Five Antepost Tips For The 2025/26 National Hunt Season

There is a difference between ante-post and early horse racing prices. Ante-post racing odds are a longer-term view of betting options on a particular race and we have a range of markets priced up here at William Hill.

Antepost prices are particularly common for major future National Hunt races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Grand National and the top graded races.

Steve Mullington’s Antepost Tips For 2025/26:

• Grand National – HAITI COULEURS @ 16/1 E.W

• Gold Cup – FACT TO FILE @ 12/1 E.W

• Champion Hurdle – CONSTITUTION HILL @ 8/1 E.W

• Arkle Chase – KAWABOOMGA @ 16/1 E.W

• Champion Chase – MARINE NATIONALE @ 4/1 WIN

Here are five antepost betting suggestions for the forthcoming NH season 2025/26:

Grand National

After tremendous wins in last season’s National Hunt Chase and the Irish Grand National, HAITI COULEURS looks the ideal type to run a big race around the Aintree fences next April.

Several before him have done the Irish/English National double, so its no secret that a horse that has already won the Irish edition, invariably has a leading part to play at Aintree too.

Prior to being entered up for Aintree, races like the Charlie Hall, Coral Gold Cup and the Betfair Chase, will all be on the agenda before a Grand National tilt.

Cheltenham Gold Cup

FACT TO FILE’s odds for 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup have been shortening month after month, based mainly upon his dominant victory in the 2025 Ryanair Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has proven form at The Festival, registering two Grade 1 wins, including the 2024 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

He totally dominated the Ryanair Chase, romping away to a nine-length victory, showing a high cruising speed and excellent jumping ability.

Jockey Mark Walsh reckoned there was still plenty of stamina reserves left, meaning there is every reason to believe that a step up to the Gold Cup distance of 3m2½ furlongs, will suit.

Champion Hurdle

Despite a fall at the 2025 Champion Hurdle, CONSTITUTION HILL is a solid fancy for the 2026 renewal.

Nicky Henderson’s star hurdler made an uncharacteristic jumping error in the race, which brought him down and ended his chances of winning the blue-riband event for hurdlers for a second time.

We should hopefully see a revitalised Constitution Hill this season.

Arkle Chase

KAWABOOMGA suffered a training setback just three weeks short of the Cheltenham Festival last year, and was forced to sit out the remainder of that season.

The strong Festival fancy was an impressive maiden hurdle winner over William Munny at Fairyhouse, and had appeared to be among Willie Mullins’ top novices heading over to Prestbury Park. He can make amends this season with a bold showing in the Arkle Chase.

Champion Chase

An obvious starting point for the Queen Mother is the 2025 winner, MARINE NATIONALE, who scored by a slightly misleading 18 lengths after the late departure of his nearest rival.

It was however an excellent effort, and he will be hoping to emulate both Altior and Energumene in doubling up the following season.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*