The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the pinnacle of National Hunt racing. First ran in 1924, the Gold Cup is the most valuable race at the Cheltenham Festival and has a roll of honour which includes many of the sport’s all time greats, including Golden Miller, Arkle, Desert Orchid, Kauto Star and Denman. Twenty-two jumps and a distance of 3m2f, finishing with the Cheltenham hill, provides the ultimate test for a steeplechaser.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup remains the blue riband event of the National Hunt season and early entries for the 2026 renewal have now been confirmed, setting the scene for another eagerly anticipated showdown at the Cheltenham Festival.
Entries:
Affordale Fury – Noel Meade
Banbridge – Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Champ Kiely – W. P. Mullins
Croke Park – Gordon Elliott
Envoi Allen – Henry de Bromhead
Fastorslow – Martin Brassil
Firefox – Gordon Elliott
Found A Fifty – Gordon Elliott
Gaelic Warrior – W. P. Mullins
Galopin des Champs – W. P. Mullins
Gerri Colombe – Gordon Elliott
Gold Tweet – Gabriel Leenders
Grangeclare West – W. P. Mullins
Grey Dawning – Dan Skelton
Haiti Couleurs – Rebecca Curtis
Handstands – Ben Pauling
Heart Wood – Henry de Bromhead
I Am Maximus – W. P. Mullins
Impaire Et Passe – W. P. Mullins
Inothewayurthinkin – Gavin Cromwell
Jango Baie – Nicky Henderson
Konfusion – Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith
L’homme Presse – Venetia Williams
Lecky Watson – W. P. Mullins
Monty’s Star – Henry de Bromhead
Myretown – Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
Nick Rockett – W. P. Mullins
Resplendent Grey – Olly Murphy
Spillane’s Tower – James Joseph Mangan
Spindleberry – W. P. Mullins
Stellar Story – Gordon Elliott
The Jukebox Man – Ben Pauling
Three Card Brag – Gordon Elliott
A total of 33 horses have been entered for the Gold Cup, with connections dreaming of Festival glory and a winner’s prize of £351,687 awaiting the horse that emerges victorious in the sport’s most prestigious staying chase.
The strength of the entry list is underlined by the involvement of some of the biggest names in training. Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Nicky Henderson have all entered multiple contenders, raising hopes that the 2026 Gold Cup could develop into one of the strongest renewals in recent memory.
Among the early entries is the defending champion Inothewayurthinkin. Trained by Gavin Cromwell, the eight year old landed last season’s Gold Cup at odds of 15/2 and is already prominent in the ante post betting for a repeat success. He currently sits as a 6/1 joint favourite in early markets.
Sharing that position is two time Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs, who has dominated the staying chase division in recent seasons. The Willie Mullins trained star was sent off odds on to complete a historic hat trick at the 2025 Festival but was denied by six lengths, ending his bid for a third consecutive crown.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is widely regarded as one of the most famous horse races in the world and serves as the centrepiece of the four day Festival each March. With proven champions, emerging talents and several powerhouse stables represented among the 33 early entries, excitement is already building for what promises to be a compelling 2026 renewal.
Other races of interest on Day 4 Friday:
- 13:30 Triumph Hurdle Tips
- 14:10 County Hurdle Tips
- 14:50 Albert Bartlett Tips
- 15:30 Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips
- 16:10 Hunters Chase
- 16:50 Mares Steeple Chase Tips
- 17:30 Martin Pipe Tips