{"id":10670,"date":"2026-03-12T17:37:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.netbet.ie\/blog\/?p=10670"},"modified":"2026-03-13T10:10:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T10:10:46","slug":"horse-racing-cheltenham-festival-gold-cup-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.netbet.ie\/blog\/horse-racing-cheltenham-festival-gold-cup-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Horse Racing: Cheltenham Festival 2026 – Gold Cup Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

It is nearly time for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and here at NetBet Sport<\/strong><\/a>, we’ll have the best horse racing odds<\/a><\/strong> available on the biggest race of the season.<\/p>\n

But before you take a look at our Cheltenham offering for tomorrow, check out our Gold Cup 2026 preview, which looks at some of the top contenders – before giving a final verdict!<\/p>\n

Written by Jake Wilkes<\/strong><\/p>\n

*All odds are subject to change<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE MAIN CONTENDERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

GAELIC WARRIOR \u2013<\/strong> This horse won the 2024 Arkle with consummate ease, and is a key player with Paul Townend on board. Gaelic Warrior also came third in a blanket finish behind The Jukebox Man in the King George, but losing momentum at a critical time. The stronger emphasis on stamina is likely to suit, as he is unexposed over extra distance – and rates a worthy favourite.<\/p>\n

THE JUKEBOX MAN \u2013<\/strong> The King George winner in a fantastic racing spectacle, which saw him narrowly deny Gaelic Warrior, Banbridge and Jango Baie. He is incredibly straight-forward, likely to race prominently, and his excellent jumping should see him produce a bold showing. His December victory was comfortably a career-best effort, and there is still an element of uncertainty as to how good he could be. He\u2019ll have to prove he stays an extra two furlongs for this trip, but trainer Ben Pauling remains bullish it will bring out the best in him.<\/p>\n

JANGO BAIE \u2013<\/strong> The current antepost favourite, and the horse who shapes as though an extra two furlongs will suit him best. He is all stamina, which makes it even more remarkable how he won an Arkle last year over two miles. He is completely unexposed and showed he can jump at speed when winning the 1965 Chase at Ascot in impressive fashion. He\u2019ll bid to give Nicky Henderson a third success in this race, and his first since 2013 when Bob\u2019s Worth won the feature contest.<\/p>\n

HAITI COULEURS \u2013<\/strong> The hardened handicapper moving stylishly through the grades, Haiti Couleurs will contest the lead and ensure a strongly-run race. He is likeable and is certainly not shy of a battle, having won the Irish and Welsh National just eight months apart. He does not have the proven Grade 1 form like some of his rivals, but he handled Grade 2 company with ease at Newbury in the Denman Chase, beating a reliable horse in L\u2019Homme Presse. Albeit, that horse\u2019s best days are probably behind him.<\/p>\n

INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN \u2013<\/strong> This is the 2025 winner of the Gold Cup, who produced a scintillating display after being supplemented a few weeks prior. However, a dire campaign has followed, with a 53-length defeat in the John Durkan, a 41-length defeat in the Savills Chase and a tired fall in the Irish Gold Cup. The only positive is trainer Gavin Cromwell has spoken enthusiastically over the last few days, stating that he is looking a bit brighter than in recent appearances.<\/p>\n

GREY DAWNING \u2013<\/strong> A bit of a forgotten horse in the market and there can be optimism he will take a massive step forward from his Cotswold Chase third, in which a mistake two out finished his chances of winning. Trainer Dan Skelton will have him in top condition, and is hoping he will go a couple places better than Protektorat, who was third in the contest in 2022 for the same yard.<\/p>\n

VERDICT<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Jango Baie – 9\/2<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  2. Gaelic Warrior – 15\/4<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  3. Haiti Couleurs – 5\/1<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority \u2013 check out our\u00a0Responsible Gambling tips and tools page<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0for more information. When the fun stops, stop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    It is nearly time for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and here at NetBet Sport, we’ll have the best horse racing odds available on the biggest race of the season. But…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":10672,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2212],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-horse-racing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHorse Racing: Cheltenham Festival 2026 - Gold Cup Preview | NetBet IE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get ready for the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup by checking out the main contenders for the biggest prize in horse racing!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.netbet.ie\/blog\/horse-racing-cheltenham-festival-gold-cup-preview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Horse Racing: Cheltenham Festival 2026 - 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