Onto the final day’s action and as I start to write my preview tomorrow it is a key topic in British conversations that is at the forefront of my mind – the weather!
We‘ve had two days of Good ground action but it is currently starting to rain at the track and there are varying expectations of how much will fall in the next 24 hours. It seems to be windy as well which can also have a drying effect to make predictions even harder
The ground can be such a factor here that a significant change in it can throw completely different results. Please bear this in my mind with what I have written below.
A check on the going tomorrow morning may be crucial https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/owners-and-trainers/the-going/
Friday’s card can be found here https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/11/cheltenham/2026-03-12
Odds comparisons here https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/2026-03-13-cheltenham
With all that in mind here we go for the final day of action on Gold Cup day…
1.20 JCB Triumph Hurdle
Last year Willie Mullins ran no less than 11 of the 17 runners – and won this with a 100/1 outsider. It brought back memories of this race last century when shock winners were commonplace. Some changes made after last year mean that hurdling debutantes can no longer run – and this time the Mullins team can only run nine horses J
Stable jockey Paul Townend has chosen to ride Selma De Vary from a choice of 8 (Proactif naturally is ridden by his owner’s retained rider Mark Walsh). She ran an eyecatching race on here Irish debut to be second to what would have been the hot favourite for this – Narciso Has – before injury took him out of the race.
The issue with her and so many others in this race is that all their form comes from soft/heavy winter ground.
Mon Creuset from the Mullins also deserves a mention as his ante post price tumbled after some positive comments from the trainer last week.
You would need some info from the Closutton yard to feel confident as to merits of this lot though as there is no collateral form on decent ground to work from. Minella Academy has been held back since November and his pedigree suggests that may be to avoid the winter ground. He is interesting with Danny Mullins riding – that suggests he is higher up in the stable pecking order
Scottish trained Minella Study does have course winning form and is proven on decent ground so might be the ‘safe option’. His defeat of Winston Junior last time was franked by that one’s run here on Tuesday.
Maestro Conti also has course winning form and did win on good going at Kempton. He is another strong contender for the home side.
Highland Crystal’s defeat of Saratoga (giving him weight) last time out also got a big boost on Tuesday. She is another whose form is all on soft though.
Of the outsiders, North Shore, has French form suggesting that better ground might suit than he has faced in Ireland so far.
I wouldn’t be surprised for another shock result in this race given the likely conditions
It’s good to see 4 places offered here by many – something that would have been common in years past. Also worth noting that Hills pay one quarter the odds on that rather than others who pay one fifth
SELECTIONS : Not really a big betting event for me but the two selections I have are for bigger prices who I feel will be more ground suited that others if it stays around Good ground – Minella Academy and North Shore – each way with firms who offer 4 places.
If the rain does come in hard and the ground does become soft then earlier form it will change things and I’d be veering more towards Selma De Vary after all the promise she showed ion her debut
******
2.00 William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
I had a fancy for this race but he didn’t make the cut and now I find it a bit too too hard. Dan Skelton’s runners are always worth a second look and it’s notable he has pitched Sinnatra in deep here for a novice hurdler. Don’t be misled that Harry Skelton rides him and not the other stable runner Tellherthename as that one has Kielan Woods as a retained rider.
The latter could be well handicapped on his best form and this is his first run for the Skelton stable. He didn’t give the impression he liked the track on his only Festival performance though which just puts me off him.
Selection is SECRET SQUIRREL who ran very well after a long break behind Alexei (who ran a great race in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday). He doesn’t have course experience but he has threatened to win a big handicap in the past. Good to soft conditions are probably ideal for this flashy chestnut who would probably easily win the beauty contest if there was one today
*****
2.40 Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase
Dinoblue is the highest rated runner here at 159 and won this race easily last year.
The previous year she was beaten when Limerick Lace pressed on early to utilise here proven stamina (and exploit the possible weakness of Dinoblue)
That’s essentially what will be needed here to beat the favourite but who will press on early to make this a stamina test?
Panic Attack is in terrific form this season – it’s very rare to see a mare reaching here peak at the age of 10 but she has done it in spades. She hasn’t been running from the front though and I would imagine Harry Skelton would like some help to make use of her stamina.
Telepathique does like to race up front and may help but the obvious pace setter who needs to press on is Dinoblue’s stablemate, Spindleberry. Will the stable be happy using her as a spoiler for the favourite though? It is a debatable point for me even though the two are in different ownership. I do hope Paul Townend is allowed to press on as this will make for a better race.
Diva Luna looked like chasing was made for her when she moved up from hurdles at the start of the season. This is quite a jump in class though – she may be up to it – but it’s nearly 3 months since here last run after she met a setback. That has to be against here
Conclusion; It’s not a betting medium for me but Dinoblue is the likeliest winner…but if Spindleberry does make this a good gallop I think it may suit Panic Attack most and she could outstay the favourite
*****
3.20 Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle
Any rain that gets into ground may turn this race into the war of attrition it can often be.
Doctor Steinberg is 7lb or more higher rated than anything else in this field but he is a free going sort and there might be some concern he’ll last home if it turns into a slog.
Thedeviluno showed improved form when stepped up to this trip at Doncaster and is a valid contender. He was given a patient ride there and we can expect similar here with him creeping into contention before the final uphill charge. (worth bearing in mind that so far this week we haven’t seen many winners who have come from the back of the field as I expect him to be ridden – but that could change if rain softens the ground)
If the ground stays decent I have to give a big shout to the favourite’s stablemate Hipop De Loire. He doesn’t have much experience over hurdles but he is a listed class flat perfomer who has run well in the last two Ebor Handicaps on the flat. Harry Cobden is a good booking for him and I can see him travelling very well in this race as long as the ground doesn’t get too soft.
If the rain does get in then I’m looking for something who will want every yard of this 3 mile trip…and a bit more. Henry De Bromhead has won this before with Minella Indo and his Kings Bucks looks for all the world like he needs 3 miles to me. I’m expecting to see a good bit of improvement on what we’ve seen so far
Two bigger priced selections here to cover all ground possibilities:
Hipop De Loire (wont want excessive rain) and Kings Bucks (who won’t mind any softening in the ground). The latter was available around 20/1 yesterday but can see he has been backed and a max of 16/1 currently
*******
4.00 Gold Cup
The centrepiece event of the meeting is a tricky one to decipher with only 4 pounds covering the marks of the top 6 contenders.
Last year’s impressive winner Inotherwayurthinkin has the highest mark of 170 but his form this year has been underwhelming to put it mildly. He would be the one to beat if reproducing form from 12 months ago but you need to have a lot of faith in connections reports that he is coming back to his best.
Disputing favouritism are The Jukebox Man, Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie – the 1st 2nd and 4th in the King George Chase at Kempton where only half a length separated them in the race of the season.
That is the complete opposite of this track but all of them have performed well here in the past.
The Jukebox Man may well be the most popular winner with Harry Redknapp owning him. He looked likely to win the Albert Bartlett here 2 years ago until the final hill just caught him out close home. That might be a concern here too for this exuberant traveller but he is older and stronger which may help.
Jango Baie and Gaelic Warrior are both past winners of the 2 mile Arkle Chase. They both won that by stamina but this is more than a mile further. They both look like stayers but remain unproven. Some horses who have been placed in the Arkle have won this race before but it is actually 1979 when Alverton was the last horse to complete this double.
Jango Baie looked to love the hill when he won the Arkle here last year and if he does stay he’ll be dangerous to all if bang there on the home turn. Gaelic Warrior has often looked like he preferred a right handed track (should have been in his element at Kempton) but his win over 3 miles at Aintree last year goes quite some way to give encouragement that he won’t be so inconveniended on a left hand track nowadays (Grey Dawning outstayed by him there)
Grey Dawning has winning form at this course over shorter. I’m not totally convinced that this is his track – flatter tracks like Haydock and Aintree may suit better. His trainer Dan Skelton seems very upbeat that he has never been better
Then we have the horse with no stamina problems who will benefit most from any rain that gets into the ground – Haiti Couleurs. He reminds me very much of 2018 winner Native River in his running style (and also 2015 winner Coneygree). As they did, he is likely to pressing for home from some way out and his bold jumping will try to put the rest to the sword.
The ground was on the soft side when Native River won and that’s what Haiti Couleurs needs to win this. When Native River tried the same tactics on decent ground he hasn’t able to put the same pressure on the rest and he was outspeeded.
Therefore it’s the ground that affects my choice here.
Selection – well this is a tough one as the weather could be crucial!
If it’s soft I expect Haiti Couleurs to go very close
If the rain doesn’t get in so much I think the King George form will come out best – but find it very hard to come down on the side of The Jukebox Man, Gaelic Warrior or Jango Baie
This may seem like sitting on the fence a bit but there are some fine margins here and it may come down to who gets the run of the race and doesn’t make mistakes
******
4.40 Princess Royal Challenge Cup Hunters Chase
As mentioned in previous years I don’t follow the point to point scene to the degree that’s needed to have much a view here. Wonderwall won it last year and renews rivalry with the next 5 who followed him home (Its On the Line, Willitgoahead, Music Drive, Shearer and Carnfunnock).
New to this sphere are previously very useful chasers Chemical Energy, Panda Boy and Stattler (Patrick Mullins renews the ride on the horse that won the 2022 National Hunt Chase here)
Rather than give a selection I’d rather defer to someone who follows the PTP scene far more and the best man for that on X is usually @DarranPearce
******
5.20 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hcap Hurdle
The final ‘getting out race’ is always very competitive
Gordon Elliott is always keen to win this race as it’s named after the trainer he spent his early days with. He hasn’t had a winner at this meeting yet and last year he left it to this race to get off the mark. We have to respect his runners – I feel that Wendrock could be the one that has been kept fresh for it most.
Willie Mullins often fields something that’s better than its mark here (Galopin Des Champs won it once before his Gold Cup winning exploits). Kel Histoire, Roc Dino and Jump Allen all haven’t been missed at single figure odds with that in mind.
Act of Authority ran a great race to be second in this (Lewis Saunders rides again) off only a 1lb lower mark. That augurs well although his form this season doesn’t suggest he has progressed. Cheekpieces are added first time here though – it could bring out some improvement?
At bigger odds though, I’m siding with Andashan at around 20/1. He has no prioer course form but is an improving type. I liked the way he buckled down to win at Newbury last time where he gave the impression that a stiffer course and strong gallop would eke out more progress – he’ll get that here. Prior to that he ran into Kabral Du Mathan in a handicap – hindsight shows he was up against the impossible there – and that one’s performance in the Stayers Hurdle today may emphasis that even more.
Trainer’s son Freddie Gordon can’t keep the regular ride this time as he has been claimed for East India Express (he is contracted to the Hendeson team). The booking of Dylan Johnston instead is hardly a downgrade though – Dylan is stable jockey to the Sam Thomas team and would be arguably the most successful jockey riding in this field.
Recommendation
Hopefully there is something in the bank by this race and it’s not about chasing losses
1pt ew Andashan (hopefully using a firm that offers 6 places and taking something close to 20/1)
That completes my annual ‘labour of love’ on previewing the Cheltenham Festival
I hope it’s been an enjoyable read for those following this week and there has been some profit at the end of it all!
Paul
thefinalfence 