The Prestbury Cup is the competition that runs quietly beneath the headline races at Cheltenham, tallying wins for Britain and Ireland across all 28 races of the festival. In 2026, it went down to the very last race of the week, with the prices for today’s runners shifting right up until the final furlong as the balance of power swung back and forth over four dramatic days.
What is the Prestbury Cup
Named after the village closest to Cheltenham Racecourse, the Prestbury Cup is awarded to whichever nation provides the most winning trainers across the festival. It was first contested in 2014, with Britain winning the opening two editions before Ireland began a run of dominance that has continued almost without interruption. The Irish have now won seven consecutive renewals, though 2026 was as close as the competition has been since the two nations finished level in 2019.
Britain starts well
Day one at Cheltenham set the tone for what was to come. Old Park Star gave the home crowd something to cheer with a win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and the Skelton yard added Madara in the Sun Racing Plate before Nicky Henderson’s Holloway Queen rounded off a strong opening session to leave the score level at three apiece. Britain were carrying real momentum, and for the first time in years the Prestbury Cup felt like an open contest.
Ireland take control
Ireland edged ahead on day two and extended that lead through St Patrick’s Thursday, with Willie Mullins driving the charge across both days. Going into the final day, Ireland held an 11-10 advantage, meaning one more British winner would level the contest, and two would give the home side a lead for the first time since the early stages of the week. Britain delivered, with the Skeltons landing the Pertemps with Supremely West and Jonjo and AJ O’Neill combining for a family winner in the County Hurdle with Wilful, keeping the pressure on through every race of the day.
The final race decides it
It came down to the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, the last race of the entire festival. Ireland held a one-winner lead heading in, meaning a British winner would force a draw and an Irish winner would seal the cup. Henry de Bromhead’s Air Of Entitlement, a festival winner 12 months earlier, came through to take the race and give Ireland the Prestbury Cup for the seventh yearrunning, with a final scoreline of 15-13 to the visitors.
What it means going forward
Britain’s 13 winners was their best return since the 14-14 draw in 2019, and the closeness of the contest reflects a real narrowing of the gap between the two nations across the card. Ireland’s advantage still rests heavily on Willie Mullins, who finished as leading trainer for the 13th time with eight winners, but this was a festival where the home side ran them close in a way they have not managed for years. Whether Britain can convert that progress into a first Prestbury Cup win since 2015 remains the biggest question heading into 2027.
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