- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,255,745
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most prestigious race of the British and Irish jump-racing season and the centrepiece of the Cheltenham Festival.
Galopin Des Champs, a two-time winner of the race, has been ruled out after suffering a setback in his work at home at Closutton. The news prompted bookmakers to install fellow Willie Mullins chaser Gaelic Warrior as the race favourite amongst the confirmed runners.
- Date of the Gold Cup
- Last year’s winner
- List of this year’s entries
- Course guide
- Prize money
- Ticket prices and how to get them
When is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The race itself is on Friday, March 13, 2026, the culmination of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, which runs from Tuesday, March 10, until the Friday.
Who won last year?
Inothewayurthinkin was victorious in 2025, denying Galopin Des Champs a historic third victory in a row.
List of this year’s entries
Horses listed in odds order from bet365
4.
Gaelic Warrior
Won a terrific battle with Fact To File for the John Durkhan Chase, which may have left a mark in the King George, but he was still a close third with every chance at the last. Patrick Mullins predicted this horse would win a Gold Cup at the end of last season and I'd agree with him, if he ever learns to settle.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 10lb
Trainer
WP Mullins
Jockey
Paul Townend
Expert rating
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
WP Mullins
Jockey
Paul Townend
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
2.
The Jukebox Man
Winner of the King George who, in theory, should be better suited by Cheltenham than Kempton. Looked beaten at the last so to get back up on the short run-in at Kempton was a great effort. It is a surprise Harry Redknapp's gelding is not favourite for the race.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 10lb
Trainer
Ben Pauling
Jockey
Ben Jones
Expert rating
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Ben Pauling
Jockey
Ben Jones
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
1.
Jango Baie
Last year's Arkle winner in an extraordinary race when he looked to have no chance at the second last. Stamina was always going to be his forte. A close fourth in the King George, when he did not quite have the run of the race of The Jukebox Man, running on again late, suggesting the Gold Cup trip and course would suit.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 10lb
Trainer
Nicky Henderson
Jockey
Nico de Boinville
Expert rating
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Nicky Henderson
Jockey
Nico de Boinville
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
6.
Haiti Couleurs
Last year's National Hunt Chase and Irish National winner. Put an inexplicably bad run in the Betfair behind him when proving the class act in the Welsh National by lumping 11st 13lb to victory. The Welsh National used to be a tried-and-tested route to the Gold Cup. This horse is a class act and has a serious chance of becoming the first Welsh-trained winner since Norton's Coin in 1990. A Denman Chase win over L'Homme Presse at Newbury did not prove any more than he is currently in good shape.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 10lb
Trainer
Rebecca Curtis
Jockey
Sean Bowen
Expert rating
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Rebecca Curtis
Jockey
Sean Bowen
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
7.
Inothewayurthinkin
The defending champ. He looks a spring horse having won at Cheltenham the last two seasons but has not quite set the world on fire in the lead up to it. Some very ordinary runs so far this season, and a heavy fall when tired, and tailed off in the Irish Gold Cup. Must have been catching pigeons at home since then, because a lot of people have been backing him for a repeat. Has been there and got the t-shirt but trainer's yard is still only firing on three cylinders. It looks to me a considerable leap of faith.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 10lb
Trainer
Gavin Cromwell
Jockey
Mark Walsh
Expert rating
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Gavin Cromwell
Jockey
Mark Walsh
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
8.
Grey Dawning
There was a slight doubt about his stamina until he won this season's Betfair Chase with a brilliant hold-up ride from Harry Skelton. He did win the Turners at the Festival over two and a half and could be ridden like a non-trier in the Gold Cup to get home. Finished third in the Cotswold Chase after making a mistake at the second last, the moment critique, behind Spillane's Tower and L'Homme Presse, not exactly enhancing the grey's Gold Cup claims.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 10lb
Trainer
Dan Skelton
Jockey
Harry Skelton
Expert rating
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Dan Skelton
Jockey
Harry Skelton
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
9.
Spillane's Tower
Runner up to Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup last spring but, really, it was a one-horse race from two out and he was beaten 22 lengths. Got the stiff three miles when winning a well-run Cotswold Chase a shade cosily last time out, he could be the dark horse among those carrying the green and gold silks of JP McManus, especially as spared a hard race at the Dublin Racing Festival.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 10lb
Trainer
James Joseph Mangan
Jockey
Harry Cobden
Expert rating
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
James Joseph Mangan
Jockey
Harry Cobden
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
13.
Envoi Allen
Good old stager who has won nearly £850k in prize-money. Regularly wins Down Royal's Champion Chase in November and while he gets three miles he probably doesn't see out the Gold Cup trip. Aged 12, he would have to be considered a bit long in the tooth for a Gold Cup now.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 10lb
Trainer
Henry de Bromhead
Jockey
Darragh O'Keeffe
Expert rating
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Henry de Bromhead
Jockey
Darragh O'Keeffe
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
19.
Firefox
Well beaten in the novice handicap over two-and-a-half miles at last year's Festival. Stamina and ability both question marks for a race like this, but appeared to stay on quite well to pick up fourth behind Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup. Still a long shot.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 10lb
Trainer
Gordon Elliott
Jockey
Jack Kennedy
Expert rating
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Gordon Elliott
Jockey
Jack Kennedy
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
23.
L'Homme Presse
Fourth to Galopin Des Champs a couple of years ago. A good old stick who likes Cheltenham, but you would have to say he is not going to be improving much, aged 11. A good second behind Spillane's Tower in the Cotswold Chase, and Haiti Couleurs in the Denman. I suppose if he goes off at 50-1 or bigger, he wouldn't be the worst each-way shot of all time.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 3lb
Trainer
Venetia Williams
Jockey
Charlie Deutsch
Expert rating
Weight
11st 3lb
Trainer
Venetia Williams
Jockey
Charlie Deutsch
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
29.
Gold Tweet
The sole French entry. Gave his trainer a big day when winning the Cleeve Hurdle at the course. Hard to compare his French form with British and Irish, but you'd have to say this is tilting at windmills now.
You must be registered for see images
Expert rating
11st 3lb
Trainer
Gabriel Leenders
Jockey
Clement Lefebvre
Expert rating
Weight
11st 3lb
Trainer
Gabriel Leenders
Jockey
Clement Lefebvre
You must be registered for see images
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Claim a free bet
18+ only, T&Cs apply
Cheltenham Gold Cup course guide
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is now run on the New Course at Cheltenham, a 3 mile 2½ furlong (3m 2f 70y) left-handed steeplechase featuring 22 fences. While the Old Course suits quicker horses who like to sit close to the pace, the New Course presents a far stiffer test of stamina with a longer, more testing run-in up the hill.
This does not count out front-runners in a Gold Cup but it does mean horses have more time to utilise stamina late in races.
What is the prize-money for the Gold Cup?
The total prize-fund for the race is £625,000, with £351,687 going to the winner. After that the second will receive £132,500, the third £66,312, the fourth £33,125, the fifth £16,625, the sixth £8,312, the seventh £4,125 and the eighth £2,125.
Ticket prices and how to get them
Tickets can be purchased via The Jockey Club official website.
- Club Enclosure tickets for Gold Cup day cost from £127, or from £149 at the gate.
- Tattersalls Enclosure costs £89, or £113 at the gate.
- Best Mate Enclosure is £71, or £89 at the gate.
- The Guinness Grandstand costs £58.
- The Racing Lounge will set you back £105, while the Racecourse View is £110.
Multi-day tickets for the Club, Tattersalls and Best Mate enclosures are already sold out.
Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
Continue reading...
