Discover who the Cheltenham Gold Cup runners and riders are for 2026. With the initial entries now released, which names could be etched into the race’s history?
The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup isn’t an event to miss out on, with it being the most significant jumps race of the year and a huge feature at the Cheltenham Festival.
It has an honour roll of many legendary horses such as Kauto Star, Golden Miller, Best Mate, Desert Orchid, Dawn Run, and Arkle. With the 2026 edition just around the corner, who could be the next name to be added to the list?
So let’s dive into which horses will be running at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2026.
What is the lineup for the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Gold Cup has more than a few big names competing next time out, with some seriously experienced contenders listed in the Cheltenham Festival betting. With that in mind, here are the entries for the Gold Cup in 2026:
The Jukebox Man /
Gaelic Warrior /
Jango Baie /
Haiti Couleurs /
Inothewayurthinkin /
Grey Dawning /
Spillane’s Tower /
Envoi Allen /
Firefox /
L’Homme Presse /
Gold Tweet /
Who are the favourites among the Gold Cup runners?
Now that you have a list of the competitors set to race at the Gold Cup, you may want to know which names are looking like they’ll do well. Previous Gold Cup trends and stats may sway you towards certain participants, but based on odds alone here is our overview of the strongest that will feature:
Jango Baie
Jango Baie, though yet to add his name to the winners’ list of the Gold Cup, is not a horse to be underestimated. In his last outing at Cheltenham Festival, he managed to win the Arkle Novices’ Chase, beating the favourite Majborough, who finished third.
The seven-year-old is trained by the highly successful Nicky Henderson and will likely be ridden by 2015 Gold Cup winner Nico De Boinville – a combination that could easily translate into a Gold Cup champion.
Inothewayurthinkin
Being the most recent winner of the Gold Cup, Inothewayurthinkin is an obvious challenger for this year’s edition. Winning by more than six lengths against the 2025 odds-on favourite Galopin Des Champs, he has more than proven he can compete against the elite.
Considering he also won in his only other entry at Cheltenham during the Kim Muir Chase in 2024, his record is extremely strong. Pairing this with his trainer, Gavin Cromwell, having eight victories at Cheltenham, it’s clear that he is a tough opponent.
Heading into this year, Inothewayurthinkin will surely be keen to achieve back-to-back victories and add his name to the list of multiple-time Gold Cup winners.
The Jukebox Man
The next serious contender for the coveted Gold Cup is The Jukebox Man. Though yet to achieve a win at Cheltenham, he finished in a close second during his only other outing at the festival, the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, in 2024.
With an incredibly strong racing record, obtaining seven wins out of the 11 he has competed in to date, The Jukebox Man has certainly got enough experience and wins under his belt to be competitive at this year’s Gold Cup.
Gaelic Warrior
Another horse that will be influenced by Willie Mullins’ brilliance is Gaelic Warrior. Having previously won at Cheltenham in the 2024 Arkle Challenge, he has already proven he has what it takes to get over the line at the festival.
Amassing ten wins in his 20 runs, Gaelic Warrior has a very solid racing record. So, with Mullins as a trainer and having had previous Cheltenham success, he is more than qualified to be in contention here.
Haiti Couleurs
Haiti Couleurs’ impressive track record speaks for itself, with eight wins in 14 runs. Having also seen victory in the 2025 National Hunt Chase, winning at Cheltenham isn’t an unfamiliar task.
With trainer Rebecca Curtis having won other events at the festival, such as the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle, the Gold Cup is likely a huge target.
Spillane’s Tower
Spillane’s Tower, though never competing at Cheltenham Festival before, is another name to keep in mind. Despite not having achieved as much success as some of the other names on this list, he came second behind strong favourite Galopin Des Champs in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.
He may not have raced at the festival previously, but he has tasted victory at Cheltenham racecourse before, winning the Betfair Cotswold Chase in January 2026. This saw him beat other competitors for the Gold Cup, Grey Dawning and L’Homme Presse, showing great promise for the future.
So, as more of an outside bet – perhaps an each way wager – Spillanes Tower could be the name on everyone’s lips in March.
How to bet on the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Since we have covered which horses will be competing at the next edition of the Gold Cup, you may be interested in placing some bets. The best place to begin is by using the Betway app, downloading it from either the App Store or Play Store! Alternatively, you can head over to the Gold Cup odds on our website.
Want a bit more guidance? Have a look at our guide covering how to bet on the Cheltenham Gold Cup, giving you all the best advice!
Cheltenham Gold Cup FAQs
What is the Gold Cup at Cheltenham?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the biggest and most popular race featured at the whole festival, attracting attention from new and experienced bettors and fans. Over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs, it is a race that pushes horses to their limits for both stamina and jumping ability.
Learn more about what the Cheltenham Gold Cup is with our guide.
When is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The date of the Cheltenham Gold Cup may vary, but it is always hosted on the fourth and final day of the festival. This year it is set to take place on Friday 13th March, being part of what makes a perfect conclusion to the whole event.
What is the prize money for the Gold Cup?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup’s prize fund offers huge amounts of money to the winner, containing a total of £625,000. This is a sum that has drastically increased over the last 25 years, with no signs of slowing down any time soon!
Who has won the Gold Cup?
The history of Cheltenham Gold Cup winners shows an impressive list, containing many big names in the sport. Recent winners include Inothewayurthinkin and two-time winners Galopin Des Champs and Al Boum Photo.
