For early value before the festival, see our Cheltenham 2026 ante-post betting tips covering all four championship races and key supporting events.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL RACECARD – DAY 4 – FRIDAY 13th MARCH 2026
The feature race on Day 4 and the culmination of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival is The Boodles Gold Cup, and what a race we have in prospect this time around.
The Blue Riband has seen some amazing performances down the years. Who can forget the mighty Arkle, and modern-day great Kauto Star. And who can forget the embrace between ex-jockey Terry Biddlecombe and his partner Henrietta Knight after Best Mate, another triple-winning Gold Cup hero came to prominence?
It’s an interesting day and one that in the past has produced some very big-priced winners, an ideal scenario for placing a Heinz or Lucky 63 on six races or going for the jackpot and placing a Super Heinz on seven races.
- 13:20 The JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 14:00 The County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)
- 14:40 The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
- 15:20 The Paddy Power Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1)
- 16:00 The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
- 16:40 The Festival Hunters’ Chase
- 17:20 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Just writing the names of these horses gets me tingling with excitement about what is to come at the Cotswold theatre of dreams. But let’s shift from nostalgia to numbers, and get stuck into the form for this Cheltenham Festival Preview Day 4 analysis.
13:20 THE JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
The first race of the day is The Triumph Hurdle, and it looks like being a proper Willie Mullins benefit this year. The master of Closutton has three of the top four in the betting and looks likely to land this for the umpteenth time.
This is the race for four-year-olds and it is an important trial for next year’s Champion Hurdle. Last year’s winner Lossiemouth has already run in the Champion Hurdle earlier in the week, and the 2026 winner could well follow a similar trajectory.
The market is dominated by Narciso Has, a son of Doctor Dino who won the Grade 1 juvenile at the Dublin Racing Festival by six lengths, giving 7lbs to Gordon Elliott’s Mange Tout. That performance on yielding ground was seriously impressive, and he looks the one to beat. Mullins also runs Proactif and Macho Man, both dual-entered in the Supreme, which gives you an idea of the quality on offer.
Elliott’s Mange Tout is an interesting filly who actually beat Narciso Has at Fairyhouse before the tables were turned at Leopardstown. She’ll need to reverse the form again, but she’s clearly talented and shouldn’t be dismissed.
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RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
This looks like a two-horse race on paper between Narciso Has and Mange Tout, with the Mullins colt holding all the aces after that Dublin Racing Festival demolition job. The form of that race is rock solid, and while he was giving weight to his rivals, he did it in style.
Mange Tout has the benefit of being a filly receiving the sex allowance, but she needs to find significant improvement to reverse Leopardstown form. The ground will be key – if it’s soft or heavy, Narciso Has has proven he handles it brilliantly.
Proactif and Macho Man are interesting outsiders from the Mullins yard, but it’s hard to see past the favourite here. At 2/1, he’s no value whatsoever, but if you’re looking for a solid foundation for a multiple, he’s your horse.
FORM PICK
NARCISO HAS 2/1 looks a class act and should take plenty of beating. The six-length victory at the Dublin Racing Festival was the performance of a proper horse, and Willie Mullins knows how to win this race. He’s won it seven times in the last fifteen years, and Narciso Has looks like adding another.
For those looking for a bit of value, MANGE TOUT 5/1 EW is worth an each-way play. She beat the favourite once before and Gordon Elliott’s juveniles always come here in top form. The 7lb sex allowance is a genuine help over this trip.
14:00 The County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)
The second race of the day is The County Hurdle, one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the week. Run over two miles, it is a speed test and always attracts a large field of runners who fancy their chances.
Over the past few seasons, we have seen a couple of favourites successful, but more often than not, punters should be looking for double-figure prices. This race has thrown up some cracking results for those prepared to dig deep into the form.
One statistic that jumps out is that Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton have won four of the last eight renewals each. That’s an incredible record and shows the level of firepower these two yards bring to the handicaps. Skelton in particular has made this race his own, and you can guarantee he’ll have a strong hand again this year.
The market is still forming as trainers assess their options, but once the final declarations are published, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the form. This is a race where course form, recent runs at the track, and pace angles all come into play. Look for horses that have shown they can handle the Cheltenham hill and have a touch of class about them.
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RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
The County Hurdle is always one of the most fiercely competitive handicaps of the week, and 2026 looks no different. With a big field expected and the handicapper doing his best to level the playing field, this is a race where form study really pays dividends.
The key trends show that you want a horse rated between 140-150, ideally with course form and carrying between 10st 7lbs and 11st 7lbs. Horses that have run well at the Festival before have a definite edge, and those that have shown their best form left-handed are also favoured.
Dan Skelton’s four wins in the last eight years cannot be ignored. He brings serious ammunition to this race every year and his horses are always primed to peak at Cheltenham. Similarly, Mullins has the depth of quality to find a well-handicapped runner who can take advantage.
Look for horses that have been campaigned with this race in mind – those that haven’t been over-raced and are coming here fresh with their handicap mark still workable. The two-mile trip at Cheltenham is a unique test, and experience of the track is invaluable.
FORM PICK
Final selections will be posted once declarations are confirmed. This is a race where late market moves can be significant, and we’ll be watching the betting patterns closely. Given the Skelton and Mullins dominance, any runner from either yard that shows strong support in the market deserves serious respect.
Look for horses with a bit of class dropping down into handicap company or progressive types that have been campaigned specifically for this target. An each-way combination tricast could be the way to play this one if you can identify three solid contenders.
14:40 The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
The Mares’ Chase has moved to a new slot on Gold Cup Day for 2026, swapping places with the Albert Bartlett in the schedule. It’s still sponsored by Paddy Power and features some of the best mares chasers in training.
This race has been dominated by Willie Mullins in recent years, and 2026 looks like being no different. His star mare Dinoblue comes here as the defending champion after an emphatic victory twelve months ago. She’s had two easy wins in mares-only company this season and looks rock solid at around 15/8.
The interesting challenger is Found A Fifty, who actually beat Dinoblue in the Fortria Chase on seasonal debut. That form gives her claims at around 4/1, though Dinoblue had excuses that day and has looked much sharper since.
Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack is an improving staying chaser who could be thrown into the mix at a bigger price. She’s progressive and the step up to this level might not be beyond her, especially if the ground rides testing.
This is a race where the favourite has a strong record. Mullins saddled the winner in the first two runnings of this race, and though Colm Murphy’s Impervious broke the Closutton stranglehold last year, Dinoblue brought it straight back. The master trainer knows how to prepare his mares for the Festival, and Dinoblue looks the one to beat.
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
Dinoblue’s form this season has been flawless in mares-only company. She’s won twice with minimal fuss and looks to have strengthened over the summer. The question mark against her is that defeat to Found A Fifty back in October, but she was reportedly not at her best that day and has improved significantly since.
Found A Fifty clearly has the beating of the favourite on that Fortria Chase form, but she’s been off since November and there are question marks about whether she’s been kept fresh enough for this assignment. If she turns up in the same form as that day at Navan, she’s a massive danger.
Panic Attack is the each-way play for those looking for a bit of value. Dan Skelton’s mare is progressive and has been climbing the ratings all season. She might just be a year away from being a real contender at this level, but at 8/1 she’s worth an interest in case she runs above herself.
FORM PICK
DINOBLUE 15/8 looks the solid selection. She’s a class mare who has won this race before and comes here in tremendous form. Willie Mullins has her spot on for another Festival tilt, and while the price isn’t generous, she should take plenty of beating.
For the each-way players, PANIC Attack 8/1 EW could be the one to fill the places. She’s improving with every run and Dan Skelton knows how to get his horses ready for the big occasion.
15:20 THE Paddy Power Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
The appetiser before the main event is the staying hurdle for novice hurdlers and in past years has been a race for slightly lower-grade runners rated in the 140s. This is a proper stamina test over three miles, and it often throws up horses who go on to become top-class staying chasers.
This is a race that has definitely thrown up its fair share of shocks over the years, so looking for an unexposed and big-priced runner can pay dividends. The race has moved to a new slot on the card for 2026, now running at 15:20 as the direct precursor to the Gold Cup.
The market this year is wide open with several horses dual-entered across different races. I’ll Sort That could run here or in the Turners, while No Drama This End is another with options. Dan Skelton has a strong hand with both Moneygarrow and Dalston Lad entered, and you can bet he’ll be plotting to land this one.
The key to this race is finding a horse with genuine stamina who stays the three-mile trip well. Cheltenham’s stiff finish sorts out the stayers from the merely quick, and horses that have shown they can grind it out over two miles five furlongs or further have a definite edge.
Recent winners have often been progressive types stepping up significantly in trip, so don’t be afraid to look at horses who are trying three miles for the first time if their pedigree and style of racing suggests they’ll stay.
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RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
The Albert Bartlett always throws up an interesting contest because you’re dealing with novices who are still learning their trade over hurdles. The step up to three miles at Cheltenham is a huge ask, and plenty of horses that look like staying types on paper simply don’t get home.
I’ll Sort That is an interesting runner if he takes this route rather than the Turners. His form suggests he has the pace for two and a half miles, but whether he truly stays three miles up the Cheltenham hill remains to be seen. The market will tell us plenty once declarations are made.
No Drama This End is another with solid credentials, though again the stamina for three miles is an unknown. What we do know is that horses from the big Irish and British yards – Mullins, Elliott, Skelton, Henderson – tend to dominate this race because they have the horses that have been campaigned with this target in mind.
Dan Skelton’s pair, Moneygarrow and Dalston Lad, both look interesting. Skelton won this race in 2021 and knows the profile required. His horses are usually rock solid over a stamina test, and both of these have shown enough to suggest they’ll stay the trip.
FORM PICK
Final selections will be posted once we know which horses are definitely running. This is a race where the market can shift dramatically once dual-entered horses make their final decisions.
If I’LL SORT THAT 5/1 runs here rather than the Turners, he’s worth serious consideration. The step up in trip is a question mark but his class could see him through. Alternatively, look closely at the Dan Skelton runners – Moneygarrow and Dalston Lad both at 8/1 and 10/1 respectively – as the Skelton yard has an excellent record in the staying hurdle division at Cheltenham.
16:00 THE Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup STEEPLE Chase (Grade 1)
So we are finally here. The feature of the week, The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup 2026, and what an absolute cracker we have in prospect this year. This is the Blue Riband of jump racing, the one every owner, trainer and jockey dreams of winning, and the 2026 renewal is wide open in a way we haven’t seen for years.
The key storyline heading into this year’s race is the absence of a dominant favourite. The defending champion Inothewayurthinkin has been way below form all season and drifts at 16/1. The dual winner Galopin Des Champs is in the same boat – at 10/1 he looks vulnerable after a poor campaign. For the first time in years, we don’t have an odds-on banker or even a solid favourite everyone can get behind.
Instead, we have a fascinating contest featuring multiple live contenders. At the head of the market sits Fact To File at 4/1, but there’s a massive caveat – he’s currently only entered in the Ryanair Chase and would need supplementing for the Gold Cup. His Irish Gold Cup victory was spectacular, beating stablemate Gaelic Warrior by five lengths in the style of a proper Gold Cup horse. JP McManus will decide whether to pay the supplement, and if he does, Fact To File instantly becomes the horse to beat.
Jango Baie at 5/1 is the Mullins runner currently entered, and he’s a fascinating contender. The 2025 Arkle winner has been progressive over fences and ran a cracker to finish fourth in the King George at Kempton. He’s only eight years old and improving with every run – exactly the profile you want for a Gold Cup winner.
Britain’s main hope comes in the form of Paul Nicholls’ The Jukebox Man at 6/1. The King George winner comes here with rock solid credentials, and he represents the best chance of a British-trained winner since Native River in 2018. That’s a shocking statistic – no British winner in eight years – and Nicholls will be desperate to end the Irish dominance.
Gaelic Warrior at 7/1 is another Mullins contender with serious claims. He finished third in the King George and was runner-up to Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup, beaten five lengths but still running a massive race. He’s a former Arkle winner himself and has been climbing the staying chase ladder with consistent performances.
The sentimental story of the race is Haiti Couleurs at 10/1, trained by Rebecca Curtis. This fellow won the Welsh National carrying a massive 11st 13lb and followed up by taking the National Hunt Chase at last year’s Festival. His trainer believes he has a “serious chance” and you can see why – he’s a proper staying chaser who gets three miles two and a half furlongs all day long. At 10/1 he’s a lovely each-way proposition.
Grey Dawning, also at 16/1, is Dan Skelton’s main hope and represents another British challenger. He won the Betfair Chase at Haydock impressively but made a crucial mistake two out in the Cotswold Chase which cost him dearly. He’s a former Turners winner and has the class to be involved if he can reproduce his Haydock form.
The race also features Spillanes Tower who won the Cotswold Chase trial here at Cheltenham, giving him vital course form. Don’t dismiss Galopin Des Champs either – yes, he’s been poor this season, but he’s a dual Gold Cup winner and if he recaptures anything like his best form, he’s dangerous at 10/1.
What makes this Gold Cup so fascinating is the lack of an obvious winner. In recent years we’ve had Galopin Des Champs at odds-on or near it. This year, the favourite is 4/1 and might not even run! That opens the door for a proper contest where tactics, ground conditions, and luck in running could all play crucial roles.
The race distance of three miles two and a half furlongs is the ultimate test of stamina and jumping ability. The Cheltenham hill is unforgiving, and by the time they reach the final fence, we’ll know who has the class and courage to become a Gold Cup champion.
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
The million-pound question is whether Fact To File gets supplemented. If JP McManus decides to pay the entry fee, he becomes a very warm order and probably goes off around 5/2 or 3/1. His Irish Gold Cup performance was exceptional – he travelled like the best horse throughout and put the race to bed with a devastating turn of foot after the second-last. That’s exactly the sort of finishing kick you need at Cheltenham.
If Fact To File stays in the Ryanair (or more likely, Gaelic Warrior takes that route), then we’re looking at a genuinely open Gold Cup. Jango Baie would probably become favourite at around 7/2 or 4/1, and he’d deserve to be. His progressive profile is very appealing – remember, he’s only eight and has won the Arkle. He’s got the class, he’s got the speed, and he’s proven he can handle Cheltenham’s unique demands.
The Jukebox Man is the pick of the British challengers and he looked superb in the King George. Paul Nicholls knows how to train a Gold Cup winner – he’s done it with Kauto Star and Denman – and he’ll have this horse absolutely spot on. The ground is crucial though; he wants good ground and if it rides soft, his chance diminishes.
Haiti Couleurs is a fascinating outsider. His Welsh National performance under top weight was phenomenal, and he followed it up by winning the National Hunt Chase here last year. Rebecca Curtis doesn’t send horses to Cheltenham unless they’re ready, and at 10/1 he’s a cracking each-way price. He’ll stay all day, he handles any ground, and if the race becomes a war of attrition, he’ll be there at the finish.
Grey Dawning is another who cannot be dismissed. That mistake in the Cotswold Chase was costly, but his Betfair Chase victory showed he has genuine Gold Cup class. Dan Skelton has been building towards a Championship race winner at Cheltenham for years, and this could be his best chance. At 16/1 he’s overpriced.
The ground will be absolutely crucial. If it comes up soft or heavy, stamina becomes paramount and horses like Haiti Couleurs and Gaelic Warrior come right into it. If it’s good to soft or better, the speedier horses like The Jukebox Man and Fact To File (if supplemented) have the edge.
One final thought – don’t completely write off Galopin Des Champs. Yes, he’s been disappointing this season, but he’s a dual Gold Cup winner and Willie Mullins is the master at peaking horses for Cheltenham. At 10/1, if you believe he can recapture his 2023 and 2024 form, he’s worth a saver.
FORM PICK
This is one of the toughest Gold Cups to call in years, and that’s brilliant news for racing fans. Rather than a boring procession behind an odds-on favourite, we have a proper championship race with multiple live contenders.
If Fact To File is supplemented, he’s the selection at whatever price he goes off at. That Irish Gold Cup performance was breathtaking, and he has Festival-winning form already. He knows how to handle the occasion.
If he doesn’t run in the Gold Cup, then THE JUKEBOX MAN 6/1 WIN gets the nod as the pick. Paul Nicholls has him primed for this, the King George form is rock solid, and it’s time for a British winner to break the Irish stranglehold. He’s got the class, the finishing speed, and the right profile for this race.
For each-way value, HAITI COULEURS 10/1 EW is a fantastic play. He won here last year, he stays forever, and Rebecca Curtis believes he has a serious chance. At double-figure odds he’s worth an interest.
And if you fancy a bigger-priced outsider with a real chance, GREY DAWNING 16/1 EW could be the value bet of the race. His Betfair Chase win was top-drawer, that Cotswold mistake can be forgiven, and Dan Skelton has him aimed at this all season. At 16/1 he’s each-way gold.
16:40 The Festival Hunters’ Chase
It’s the turn of the amateur riders to take the spotlight for the Festival Hunters’ Chase, where we see a different type of racing altogether. This is a unique contest run over three miles two furlongs, and it requires horses with serious stamina and jumping ability.
The Hunters’ Chase has been a brilliant addition to the Festival, showcasing the sport’s grassroots and giving amateur jockeys their moment in the Cheltenham sun. These horses often come from point-to-point backgrounds and are seasoned campaigners who know their way around a racetrack.
Dan Skelton has a strong hand with Unexpected Party at around 5/1. This horse is a previous Festival winner and knows what it takes to perform on the big stage. Skelton’s record at Cheltenham means any runner from his yard in this race deserves huge respect.
The market is still forming for this one, but historically we’ve seen some cracking performances from horses who have been specifically campaigned for this target. Look for horses with solid hunter chase form throughout the season, particularly those who have won at Cheltenham before or have shown they can handle the track.
The amateur riders add an extra element of unpredictability to this race. While many are highly skilled, they’re not riding every day like the professionals, so mistakes can happen and luck in running becomes even more important. Horses that are proven jumpers with a good racing brain have a definite edge.
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
The Hunters’ Chase often comes down to which horse handles the pace and stays the trip best. Over three miles two furlongs at Cheltenham, stamina is absolutely essential, and horses that have proven they get every yard of the trip in their hunter chase runs during the season have a major advantage.
Unexpected Party’s Festival-winning form makes him a solid favourite if he takes his chance. He’s proven at the track, he stays well, and the Skelton yard knows how to get horses ready for Cheltenham. The price might not be generous but he’s reliable.
Look for horses that have been building up to this through a carefully planned campaign. Those that have run in the big hunter chases at Cheltenham, Warwick, or Haydock earlier in the season and have shown progressive form are the ones to focus on. Experience counts for a lot in this race.
FORM PICK
UNEXPECTED PARTY 5/1 looks a solid selection if confirmed as a runner. His Festival-winning experience and the Skelton polish give him a real edge in what can be an unpredictable contest.
For those looking for bigger prices, wait for the final declarations and look closely at horses with strong hunter chase form throughout the season, particularly those with course experience. An each-way play on an outsider with proven stamina could pay dividends.
17:20 THE Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
The final race of the day and the race to close out the 2026 Cheltenham Festival is the race for conditional jockeys, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. It’s named after the legendary champion trainer Martin Pipe, whose son David now carries on the family tradition at Pond House stables.
This is always one of the most competitive handicaps of the entire Festival. Run over two miles four furlongs, it attracts a huge field of progressive handicappers all looking to end the week on a high. The conditional jockeys’ claim can make a massive difference in a competitive handicap like this, and trainers are expert at placing their horses to maximum advantage.
The race often throws up big-priced winners because the field is so deep and competitive. With conditional jockeys in the saddle, there’s always the potential for mistakes or inexperience to play a part, but equally these young riders are hungry to make a name for themselves on the biggest stage.
The key trends show that you want a horse that stays two and a half miles well, ideally rated between 130-145, and carrying a realistic weight. Horses that have run well in big handicaps already this season and are coming to Cheltenham in good form have the best chance.
Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have excellent records in this race, as does Dan Skelton. Between them, they’ve dominated the Martin Pipe in recent years, so any runner from those yards with strong market support should be taken seriously.
The market is still forming as trainers assess their options and decide which horses to run. Once declarations are published, we’ll be combing through the form with a fine tooth comb to try and identify the value plays. This is a race where an each-way multiple like a Lucky 15 or Yankee can pay off, as there are often several horses with realistic chances at decent prices.
RACE ANALYSIS & SELECTIONS
The Martin Pipe is a fascinating puzzle because you’re trying to find a well-handicapped horse ridden by a conditional jockey who can handle the pressure of riding in the final race at the Cheltenham Festival. That’s a lot of boxes to tick, which is why the race so often produces shock results.
The weight allowances that conditional jockeys can claim (typically 3lb, 5lb or 7lb depending on their experience) can make a huge difference in a tight handicap. A horse rated 135 carrying 10st 7lbs with a 7lb claimer is effectively racing off a mark of 128, which could be a significant advantage if the handicapper has them assessed correctly.
Look for horses that have been running well in good handicaps but might have just been held up by the weight or the quality of opposition. Those stepping up to this longer trip for the first time can also improve significantly, especially if their pedigree suggests they’ll stay.
The other key factor is the jockey. Some conditional riders are nearly as good as the professionals and just lack the experience – they can be a real asset rather than a hindrance. Check which jockeys are regularly riding winners and which trainers have confidence in their conditional riders.
FORM PICK
Final selections will be posted once the field is declared. This is a race where late market moves can be very significant, and we’ll be watching to see which trainers are confident about their chances.
Given the depth of the race, an each-way approach makes sense. Look for horses from the Mullins, Elliott, or Skelton yards that are well-handicapped and have shown progressive form through the season. A couple of each-way plays at 16/1 or bigger could provide a fitting finale to a brilliant Festival.
CONCLUSION
Friday 13th March 2026 is all about the Gold Cup, and it looks set to be one of the most fascinating renewals in years. With no dominant favourite and multiple live contenders, this is a championship race that could genuinely go to any of six or seven horses. Will Fact To File be supplemented and justify favouritism? Can The Jukebox Man give Britain its first Gold Cup winner since 2018? Or will an outsider like Haiti Couleurs or Grey Dawning steal the headlines?
Whatever happens, it’s going to be a spectacular way to end the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Good luck with your selections!
