The Gold Cup is the centrepiece of Cheltenham Festival. Discover all the scheduling details ahead of the big race, including the date, time, and runners.
As Cheltenham Festival fast-approaches, the chances are you’re penning the key dates in your diary. And where better to begin than the prize race itself! But exactly when is the Gold Cup? In this article, we’ve explored the date and time of this year’s race, as well as the ways you can watch the drama unfold and how to bet on the Gold Cup. For even more information, check out our Cheltenham Festival guide.
What is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Gold Cup is the highlight of Cheltenham Festival, capping off the week in style with the 3m 2½f race including a thrilling 22 jumps. Not only is it the main event of Cheltenham week, but the test of speed and stamina ranks among the most prestigious steeplechase in the racing calendar.
What date is the Gold Cup?
Not diverting from tradition, the glittering Gold Cup is once again set to take place on the final day of the four-day Cheltenham Festival. So, mark your calendars and count down the days; get ready to witness greatness and the crowning of the latest Gold Cup champion on Friday 13th March.
Of course, the Cheltenham Gold Cup being hosted in mid-March can mean unpredictable weather, with conditions often ranging from sunshine to wind, rain, and even snow. So, if you’re in attendance, be sure to check the forecast and dress appropriately.
What time is the Gold Cup at Cheltenham?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup will take place at 4pm on Friday 13th March, between the Novices’ Hurdle Race (3.20pm) and the Festival Hunters Chase (4.40pm).
Note that this Gold Cup start time is the same as 2025, but half an hour later than the 2024 edition. If the average winning race time – 6 minutes 53 seconds – is anything to go by, expect the Gold Cup to conclude by 4.07pm.
Where does the Gold Cup take place?
The prestigious Gold Cup takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse, on the New Course, during the annual Cheltenham Festival.
How can you watch the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
If you’re not lucky enough to be in attendance for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on 14th March, you can instead catch the action on ITV1 – with the race billed to begin at 4pm! Many other races will also be aired on ITV, but if you’re keen to enjoy the full festival, you can enjoy coverage of all the races via a Racing TV subscription.
In anticipation of the Cheltenham Festival, we’ve also sat down with racing legends Katie Walsh, Ross O’Sullivan, Richard Hoiles and Gary O’Brien, to offer a series of preview shows – where we’ve analysed the latest Gold Cup markets and race favourites
The Gold Cup horses and jockeys at Cheltenham 2026
While the race jockeys and horses are yet to be finalised, some of the horses that could feature at the Cheltenham Gold Cup on 13th March include:
– Inothewayurthinkin
– Galopin Des Champs
– Jango Baie
– The Jukebox Man
– Gaelic Warrior
– Grey Dawning
– Affordable Fury
– Haiti Couleurs
Gold Cup expert tips
Come back nearer the time to discover all the latest Cheltenham Gold Cup tips and predictions from our team of experts! In the meantime, check out all the latest Cheltenham news and updates.
How to bet on the Gold Cup?
At Betway, we take the complexity out of betting on the Gold Cup, so you can enjoy the full fun of the festival; whether you’re a first timer and fancy a flutter on the favourite or you’ve enjoyed many years of Cheltenham success! You can either place a race win bet on your chosen horse, or take advantage of our 1/5 each way odds, which includes a win bet and a place bet (in this case, if your horse finishes in the top 3).
With that in mind, for the latest advice from our experts, explore our betting tips for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, our complete collection of Cheltenham betting tips, or check out our full range of horse racing antepost odds.
