Final field of 11 confirmed for 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup

The final declarations for the 2026 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup have been announced, with 11 horses set to compete on Friday, 13 March, at the Cheltenham Festival. Defending champion Inothewayurthinkin leads alongside Gaelic Warrior and The Jukebox Man, following Galopin Des Champs' earlier withdrawal that reshaped ante-post betting.

Final runners for the £625,000 Grade One showpiece—run over three miles two furlongs on the festival's closing day (10-13 March)—were confirmed on 11 March.

Inothewayurthinkin (Gavin Cromwell/Ireland), last year's winner under Mark Walsh (jockey TBC), seeks a repeat. Willie Mullins' Gaelic Warrior (Paul Townend) is his sole remaining hope after Galopin Des Champs' withdrawal last week, with Townend holding a joint-record four Gold Cup wins.

British challengers include The Jukebox Man (Ben Pauling, Ben Jones), fresh from King George success, and Nicky Henderson's Jango Baie (Nico de Boinville), fourth in that race and last year's Arkle winner.

The field comprises: Grey Dawning (Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton); Haiti Couleurs (Rebecca Curtis, Sean Bowen); Gold Tweet (France, Gabriel Leenders, Clement Lefebvre); Envoi Allen (Henry de Bromhead, Darragh O’Keeffe); Firefox (Gordon Elliott, TBC); Spillane’s Tower (Jimmy Mangan, TBC); L’Homme Presse (Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch).

Irish runners total five. Current betting favours Gaelic Warrior and The Jukebox Man, ahead of Jango Baie, Inothewayurthinkin, and Haiti Couleurs; Gold Tweet is 150/1. Race time: 4pm. For earlier ante-post markets post-Galopin withdrawal, see our previous coverage.

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Dynamic photorealistic illustration of the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup race, capturing horses mid-jump over a fence on soft ground with cheering crowds.
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Cheltenham Gold Cup 2026 features 11 strong contenders on final festival day

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The 2026 Cheltenham Festival concludes with Gold Cup day on March 13, featuring the prestigious Grade One race at 4:00 PM. Eleven horses, including favorites Gaelic Warrior, Jango Baie, and The Jukebox Man, will compete over three miles and two furlongs for a £625,000 prize pot. Ground conditions are reported as good to soft, soft in places, following overnight rain.

Two-time winner Galopin Des Champs has been ruled out of the 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup due to a setback, opening the market. Fact To File now leads ante-post betting at 9/2, with Jango Baie and Jukebox Man at 11/2. The blue riband race is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026, at 4 p.m. at Cheltenham Racecourse.

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Amateur jockey Patrick Mullins has selected Gaelic Warrior as his choice to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2026. The horse, trained by his father Willie Mullins, is among nine entries from the stable for the prestigious race. Mullins, who won last year's Grand National, praises the eight-year-old's exceptional strength and racing record.

Haiti Couleurs secured a commanding seven-length victory in the Grade Two William Hill Denman Chase at Newbury, strengthening its credentials for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Trained by Rebecca Curtis and ridden by Sean Bowen, the horse dictated the pace from the front and held off challengers on testing ground. The win has shortened its odds to 7-1 for the March 13 Gold Cup.

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Former Grand National winner I Am Maximus has been assigned the top weight of 11st 12lb for the 2026 Randox Grand National at Aintree. Defending champion Nick Rockett carries 11st 11lb, while Iroko leads the ante-post betting markets. The weights were announced on 17 February 2026, with 76 entries remaining for the 11 April race.

Undefeated filly Bella Ballerina leads the nominations for the 152nd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks, set for May 1, 2026, at Churchill Downs. The three-year-old earned her status with wins in the Golden Rod Stakes and Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Labwah has risen to second on the leaderboard after a dominant victory in the UAE Oaks.

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Daily Racing Form handicappers have shared their selections for the 10-race card at Gulfstream Park on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Mike Welsch highlights Game Changer Jolie as the best bet in Race 4, while David Aragona and Mike Beer analyze Race 9 as the featured event of the day.

 

 

 

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