The Cheltenham Festival concludes today for the final day of horse racing with the showpiece of the four-day meeting and the true climax of the jump racing season, the Gold Cup. on the Ryanair Chase.
Inothewayurthinkin returns to Prestbury in no form at all having failed to win in each of his three outings since his victory over Galopin Des Champs last year. Still that previous success has proven his ability to stay on in the race and he will be hoping to eclipse his close rivals in The Jukebox Man, Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie.
Before that Friday’s action brings us the Mares Chase where Dinoblue looks to impress once more as well as the Albert Bartlett Novices Chase which is being pegged as a head-to-head between Doctor Steinberg and Thedeviluno who lead the betting.
Willie Mullins has had two wins from three in the champion races this week with Lossiemouth taking the Champion Hurdle, Il Etait Temps claiming the Champion Chase, and before Henry de Bromhead’s Heart Wood won the Ryanair Chase. Can the Irishman make claim a third?
Follow all the news, including previews, expert tips, free bet offers and the latest Cheltenham odds from day four of the Cheltenham Festival with our live blog below:
Read MoreHeart Wood seizes Cheltenham Festival redemption but Fact To File withdrawal raises vital question
Harry Redknapp could achieve his sporting dream today – and it’s nothing to do with football
Every horse in Harry Redknapp’s stable as former football boss goes for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory
Cheltenham Festival day - live updates
- The 2026 Cheltenham Festival concludes today with the first race at 1.20pm, live on ITV1
- The Cheltenham Gold Cup will be the climax of the Festival and runs at 4pm
- Cheltenham Gold Cup runners
- Cheltenham Festival race card, start times and full four-day schedule
- Harry Redknapp could achieve his sporting dream this week – and it’s nothing to do with football
- Heart Wood seizes Cheltenham Festival redemption but Fact To File withdrawal raises vital question
1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle expert tips
13:06 , Mike JonesRuby Walsh’s tip: Proactif
“I’m a fan of Proactif, who seems to have improved markedly since his win at Fairyhouse on his Irish debut. The same could be said for Macho Man, who followed him home that day, but Proactif should be good enough to give JP McManus another winner.”
Jonathan Doidge’s tip: Minella Study (each-way)
“I’ll be honest, it’s not a race I have a strong view on. There are numerous runners that can have cases made and perhaps it can be a year for a smaller trainer to make a big name for himself, so I’m happy to side with Minella Study for the Northumberland yard of Adam Nicol.”
Cheltenham Festival 2026: How to watch last race online and on TV after ITV coverage ends
12:57 , Chris WilsonThe final two races of each day will not be shown on ITV but fans wanting to watch can do so via Racing TV. Subscriptions for the channel, which shows every race from the festival, are available through Sky and Virgin Media and online through its website and app.
Racing TV coverage begins at 12.30pm every day and ends after the final race. The Independent will also have a dedicated live blog covering the action which you can follow.
Cheltenham Festival live stream: How to watch every race online and on TV
How can I watch the Cheltenham Festival on TV and is there a live stream?
12:49 , Chris WilsonAhead of the first race of the day in just over 30 minutes, here’s a reminder of how you can watch all of today’s races:
You can watch the first six races of each day at the Cheltenham Festival with ITV1, while full coverage of the Festival, including the final race of each day is available through a Racing TV subscription.
Both ITV and Racing TV provide live streams for the coverage through their apps and websites, while fans can of course tune on via the traditional television broadcast.
Cheltenham Festival weather: Latest forecast for day four with cloud cover and dry spells
12:38 , Chris WilsonThe Cheltenham Festival takes place across four days between March 10 and March 13 as hundreds of thousands of fans descend on the iconic Gloucestershire racecourse for one of the sport’s biggest weeks of the year.
The Met Office has forecast sunny conditions with a high chance of light rain on day four of the Festival. Monday’s weather saw some mist and fog and a smattering of rain, while expected rain on Tuesday never arrived. That means racing conditions are ideal but with disruptions unlikely.
Cheltenham Festival weather: Latest forecast for day four
Sign up to Independent Racing with Jonathan Doidge
12:31 , Chris WilsonYou can find more insights, tips, odds and more each day of the Cheltenham Festival right here at The Independent.
Along with our dedicated live blog coverage of each race day we have expert analysis of the biggest stories, tips and predictions from weekly meetings and specialist coverage from the world of horseracing in our Independent Racing newsletter with Jonathan Doidge.
To subscribe to our daily newsletters covering all things Cheltenham follow the link below.
Independent Racing will then drop into your inbox each Friday after the Festival concludes as our insights move towards the Grand National and the Flat racing season beyond.
Get expert tips with Jonathan Doidge’s Independent Racing newsletter
Cheltenham 2026 highlights
12:24 , Chris WilsonWins for Lossiemouth and Kargese on day one...
...Il Etait Temps won Wednesday’s Champion Chase...
...and Heart Wood was a surprise winner in yesterday’s Ryanair Chase.
What you need to know about the Gold Cup
12:16 , Chris WilsonNew to horseracing? Need a refresher on today’s big race?
Check out our explainer for the Cheltenham Gold Cup:
When is the Gold Cup? Runners, odds and start time for Cheltenham Festival main event
12:08 , Chris WilsonA four-day spectacle of horse racing action builds to the showpiece event: The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Gup.
The race will be run on Friday 13 March where jockey Mark Walsh and Inothewayurthinkin will attempt to back up their victory from 2025 and claim the trophy for a second year running.
With prize money of £625,00, the Grade 1 chase is the most valuable jumps race in Britain and Ireland after the Grand National and represents the ultimate challenge for the very best horses. 22 fences are to be jumped during three miles and two-and-a-half furlongs concluding in a punishing finish up the Cheltenham hill.
When is the Cheltenham Gold Cup? Runners, odds and start time
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (17.20, Cheltenham)
12:00 , Jonathan DoidgeThis is a race that Gordon Elliott loves to win, having worked for Martin Pipe and he’s made a success of doing so, training four of the last ten winners, including the last two.
Not a single favourite has won over that same period but at the same time, half of those 10 winners were single figure prices and only one winner has carried an SP of greater than 14/1.
Elliott has five declared runners and, of those, I like Open Secret best, but my preference is the Willie Mullins-trained Jump Allen. Still very much unexposed, he won’t mind what the ground is like and he progressed steadily last season, culminating in a Class 2 handicap win at Sandown’s end of season meeting in April (2m4f, good).
He’s not been seen since then but I don’t think there’ll be any fitness issues, given his trainer, while he’s also won when fresh. He’s up 5lb but you’d be surprised if he isn’t a fair bit better than his current mark of 133 suggests.
Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase (16.40, Cheltenham)
11:52 , Jonathan DoidgeThe amateur riders’ Gold Cup is generally a bit after the Lord Mayor’s Show, unless, of course, you back the winner or are personally involved in it.
Last year’s winner Wonderwall returns and is the ante-post favourite but this race isn’t littered with dual winners and I’ll take him on with a sporting each-way play on Stattler.
The former Willie Mullins inmate won the National Hunt Chase here in 2022, so he has Festival form to his name. Off the track after being pulled up in the 2024 Grand National, he left Mullins for Faye Bramley and has had two comeback runs this season, winning the latest, a Fakenham hunters’ chase, readily.
That was under Patrick Mullins, who rode him several times for his father and knows the horse well. He again takes the mount and, while the horse’s recent form is nowhere near as good as it once was, he could still run a big race at this level.
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (16.00, Cheltenham)
11:44 , Jonathan DoidgeRegulars will know my feelings on this race, which I’ve been proffering throughout the winter. I’m very pleased to see Gaelic Warrior take his chance in the Blue Riband event and have recommended an ante-post bet on him on betting apps.
Nothing has changed in that respect, despite his defeats since. He has Festival-winning form, I think he has a fantastic engine and I just wish he would settle. Hopefully, Paul Townend can get him some cover, perhaps against the inside rail, and he can switch him off. He tanked along again last time in the Irish Gold Cup, which didn’t help him at the business end, while I don’t think he lost any caste in defeat in the King George.
There are plenty in here that you have to respect, not least The Jukebox Man and Haiti Couleurs, while I also recommended an ante-post each-way play on Grey Dawning some time ago. He’ll need to bounce back, however, after his Cotswold Chase run.
Cheltenham Gold Cup day preview
11:40 , Mike JonesNeed the latest insights into Gold Cup day? Check out our Racing Correspondent’s preview and look out for the Independent Racing newsletter with Jonathan Doidge.
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (15.20, Cheltenham)
11:36 , Jonathan DoidgeIt’s fair to say that the favourite Doctor Steinberg goes into this with the pick of the form but I do worry that he’ll be too keen, while the form of Paul Nolan-trained Thedeviluno is not far behind him. However, one that I think will improve significantly for stepping up in trip this time is Spinningayarn.
Jack Kennedy has the pick and has chosen this one from Gordon Elliott’s representatives and I can see why. He’s a heavy ground point winner, who has also won on yielding ground, so conditions won’t be a problem whether it rains plenty or not before the off.
He’s been improving at around 2m4f this season, his latest effort at Punchestown impressed me, scoring by over six lengths under a penalty and winning readily. It also impressed the handicapper, who has put him up 13lb but I think there’ll be more to come.
Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (14.40, Cheltenham)
11:28 , Jonathan DoidgeI’m surprised Dinoblue is not odds-on for this at the time of writing and she’s a confident selection to win this for a second successive year. That’s no disrespect the the capable Paddy Power and Coral Gold Cup winner Panic Attack, or for the selection’s stablemate Spindleberry.
However, head ruling heart (as I’d love to see Panic Attack win it for Great Britain), Dinoblue’s form is consistently better than the rest of the field and she’ll have to run some way below her best to bring anything except Spindleberry into it.
If you’re looking for an each-way bet at a price on Cheltenham betting sites, then I’d not put you off a small each-way play on Telepathique at 33/1 for Lucy Wadham.
William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (14.00, Cheltenham)
11:20 , Jonathan DoidgeWith the exception of the Peter Fahey-trained Belfast Banter in 2021, this race has been a carve up between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton for the past decade, the Irishman leading 5-4 over that period and he’s trained the last two winners.
However, I am going to side with the Skelton-trained Sinnatra this time. His peak effort so far was when winning a Sandown maiden hurdle by a country mile in January, as he was entitled to do as the 1/8 favourite.
Beaten by the useful Act Of Innocence (Nicky Henderson) in a Listed Huntingdon contest next time, he then won easily under a penalty at Warwick. He won’t mind whether it’s good or slower and he’s got a nice racing weight of 10st 5lb. I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t prove at least half a stone better than his current mark of 133 for this handicap debut.
JCB Triumph Hurdle (13.20, Cheltenham)
11:12 , Jonathan DoidgeA look ahead to each of the races, with the thoughts of Jonathan Doidge below. We start with the first race of the day...
Four of the last ten favourites have won this but of greater significance is trainer Willie Mullins, who has landed five of the last six renewals, including with 100/1 shot Poniros 12-months ago.
I’ll be honest, it’s not a race I have a strong view on. There are numerous runners that can have cases made and perhaps it can be a year for a smaller trainer to make a big name for himself, so I’m happy to side with Minella Study for the Northumberland yard of Adam Nicol.
He’s 3-3 so far, having won in Listed company, as well as in this track’s trial for this race in December. He beat Winston Junior (second in the Fred Winter on Tuesday) by more than six lengths there and he’s an each-way player on horse racing betting sites at 7/1 against the big guns.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 race card, start times and full four-day schedule
11:04 , Chris WilsonThe Cheltenham Festival is back as the National Hunt jump racing season gathers pace with the four-day bonanza of horseracing goodness one of the highlights of the sport’s calendar.
The Festival began with Champion Day before Ladies Day and then St Patrick’s Thursday, with Gold Cup Day bringing the event to a close on Friday.
This year’s action is set to be thrilling and, perhaps, a touch more unpredictable than previous years though the prolific Irish trainer Willie Mullins and resident jockey Paul Townend will hope to excel once more.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 race card and full four-day schedule
Friday 13 March - Gold Cup Day
10:56 , Chris WilsonFull race schedule for Gold Cup day
1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle
2.00: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
2.40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase
3.20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
4.00: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase
4.40: Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase
5.20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Harry Redknapp could achieve his sporting dream today – and it’s nothing to do with football
10:54 , Mike JonesHarry Redknapp is on the verge of achieving a dream. The former Premier League manager, King of the Jungle and horseracing enthusiast has his sights on one thing this week and that is Friday’s Gold Cup.
Why, you ask? Because the 79-year-old, who has been discussed in Tottenham Hotspur circles about a shock return with the club dragged into a relegation battle, owns one of the leading contenders and has a strong chance of writing himself into Cheltenham Festival folklore.
Harry Redknapp may achieve his sporting dream – and it’s nothing to do with football
A tale of two Cheltenhams: Cheaper pints and Prosecco aplenty – amid abundance of lavish luxury
10:48 , Alex RossSipping from a glass of the finest Pauillac wine, fetching £355 a bottle, Phil Wynn appreciates that he’s got one of the best views of the Cheltenham Festival.
While the masses bear the brunt of the rain and wind 100 feet below, the company director lounges in the waiter-served panoramic restaurant where gin and maple cured trout and a rack of Cotswolds lamb feature among the culinary delights on the menu.
Shielded by clear windows, in the distance diners can make out figures huddled together in the wind-swept stand of the cheapest tickets at the festival: the Best Mate Enclosure.
A tale of two Cheltenhams: Cheaper pints aplenty – but more ticketed areas
Every horse in Harry Redknapp’s stable as former football boss goes for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory
10:46 , Mike JonesHarry Redknapp is on the brink of achieving a sporting dream as one of his horses runs today in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Winning one of the most prestigious races of the horseracing calendar would give Redknapp closer on a journey of love, respect and enjoyment that began with his grandmother, Maggie Brown, who was a bookmaker's runner in London's East End.
Redknapp explained how his life has always intertwined with horseracing and how, from the age of eight, his interest in the sport has only grown.
Every horse in Harry Redknapp’s stable ahead of Cheltenham Gold Cup
How can I watch the race on TV and is there a live stream?
10:32 , Chris WilsonYou can watch the first six races of each day, including Friday’s Gold Cup, with the ITV1 broadcast, while full coverage of the meeting, including the final race of each day is only available through a Racing TV subscription.
Both ITV and Racing TV provide live streams for the coverage through their apps and websites, while fans can of course tune on via the traditional television broadcast. Several betting sites will also be streaming the action, but in most cases you need to have a funded account.
Gavin Cromwell backing Inothewayurthinking
10:27 , Mike JonesThe trainer of last year’s Gold Cup winning horse Inothewayurthinkin is Gavin Cromwell and he has been speaking about the prospects of his charge regaining his title today.
He told William Hill: “Inothewayurthinkin is back to defend the Gold Cup and he’ll have the cheekpieces on this time. We schooled him in them the other week and they certainly seemed to sharpen up his jumping.
“He’s certainly a different horse to what he was a month ago. He’s taken a big step forward and it remains to be seen whether that’ll be enough for him to win the race again, but hopefully it is.”
When is the Gold Cup?
10:24 , Chris WilsonThe Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, to give it its full name, takes place on the concluding day of the festival, Friday 13 March at 4pm.
It is the fifth race of the day’s schedule and at three miles and two-and-a-half furlongs is the second longest race of the four-day event.
Harry Redknapp excited for Gold Cup
10:21 , Mike JonesHarry Redknapp owns The Jukebox Man, who runs in the Gold Cup today, and is excited for his chances.
"Sandra and I are pretty quiet away from everything, believe you me,” he said.
“But I said to her, 'Can you believe it? We're coming to Cheltenham and everyone is saying, 'Good luck to the Jukebox on Friday, Harry'.
"We just get on with it though. We're not Billy big heads or anything. We just get on with it. I talk to everybody. It doesn't cost nothing to be nice to people.
“People ask me about The Jukebox Man more than football! I've been to theatres to do Q&As and they all come up to me afterwards. They've not actually come to see me really, they've just come to ask me about The Jukebox Man!
“If I see the boys who used to play for me, they all talk about it. Whenever I've bashed into any of the lads who I've managed, they always ask about racing!”
Willie Mullins makes Cheltenham Festival threat after Fact to File withdraws from Ryanair Chase
10:16 , Chris WilsonTrainer Willie Mullins has threatened to stop bringing his best horses to Cheltenham Festival over the condition of the racecourse following the late withdrawal of Fact to File in the Ryanair Chase.
Racegoers were rocked on Thursday by the news that odds-on favourite Fact To File would not run in the feature race of St Patrick’s Thursday.
Mullins, in combination with owner JP McManus, had earlier revealed concern over the ground and maintained the star horse would not race unless rain fell in the area hours before the 4:00pm GMT race.
Willie Mullins makes Cheltenham Festival threat after Fact to File withdrawal
Heart Wood seizes Cheltenham Festival redemption but Fact To File withdrawal raises vital question
10:08 , Chris WilsonHere’s the report from yesterday’s action if you want a refresher before Gold Cup day...
There was a collective groan from horseracing fans at the Cheltenham Festival when it became clear that JP McManus and Willie Mullins did not intend to run fan-favourite Fact To File in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase.
The pair had already raised the eyebrows of spectators last week when omitting him from Friday’s Gold Cup with the reaction to that news one of disbelief. But that wasn’t how McManus saw it.
A year ago, Fact To File’s owner had watched him travel strongly and remain in touch with the leaders in the 2025 running of the Ryanair before heading into the lead three jumps from home and going clear by the next fence. He saw the way Fact To File won by nine lengths decided that a repeat performance would be good enough. Until it wasn’t.
Heart Wood seizes Cheltenham Festival redemption but his win raises questions
Sign up to Independent Racing with Jonathan Doidge
10:00 , Mike JonesYou can find more insights, tips, odds and more each day of the Cheltenham Festival right here at The Independent.
Along with our dedicated live blog coverage of each race day we have expert analysis of the biggest stories, tips and predictions from weekly meetings and specialist coverage from the world of horseracing in our Independent Racing newsletter with Jonathan Doidge.
To subscribe to our daily newsletters covering all things Cheltenham follow the link below.
Independent Racing will then drop into your inbox each Friday after the Festival concludes as our insights move towards the Grand National and the Flat racing season beyond.
Get expert tips with Jonathan Doidge’s Independent Racing newsletter
Trains full heading to Cheltenham
09:58 , Alex Ross en route to CheltenhamAt Bristol Parkway, and the nine carriage service to Cheltenham Spa is still not big enough to squeeze everyone on.
It's full with standing room only, the station PA announces.
Slight delay then for those heading to the Gold Cup today.
Gold Cup day - and it's a sell-out
09:56 , Alex Ross en route to CheltenhamThe capped attendance for Cheltenham Festival is this year 66,000 - and we are expecting just that with a sell-out declared.
For the busiest day of the week, GWR has a nine carriage train taking punters from Bristol and the West Country to Cheltenham Spa today.Once at Cheltenham Spa, the hoards of racegoers will either hop on one of the shuttle buses laid on, or take the 40-minute walk to Prestbury Park.
Here's the scene at Bristol Parkway right now:
Oscars Brother to run in Grand National?
09:54 , Mike JonesOne of the best stories from Tuesday’s racing was Connor King’s horse Oscars Brother finishing fourth in the Brown Advisory.
King only trains two horses and now has a decision on whether to run Oscars Brother in the Grand National.
King said: "He ran super. I was delighted with him.
"It all happened a bit fast for him but he finished the race off well and was only beaten five and a half lengths, I think.
"So far as the Grand National is concerned we'll see how he is later in the week. We'll get him home first. It will all be down to how the horse is."
Gold Cup runners
09:48 , Chris WilsonAhead of the biggest race of the Festival, here’s a rundown of the runners for the 2026 edition.
The field for the Gold Cup is confirmed with the big shock being Fact To File’s omission after he was victorious in the Irish Gold Cup back in February. Also absent is Galopin Des Champs who suffered a setback before the Festival began leaving the way open for Inothewayurthinkin to regain the title he won in 2025. Here’s the full Gold Cup field ranked by their latest odds:
The Jukebox Man - 7/2
Gaelic Warrior - 9/2
Jango Baie - 5/1
Haiti Couleurs - 6/1
Inothewayurthinkin - 15/2
Grey Dawning - 14/1
Envoi Allen - 33/1
Firefox - 40/1
L’Homme Presse - 66/1
Gold Tweet - 125/1
This Morning presenter backing Harry Redknapp's Gold Cup contender
09:48 , Mike JonesThis Morning presenter, Josie Gibson, has given her thoughts on the week’s racing and is backing any horses owned by Harry Redknapp.
His horse The Jukebox Man runs in the Gold Cup on Friday and Gibson said: "I would love to see Harry win anything, especially the Gold Cup.
"I was over the moon for him when Shakem Up'arry won at Cheltenham in 2024, because I think he's such a nice bloke and I like good things to happen to good people.
"I also love the way Harry Redknapp loves his wife. That is the sort of man you want to love you. He just worships her."
‘We’ve got our Cheltenham back’: Rejoicing crowds give new-look festival seal of approval
09:42 , Mike JonesThe winter sun shone brightly, albeit briefly, for the start of the Cheltenham Festival, the highlight of the jump racing season.
More than 57,000 racegoers – from binocular-armed racing enthusiasts to city hipsters – congregated in this corner of the Cotswolds, sending opening day attendance up 3 per cent from last year.
The excitement of the smiling crowds entering Prestbury Park, many arriving after a testing six-hour journey from Ireland, was palpable, and as the first race set off – met, of course, by the rousing Cheltenham roar – there was consensus on the terraces that the festival was back to its best.
‘We’ve got our Cheltenham back’: Crowds give new-look festival seal of approval
What you need to know about the Gold Cup
09:36 , Mike JonesNew to horseracing? Need a refresher on today’s big race?
Check out our explainer for the Cheltenham Gold Cup:
How can I watch the Cheltenham Festival on TV and is there a live stream?
09:30 , Mike JonesYou can watch the first six races of each day at the Cheltenham Festival with ITV1, while full coverage of the Festival, including the final race of each day is available through a Racing TV subscription.
Both ITV and Racing TV provide live streams for the coverage through their apps and websites, while fans can of course tune on via the traditional television broadcast.
When is 2026 Cheltenham Festival and what races are included?
09:24 , Mike JonesThe Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday 10 March and concludes on Friday 13 March. Fans can expect 28 races over the course of four days, with seven races per day, including 13 races run over fences across the week, 13 over hurdles plus a bumper (flat race) and a cross-country chase.
The shortest run is a little under two miles, while the longest races almost reach four miles. Fans will look out for 13 of the races run at Grade 1 standard, while five are run as Grade 2s, six Grade 3s and the other four being Listed.
The first race is scheduled for 1:20pm GMT each day, with the final race starting at 5:20pm.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 race card, start times and full four-day schedule
09:18 , Mike JonesThe Cheltenham Festival is back as the National Hunt jump racing season gathers pace with the four-day bonanza of horseracing goodness one of the highlights of the sport’s calendar.
The Festival began with Champion Day before Ladies Day and then St Patrick’s Thursday, with Gold Cup Day bringing the event to a close on Friday.
This year’s action is set to be thrilling and, perhaps, a touch more unpredictable than previous years though the prolific Irish trainer Willie Mullins and resident jockey Paul Townend will hope to excel once more.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 race card and full four-day schedule
Friday 13 March - Gold Cup Day
09:12 , Mike JonesFull race schedule for Gold Cup day
1.20: JCB Triumph Hurdle
2.00: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
2.40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase
3.20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
4.00: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase
4.40: Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase
5.20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Thursday's winning horses
09:06 , Mike Jones1:20 - White Noise in The Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle
2:00 - Meetmebythesea in The Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
2:40 - Wodhooh in The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
3.20 - Home By The Lee in Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle
4.00 - Heart Wood in The Ryanair Chase
4:40 - Supremely West in The Pertemps Network Final
5.20 - Ask Brewster in The Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase
Cheltenham Festival 2026
09:00 , Mike JonesGood morning and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
It’s the big one today as the Gold Cup runs at 4pm with a field of closely contested horses which can all beat each other on their day.
The four-day bonanza of horseracing reaches its climax with Inothewayurthinkin attempting to emulate previous Gold Cup legends and win in consecutive years.
But, before that there’s a full card of racing to get through as well as all the updates off the course.
We’ll have all the insights throughout the day so stick us as we build up to the opening race at 1.20pm.