Friday is Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup day at Prestbury Park, with the main event for the 2026 festival kicking off at 4pm.
Four Irish-trained riders in Gold Cup
Four of the last seven Blue Ribbon Chase winners have been trained by Willie Mullins and the Closutton handler will be represented by current race favorite Gaelic Warrior.
There are a total of four Irish-trained riders among the 11 runners, including last season’s impressive winner Inothewayurthinkin from the Gavin Cromwell stable.
Firefox, fourth in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month, represents the team of Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy who claimed their first winner this week with Wodhooh yesterday.
The Grade 1 winning Novice Chase, Spillane’s Tower, trained by Jimmy Mangan, was withdrawn this morning.
Sending Allen’s Cheltenham record
Ownership of Cheveley Park Stud Send Allen, the 2023 Ryanair ChThe winner is expected to make their final run in today’s Gold Cup. He won the 2019 Champion Bumper and the Turners Novices’ Hurdle in 2020, fell in the 2021 Marsh Chase with a score of 4-9, finished third in the 2022 Champion Chase, won the 2023 Ryanair Chase and finished second and third in the last two renewals. Its Fthe numbers on the summer form read 11F3123.
The Jukebox Man, owned by football manager Harry Redknapp, and Jango Baie, representing the Nicky Henderson-Nico de Boinville combination, appear to be the strongest of the English challengers.
Without Galopin Des Champs, or the now-retired Fact To File, who was nominated for yesterday’s Ryanair Chase but was ultimately not a starter, the 2026 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup looks like an open competition.
Triumph Hurdle opens Tier 1 action
The traditional opener of the final day, the JCB Triumph Hurdle Grade 1, is a field of 20 runners, including 12 horses prepared in Ireland.
Highland Crystal’s Naas’ recent form was confirmed by Saratoga’s victory on Tuesday, while Proactive could be the pick of the Mullins camp who are responsible for almost half the field.
Minella Study came out on top during the course and distance testing day and Adam Nicol’s conditioned runner looks to be the pick for the English challenge in what is always a tricky race.
No fewer than nine of the last 13 winners had competed in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown in February, while six winners since 2006 began their careers in France and eight winners during that period were bred in France.
Winners of Albert Bartlett’s big prizes in recent years
The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at 3:20 p.m. is the other Grade 1 on today’s card.
Ten of the last 12 winners of this race have started with double-digit odds. SP have been 50/1, 33/1 (three times), 18/1 (twice), 16/1, 14/1 (twice) and 11/1, with At Fisher Cross in 2013 being the final favorite to oblige.
Thirteen of the 22 runners taking part in this three-mile competition are trained in Ireland. Kazansky, of the Elliott yard, and Dr Steinberg, trained by Willie Mullins, met at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown last month and are expected to be in attendance again this afternoon.
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