Gordon Elliott returns to the Cheltenham Festival as the fourth most successful trainer in the meeting’s history – and determined to remind everyone of it.The County Meath-based handler has saddled 41 winners at Prestbury Park, an impressive tally given those ahead of him – Willie Mullins (113), Nicky Henderson (75) and Paul Nicholls (50) – all sent out their first Festival winner more than a decade before Elliott struck for the first time.That breakthrough came in 2011 when Chicago Grey landed the National Hunt Chase, with Carlito Brigante also scoring in the Coral Cup. Since then, winning at Cheltenham has become a habit.Elliott was crowned Leading Trainer in both 2017 and 2018, firing in seven and eight winners respectively during a golden spell that saw him go toe-to-toe with Mullins and come out on top.His impressive roll of honour includes Grand National hero Tiger Roll – a five-time Cheltenham Festival winner – 2016 Gold Cup victor Don Cossack and three-time Festival hero Sire Du Berlais.But last year proved a lean one by his standards.Elliott and his team were forced to wait until the final race of the meeting for Wodhooh to strike in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – his sole winner of the week.A rebuild was required. And that rebuild now appears complete. Having finished second to Mullins in the Irish trainers’ championship in each of the last 11 seasons, Elliott currently holds a €470,000 lead in the race to be crowned Ireland’s champion trainer.He is the 8/1 second favourite to claim the Leading Trainer title at Cheltenham this year – and that could represent value, given Elliott believes this is his strongest squad since the 2017-18 era.“We’re probably just getting back to where we were in 2017,” Elliott said. “It took us a long time to rebuild, but that’s what we’ve been trying to do.”Teahupoo heads the market to regain the Stayers’ Hurdle crown he won in 2024 and looks the yard’s leading hope for a Grade 1 success. Wodhooh could return to the scene of last year’s victory in the Mares’ Hurdle, while Brighterdaysahead holds solid claims in an open Champion Hurdle.Gordon Elliott Predicted winners for the Cheltenham FestivalChampion Day (Tuesday, March 10)Champion Hurdle (16:00) – BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD at 7/2 with bet365Ladies Day (Wednesday, March 11)Turner’s Novices’ Hurdle (13:20) – SKYLIGHT HUSTLE at 6/1 with Sky BetGlenfarclas Cross Country Chase (15:20) – FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU at 3/1 with LadbrokesSt. Patrick’s Thursday (Thursday, March 12)Mares Hurdle (14:40) – WODHOOH at 11/10 with bet365Stayers’ Hurdle (15:20) – TEAHUPOO at 2/1 with 247betAs you can see above, I’m predicting Gordon Elliott returns with a bang this year with five winners across the 28-race Festival.Five winners would represent his biggest return since 2020, when he managed seven successes over the four days. That may not be enough to dethrone Mullins, but it would mark significant progress on last year’s solitary victory and support Elliott’s belief that his yard is back to the levels of those glory years.Gordon Elliott Cheltenham Festival WinnersYearRaceHorse2011National Hunt ChaseChicago Grey2011Coral CupCarlito Brigante2013Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap HurdleFlaxen Flare2014Triumph HurdleTiger Roll2015National Hunt ChaseCause of Causes2016Cheltenham Gold CupDon Cossack2016Coral CupDiamond King2016Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge CupCause of Causes2017Champion BumperFayonagh2017Mares’ HurdleApples Jade2017Glenfarclas Cross Country ChaseCause of Causes2017Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap HurdleChampagne Classic2017National Hunt ChaseTiger Roll2017Supreme Novices’ HurdleLabaik2018Ballymore Novices’ HurdleSamcro2018Plate Handicap ChaseThe Storyteller2018Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap HurdleVeneer of Charm2018Glenfarclas Cross Country ChaseTiger Roll2018Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap HurdleBlow By Blow2018Pertemps FinalDelta Work2018Triumph HurdleFarclas2018Golden Miller Novices’ ChaseShattered Love2019Champion BumperEnvoi Allen2019Glenfarclas Cross Country ChaseTiger Roll2019Pertemps FinalSire Du Berlais2020Ballymore Novices’ HurdleEnvoi Allen2020Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap HurdleAramax2020Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge CupMilan Native2020National Hunt ChaseRavenhill2020Pertemps FinalSire Du Berlais2020Golden Miller Novices’ ChaseSamcro2020Johnny Henderson Grand Annual ChaseChosen Mate2022Coral CupCommander of Fleet2022Glenfarclas Cross Country ChaseDelta Work2023Boodles Juvenile Handicap HurdleJazzy Matty2023Glenfarclas Cross Country ChaseDelta Work2023Paddy Power Stayers’ HurdleSire Du Berlais2024Paddy Power Stayers’ HurdleTeahupoo2024Albert Bartlett Novices’ HurdleStellar Story2024Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap HurdleBetter Days Ahead2025Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap HurdleWodhoohOur Cheltenham 2026 tips and guidesCheltenham free betsCheltenham 2026 ante-post tipsCheltenham 2026 horses to watchCheltenham 2026 betting trends & statsWillie Mullins Cheltenham winnersHow to bet on CheltenhamAbout the authorNathan HillNathan Hill is an experienced sports writer who obsessively follows football – both the round ball and American kind – as well as range of other sports including F1, basketball, darts and snooker.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.orgRemember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGambleAware – www.gambleaware.orgFind our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.Most read in BettingFulham vs West Ham predictions and betting tips - Can Wilson halt Hammers?Brighton & Hove Albion vs Arsenal predictions & betting tips - Another test in title raceWolves v Liverpool super boost: Get EVS on an Ekitike shot on target with bet365Get £40 in free bets with Ladbrokes ahead of Bournemouth vs BrentfordPaysafeCard Casino Sites: Find the Best Paysafe Casinos in UK (March 2026)Best early payout betting sites for March 2026