AUTHOR: Star Sports Content
STAR RACING PREVIEW Fri: Cheltenham Gold Cup 2026
This year’s Cheltenham Festival has been amongst the most competitive many can remember and Gold Cup day is filled with seven hotly contested races, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.
As has been the case all week, we have wide open races in big fields with plenty of value on offer for those who can find winners – and also softer ground after 12mm of rain hit the track overnight, meaning ground conditions should be perfect for all. The going on the hurdles course is softer than the chase, and at the moment the sun is shining at Cheltenham.
There have been swings in the battle between the on-course team and the punters all week – read about it all in Simon Nott’s day 3 betting blog:
Harry Skelton has been in the thick of things all week, and he’s got another strong book of rides on the final day, including Gold Cup contender Grey Dawning:
🏆 STAR SPORTS RACING MARKETS 🏆
🏆 1:20 Cheltenham – JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m1f
A wide open Triumph in the absence of Narciso Has, who would have been a short price favourite had he made it here. Proactif’s smooth defeat of Macho Man at Fairyhouse marked him down as a fine prospect (Fred Winter fifth Quina Do Lago in third, nine and a half lengths behind), and both should improve here with decent ground not a major worry. It’s not hard to like the chances of Proactif, who’s also handled a big field before, but the market has already spoken with regard to his chances.
Selma De Vary had been busy in France over the winter before joining Willie Mullins and then finishing second at the Dublin Racing Festival behind Narciso Has, making plenty of eye-catching late ground up the straight with Manage Tout (goes to Aintree) and North Shore behind her. She might not step forward as much, but that makes her arguably the form pick here and she won’t be far away.
Highland Crystal’s defeat of Fred Winter winner Saratoga (gave 7lbs) now looks extremely strong form and she’s got to have a serious chance for Robcour and Gordon Elliott.
British Hopes Minella Study and Maestro Conti have impressed in their trial wins – the form of both was boosted in the Fred Winter as well.
There’s a Mullins battalion here, including Minella Academy, Apolon de Charnie, Kai Lung, Mon Creuset and Forty Fifty. All are nice prospects although Apolon De Charnie and Forty Fifty are held on French form, Minella Academy won a very weak race on debut and Mon Creuset hit the second last hard behind Kai Lung on his debut. Of those prospect, Kai Lung is the most appealing.
🏆 2:00 Cheltenham – William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) 2m1f
Always one of the highest quality handicaps of the week and two are standout against the field. Ten of the last 11 renewals have gone to Willie Mullins (six) and Dan Skelton (four) and they are the source of today’s selections. Murcia improved hand over fist at the end of last season, looking a different horse to the one who finished eighth in the Fred Winter when taking the Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle and finishing a creditable fourth in the Punchestown Juvenile Champion Hurdle. Her two runs this season have been a low key comeback at Fairyhouse when the run was clearly needed and then a hugely eye-catching fourth at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Sinnatra has run nothing but good races over hurdles, bumping into Morebattle winner Captain Hugo on debut and then Turners’ Novice Hurdle second Act Of Innocence next time out at Newbury. Following a nice confidence booster, he was third in the Sidney Banks (Act of Innocence again the winner) with the runner-up Glance of Midnight having finished second to Old Park Star here in January to boot. After another easy win at Warwick he should be spot on here and he’s the chosen nominee (star ambassador Harry Skelton rides) for the UK’s top handicap yard.
The fact Paul Townend picks Karbau is a serious sign for his chances, whilst Secret Squirrel has some top class handicap form which gives him a serious shout off 133 after his comeback run in the Kingwell. Wilful has some of the best handicap form in the country, whilst Absurde won this 2024 and was third last year, so has to be respected, although he’d probably want this ground to dry out.
🏆 2:40 Cheltenham – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) 2m4½f
Last year’s winner Dinoblue will be popular once again after two easy wins and she’s the one to beat, although the rapidly progressive Panic Attack and stablemate Spindleberry can throw it down to her in a big way here.
Spindleberry blotted her copybook in the Irish Gold Cup, but before that had looked incredibly progressive, getting the better of Bioluminescence before beating Firefox and Champ Kiely in the WillowWarm Gold Cup, and until Leopardstown she’d had the perfect season. If she can find an early rhythm here, there’s a strong argument to suggest she should be closer to Dinoblue in the betting and she may be the value.
Don’t rule out Diva Luna, who has been a natural over fences in her two novice starts, not Only By Night, although it remains to be seen if she wants this distance, having been all speed last year. July Flower has been solid over fences so far but has been happier back in trip, Telepathique has six and a half lengths to make up with Spindleberry and All The Glory and Piper Park have plenty to make up.
🏆 3:20 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 3m
Doctor Steinberg was a wildly impressive winner of the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival with Kazansky eight lengths back, and he’s got a fine chance here. However, his speed is as notable as his stamina, and if he is as keen going today as he has been then there’s a worry that a real slog here could make him vulnerable.
He got the better of Thedeviluno in a slowly run four-runner Navan Novice Hurdle that turned into a dash to the line, and since then, Paul Nolan’s runner has run out an impressive winner of the River Don at Doncaster, impressing more the further that he went to the line. This test is sure to suit him on that basis; he’s tactically versatile and it would be no surprise if he got a lot closer to Doctor Steinberg than he did the last time out.
The Passing Wife goes here rather than the Martin Pipe, a sign of faith from Gavin Cromwell in his stamina (going up from 2m3f, having trashed Doctor Du Mesnil last time) and then his ability (had mark of 143, and was well fancied for the Martin Pipe).
This is a race that does see big-priced winners, so don’t dismiss King’s Bucks, Hipop De Loire, Kripticjim and Espresso Milan. Mondoui’boy has impressed trainer Ben Pauling a lot in his wins and along with Moneygarrow is one of many likely contenders.
🏆 4:00 Cheltenham – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 3m2½f
A wide open renewal with only – sadly – Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File – absent from the field.
The key piece of form looks to be the King George, where The Jukebox Man got the better of Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie in a heads-up and heads-down finish that enthralled racing fans and punters alike. All three of them have to be given a serious chance here but the visual impression left there was that Jango Baie would relish a step up in trip and he’s a fairly strong selection to take the Blue Riband.
The winner of the Arkle, when jumping errors and a pace meltdown did benefit him, he has since romped home in the Noel Chase at Ascot before finishing a closing fourth in the King George, when he arguably hit the line hardest of the other contenders here in what was a slowly run race by the King George standards. His stamina for today is not confirmed – the King George is the furthest he’s gone – but he hit the line hardest of any contender that day, loves the Cheltenham Hill, is a sound jumper, and today will get all the time he needs to deliver his challenge. Tactically, he can also sit prominently if needs be, a major benefit for him.
The Jukebox Man has been unbeaten in his chasing career, winning easily twice as a novice before a smooth success over Iroko and then grabbing the King George in the final strides. The way he rallied back would suggest that he can thrive over this extra distance, but the way he was caught by Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett, albeit on heavy ground as a novice hurdler, might give some doubt.
Gaelic Warrior has found his happy zone as a staying chaser, taking the Aintree Bowl last year from Grey Dawning in comprehensive fashion, landing the Oaksey Chase afterwards, winning a thrilling John Durkan on his reappearance and then just losing out in the King George. There was no shame in his clear second to Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup (Firefox fourth), although on that occasion, he failed to settle properly, which would be a big negative here. A strong gallop will help his chance – some have suggested he might have won the King George if he’d strode on earlier or there had been more pace – and he’s got a big chance for all that he must not run his race too early.
Overnight rain is a joy for connections of Spillane’s Tower, who was back to form when he took the Cotswold Chase on Trials Day (Grey Dawning third after a bad mistake two out), and he’s respected here although he was getting 6lbs from L’Homme Presse, who only gave away late and was then smashed by Haiti Couleurs at Newbury in the Denman Chase.
Haiti Couleurs remarkable improvement last year included a dominant win in the National Hunt Chase before Irish National success, and he bounced back from a Betfair Chase no show to land the Welsh National and then dominate the Denman Chase. The overnight rain will benefit him more than most and there’s very little not to like given that Sean Bowen can press on without fear.
Inothewayurthinkin was a stunning winner of this last year after eye-catching but lower key runs beforehand at Christmas and the Dublin Racing Festival. That form would make him the one to beat here but this season he’s run two disappointing races in both those contests, looking exhausted in the Irish Gold Cup when falling at the last. Market support over the last week is positive although one could argue this is a better renewal – Galopin Des Champs wasn’t at his best last year.
Grey Dawning has been trained for this all year, with a smooth Betfair Chase win followed by a tune-up in the Cotswold Chase. He’s ready to leave those efforts behind but he has to find three lengths with Gaelic Warrior from their Aintree Bowl meeting and will need to reach a career best today. He’s had the right preparation to do so but an extra leap is needed. Gold Tweet is a useful hurdler and chaser in France but he emptied out late when third in the Prix la Haye Jousselin (was placed second after a DSQ), and he was soundly beaten in the 2024 Betfair Chase on his last British start.
Envoi Allen is the last horse mentioned here but it’s a case of last but not least, as he’s a 10 time Grade 1 winner, including the Down Royal Champion Chase, and he’s won three times at the Cheltenham Festival. For the last two years he’s been beaten in the Ryanair however, and at this level this looks beyond him.
🏆 4:40 Cheltenham – Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase 3m2½f
Those who are looking for an in-depth guide could do worse than read Darran Pearce’s fine preview, which is linked below.
Click or tap here for Darran’s Full Foxhunters preview:
A number have serious chances, including last year’s 1-2 Wonderwall and Its On The Line, and the most appealing selection is Panda Boy, who is enjoying his new career with two impressive wins at Thurles and Naas, getting the better of quality opposition on both occasions. A classy handicap chaser – he was 11/1 for the Grand National just two seasons ago – he can make a bold bid for Martin Brassil.
JJ O’Shea has a fine hunter record especially around here and his contenders Barton Snow and Gracchus De Balme are worth taking notice of.
🏆 5:20 Cheltenham – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) 2m4½f
These words will have been written so many times this week but Gordon Elliot and Willie Mullins have an incredible record between them with eight of the last 17 runnings going to either trainer. Willie Mullins has the better-looking hand of the pair and his Jump Allen gets the vote on the strength of his late handicap form from last season, finishing a solid second to Quebecois at Ayr before landing a well-contested handicap hurdle on the last day of the Jumps season at Sandown.
That race has worked out very well, with five next time out winners in behind, and his charity race victory might be the ideal fitness tune up for this target. A mark of 133 is very fair on his Sandown form and he’s got a strong each/way chance of ending the meeting in style for Willie Mullins.
RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Selma De Vary in the 1.20 Cheltenham 1pt win at 5/1 (🏆
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BACK Sinnatra in the 2.00 Cheltenham 1pt each/way at 11/2 (🏆
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BACK Murcia in the 2.00 Cheltenham 1pt each/way at 9/1 (🏆
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BACK Spindleberry in the 2.40 Cheltenham 1pt win at 11/2 (🏆
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BACK Thedeviluno in the 3.20 Cheltenham 1pt each/way at 6/1 (🏆
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BACK Jango Baie in the 4.00 Cheltenham 3 pts win at 7/2 (🏆
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BACK Panda Boy in the 4.40 Cheltenham 1 pt win at 9/2 (🏆
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BACK Jump Allen in the 5.20 Cheltenham 1 pt each/way at 17/2 (🏆
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PROFIT/LOSS (MAR 2026): -33.90 points
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