Which horses are unlikely to make the 2026 Cheltenham Festival?

The Cheltenham Festival is now but a fortnight away and, while dreams of glory in the Cotswolds are inching ever closer for some, others are seeing their hopes of glory on racing's biggest stage torn away.

The Cheltenham Festival is the biggest four days in the jumps racing calendar and winning a race there means everything.

It is not, however, the be-all-and-end-all, ensuring some connections will prefer instead to wait for the likes of the major spring festivals at Fairyhouse, Aintree and Punchestown instead, where things may be better tailored to satisfying their quest for big-race success.

Here we are looking at some horses we are unlikely to see at Cheltenham in March, for one reason or another, with the likes of Sir Gino Jasmin De Vaux State Man and Caldwell Potter already amongst those missing out because of season-ending injuries.

Narciso Has

The highest-profile absentee so far. Willie Mullins' rising star was a hot favourite to win the Triumph Hurdle and he rubber-stamped his credentials at the Dublin Racing Festival earlier this month.

Owner JP McManus has a powerful team bound for the Cotswolds but this 4YO isn't going to be amongst them.

He met a setback at home and Mullins told Sporting Life: "We will have to see what it means for the remainder of the season, but for now he's not going to make the trip to Cheltenham."

Kabral Du Mathan

Dan Skelton is roaring towards his first trainers' title and it appears as though nothing can stop him now. After transferring from Paul Nicholls' team last summer, Kabral Du Mathan has impressively landed a Haydock handicap and the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

The Stayers' Hurdle is his festival option but his trainer appears loath to step him to three-miles just yet.

He skipped the National Spirit at Fontwell this weekend and the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle over two-and-a-half-miles is starting to look much more likely despite odds of around 10/1 for the Stayers' Hurdle.

La Luna Artista

Trainer Jane Williams would have been thrilled to see her filly La Luna Artista winning the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton Saturday for owners The Culverhill Racing Club.

The Spanish Moon filly is now 2-3 over timber and looks progressive. She was particularly well suited by Kempton's flat track and while she's entered in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham the Grade 1 Anniversary at Aintree probably looks a better option at this remove.

Highland Crystal

Gordon Elliott is enjoying a stellar season and the Cullentra handler has a chance of dethroning Willie Mullins as champion trainer in Ireland, though he will need a big finish.

Elliott has a strong team gearing up for Cheltenham but has cautioned that his unbeaten juvenile hurdler Highland Crystal might swerve the Cotswolds.

The Robcour-owned daughter of Crystal Ocean made it 3-3 over hurdles with a gutsy success at Naas in early February. Elliott, perhaps with one eye on prize money at home, suggested afterwards she isn't certain to make it to Cheltenham.

"She's probably more of a Fred Winter filly really but we'll see what mark she gets," said Elliott.

"She could maybe be a filly that we keep for Fairyhouse over two-and-a-half miles, it might suit her better."