Cheltenham Festival
Prestbury Cup Predictions: Winner and Winning Score Odds
Most of the focus at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival will be on horses, jockeys, trainers and individual races, but the Prestbury Cup will offer an interesting subplot.
While all trainers will have their eyes on winning races and landing huge prizes, they’ll also be competing for national pride in the background.
What is the Prestbury Cup?
The Prestbury Cup is an annual competition between British and Irish-trained horses at the Cheltenham Festival.
Every race across the four days counts towards the total, with one point awarded to the country where the winning horse is trained. What began as a light-hearted rivalry has grown into a major talking point, particularly in recent years as Irish trainers such as Willie Mullins have dominated the winner’s enclosure.
The competition now adds an extra layer of intrigue for punters, with betting markets readily available on the winning team and scoreline.
History of the Prestbury Cup
The Prestbury Cup, named after the nearest village to Cheltenham Racecourse, has been in play since 2014, when Britain ran out 15-12 victors. In fact, Britain won the first two editions of the competition, but things haven’t gone their way since.
Ireland went on a three-year winning streak from 2016 to 2018, before the first and only tie in 2019, where the Festival ended at 14 races apiece. That was Britain’s last real chance, as it has been a demolition job for the last six years.
The biggest winning margin came back in 2021, when Willie Mullins and co ran riot to take the Prestbury Cup by a whopping 23 wins to five. Since then, scorelines of 18-10, 18-10, 18-9 and 20-8 have all gone in Ireland’s favour, leaving them 9-2 up in the overall standings, with one draw between the teams.
2026 Winner & Winning Score odds
Looking ahead to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, many expect Ireland to make it seven wins in a row and 12 consecutive Festivals unbeaten. The odds have it heavily in their favour as well, with the Irish 1/6 to take him the cup again.
Willie Mullins’ army will play a big part, as he has several well-fancied ante post favourites across the four days. Majborough, Fact To File, Final Demand, Love Sign D’aunou, Bambino Fever, Lossiemouth, Proactif, Murcia, Dinoblue, Doctor Steinberg and Roc Dino are all Non-Runner Money Back favourites for one race or another, not to mention his others with chances at bigger prices.
It’s not only Mullins who poses a threat to the British however as William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell will have around 20 runners heading over, while Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead will also bring strong teams to Prestbury Park.
The shortest price in the Winning Score market currently has Ireland taking it 17-11(9/2), while a repeat of last year’s 20-8 scoreline is a 10/1 chance.
Britain have taken a pounding in the Prestbury Cup for many years now, but there’s a real sense of optimism on their side of the Irish Sea this year as they head into the Festival with a strong hand.
Dan Skelton, Britain’s leading trainer, is having the best season of his career so far and will be the driving force behind British success, which is priced at 5/1. He is the master of the handicaps and has Madara, Kateira, Be Aware and Supremely West at the head of their respective Non-Runner Money Back markets, while The New Lion, L’eau Du Sud, Thistle Ask and Grey Dawning give him live chances in the championship races.
He and Britain’s chances will be bolstered by Nicky Henderson – an ever-present figure in Grade 1 contests at the Festival – with the likes of Old Park Star, Lulamba, Jango Baie and Jonbon all in with a real chance of Grade 1 victories.
Paul Nicholls may not be in his strongest period but he has more Cheltenham Festival winning experience than most and will no doubt bring a strong squad, while Ben Pauling, Olly Murphy, Jamie Snowden and Anthony Honeyball could all chip in towards the British effort.
If they are to get it over the line it is unlikely to be in a canter, and a tightly contested 15-13 victory is their likeliest winning score at 12/1.
