Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham Gold Cup Preview 2026
All good things must come to an end, but the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at least goes out with a bang on Friday afternoon. Topping the bill on another outstanding seven-race card is the classiest staying chase of the National Hunt season, bar none.
First run in 1924, the 100+ year history of the Cheltenham Gold Cup is peppered with some of the most memorable moments in the sport. From Best Mate winning the race for a third time in 2004, to Kauto Star regaining his title in 2009, and on to the momentous Native River vs Might Bite clash in 2018, this 3m2½f contest invariably serves up a treat.
The race also presents punters with one last chance to back a winner in one of the four signature events of the meeting. Never ones to let the Gold Cup pass by without having a bet, here’s where our cash is going in 2026.
King George Key Form Race
While not always the strongest Gold Cup trial – no horse has won both races in the same season since Kauto Star in 2006/07 – the odds suggest that the King George VI Chase from Kempton holds the key to this year’s race.
First, third, and fourth in the Boxing Day showpiece, The Jukebox Man, Gaelic Warrior, and Jango Baie were separated by only half a length at the line and occupy the top three positions in the Gold Cup market.
With Willie Mullins in his corner, Gaelic Warrior just edges favouritism on what will be his fourth Cheltenham Festival appearance. The only success from those three outings came when running away with the 2024 Arkle Chase, and he has yet to race over quite this far. However, he produced a big performance to land the Aintree Bowl over 3m1f last season and gives the impression he will stay.
In what could be a good race for former Arkle winners, Nicky Henderson’s 2025 Arkle champ, Jango Baie, is fancied by many to reverse the form with his King George conquerors. Like Gaelic Warrior, this is a step into the unknown in regard to the trip, but he hit the line well at Kempton, and his course form is a plus.
Rounding out the trio at the head of the market is the horse who delighted owner Harry Redknapp with that famous Kempton success. Much was made of the way Jango Baie finished the King George, but we were equally impressed by The Jukebox Man. Swamped on both sides over the last, he could easily have folded, only to find more to get back up in the shadow of the post. Mugged on the line in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on his only previous Festival appearance, he has plenty in his favour.
Couleurs to Win it for Wales?
The Welsh Grand National has provided a useful stepping stone towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup in recent times, with Synchronised and Native River both winning the Chepstow highlight before going on to grab gold.
Bidding to follow in their hoofprints in 2026 is the Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs. Another previous festival winner, this son of Dragon Dancer advertised his stamina when claiming the 2025 National Hunt Challenge Cup over 3m6f. Showing that to be no fluke, he rounded off last season with a win in the Irish Grand National. Touted as a Gold Cup contender ahead of the current season, those plans suffered a blow when pulled up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. However, he rebounded in style to win the Welsh Grand National and followed up with a comfortable success in the Denman Chase at Newbury. Proven at the track and with no stamina concerns, there’s lots to like about his chance.
Don’t Forget the Champ
Ordinarily, a horse arriving with form figures of 5-9-F wouldn’t make the Gold Cup shortlist – particularly with those two defeats coming by a combined 94 lengths. However, Inothewayurthinkin wasn’t exactly flying ahead of the 2025 edition (form figures of 7-5-4), but that didn’t stop him slamming two-time champ Galopin Des Champs by 6 lengths.
The money for the horse suggests a big run is expected, and we certainly wouldn’t rule it out, with Gavin Cromwell being an expert at getting his stars to peak on the big day. However, the 2025 Gold Cup looked like a weak renewal, with a horse who has never won a Grade 1 taking third. Runner-up Galopin Des Champs, meanwhile, was below his best on the day and arguably hasn’t shown his best form since.
Grey Dawning Best of the Rest?
Among those available at double-figure prices, Grey Dawning brings the highest rating to the table. The 2024 Turners Novice Chase winner kicked off his season with a win in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, but blew his chance with a mistake at the second last in the Cotswold Chase last time. The reopposing Spillane’s Tower came out on top that day and looked good value for his ¾l success. Nicely bred and sporting the JP McManus silks, he may have more to come, and that course win is a big positive.
Best Bets: The Jukebox Man to call the Tune
The more we watch that King George race back, the more we believe The Jukebox Man would have won more impressively over an additional two furlongs. Around a ½l behind Gaelic Warrior and Banbridge after the last, it was some effort to get back up and split those rivals on the line. That Albert Bartlett run was also an excellent effort considering he made all the running in heavy ground and only lost due to a clumsy leap at the last. He’s the one for us in an open renewal.
- Recommended Bet - The Jukebox Man to Win @ 4/1 with bet365
History is littered with horses who have suddenly improved from zero to hero at the Cheltenham Festival, and it would hardly be a surprise to see Inothewayurthinkin go close again. However, the horse we fear most is Haiti Couleurs, who boasts an appealing mix of class, stamina, and course form. He can fill the forecast, while the best each-way value lies with the strapping Spillane’s Tower, who has more to offer at this level.
- Recommended Bet - Spillane’s Tower each-way @ 14/1 with Ladbrokes
- Forecast Prediction - 1st: The Jukebox Man, 2nd: Haiti Couleurs
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