/1 |
FAQs About Owners at Cheltenham Festival
Who is the most successful owner at the Cheltenham Festival?
Historically, the most successful owner at the Cheltenham Festival is John P. McManus with a total of 84 wins.
Who owns Galopin Des Champs?
Galopin Des Champs is owned by Mrs Audrey Turley. Other horses running in the Festival owned by Turley include Got Glory, Olympic Man, Argento Boy and Cantico.
Who owns Gigginstown House Stud?
Gigginstown House Stud is owned by the CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary.
How is the prize money split?
Typically, the prize money is split with about 75% going to the owner, and the remaining 25% shared between the trainer, jockey and stable staff.
