Cheltenham Gold Cup Contenders 2026

Cheltenham Gold Cup Contenders

Cheltenham Gold Cup Contenders 2026 Festival Preview: The Big Guns Are Loaded

With the Cheltenham Festival just around the corner, the racing world is buzzing with anticipation. Here's a roundup of the latest news from the yards, with some fascinating storylines already developing ahead of jump racing's biggest week.

The Jukebox Man: Can He Do It Again?

Ben Pauling is brimming with confidence about his stable star heading into the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Speaking to Catherine Macrae, the trainer was in bullish mood: "The King George was a special win for us all and the form of that race couldn't have worked out better, with Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior fighting out the finish of the Irish Gold Cup."

Pauling believes the Cheltenham track will play into his horse's hands in a way Kempton simply couldn't, and he's hinted that there's even more to come.

"I think I can get him better than I had him for the King George," he said, with a racecourse gallop already pencilled in. Currently trading at 6-1 for the Gold Cup, The Jukebox Man is a genuine contender — even if the general consensus is that Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File didn't quite bring their A-game to Kempton.

Elliott's Army: The Best in Nearly a Decade

Gordon Elliott is making no secret of his ambitions. Writing for the Racing Post, Conor Fennelly reports that Elliott believes he has his strongest string since his famous 2017-18 assault on Willie Mullins' championship dominance — and he's planning to send up to 50 horses to Cheltenham to prove it.

Having already clocked over 150 domestic winners and €4 million in prize-money this season, Elliott has moved more than €500,000 clear of Mullins in the trainers' championship.

He knows better than anyone how hard it is to hold on — back in 2018 he led by €355,000 going into Punchestown, only for Mullins to overhaul him and win by €200,000 in the end.

"Is it something I dream about every day? Yes, it is," Elliott admitted, "but it's a long way away yet. We're probably just getting back to where we were in 2017. It took us a long time to rebuild."

cross-country chase

Among the horses to watch from Cullentra House, Brighterdaysahead is one Elliott is particularly keen on after a disappointing Champion Hurdle last year. "She wasn't right," he explained. "We discovered something after Punchestown and we rectified it." He's hinting at a different tactical approach this time around too.

Then there's Romeo Coolio, whose festival target remains up in the air — Arkle or Brown Advisory? Elliott is leaning towards the latter but hasn't committed.

"I don't think three miles will be a problem; it's just whether it's the right thing to do at this stage of his career." Either way, he looks like one of the most exciting novice chasers in training.

Mullins Opens the Doors to his Cheltenham Gold Cup Contenders

If Elliott is the story of the season so far, Willie Mullins isn't short of ammunition himself. The Closutton handler opened his doors to the press this week for his annual stable tour — a must-read for any festival enthusiast — and didn't disappoint.

Irish horse trainer Willie Mullins

Mighty Park: The Next Faugheen?

David Jennings reports that Mullins has been drawing some pretty lofty comparisons for his unbeaten novice hurdler Mighty Park.

The JP McManus-owned five-year-old was simply breathtaking on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse, bolting up by 38 lengths in a display that left connections scrambling to decide between the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Turners.

He's now been backed into as short as 5-1 for the Turners, having opened at 7-1, and it's easy to see why.

Mullins himself invoked the name of the legendary Faugheen — something he very rarely does — when discussing the horse at the Jockey Club's pre-festival press morning.

His jockey Mark Walsh was equally gobsmacked after the Fairyhouse race, reportedly stunned by how far in front he was while barely out of second gear.

"Any horse who wins by 38 lengths, you're into Faugheen-type territory and those things don't happen very often," Mullins said. The Turners — the very race Faugheen won — looks the most likely destination, and it would be a surprise if he doesn't go off favourite.

Jockey and Trainer

Kopek Des Bordes: Will He, Won't He?

The Kopek Des Bordes Hokey-Cokey has kept social media entertained for weeks — in, out, in, out for the Arkle. But punters waiting for reassurance from connections finally got it during the stable tour.

Mullins confirmed that the horse worked well recently against three decent rivals over two miles of fences at racing speed, and the more he jumped, the better he looked.

"The further and faster he jumped, the better he jumped," Mullins said. With owner and trainer now both sounding confident, those who fancied him at a drifted price may have missed their moment.

Narciso Has: A Chaser in the Making?

Completing a potential 47-1 Coral and Ladbrokes treble alongside Kopek Des Bordes and Mighty Park is Triumph Hurdle favourite Narciso Has. Mullins was glowing about the four-year-old, describing him as a big, strong, improving horse who loves jumping — and one who has a bit of the Gold Cup favourite Majborough about him in terms of physique and profile.

He ultimately ran in a different league to his rivals at Leopardstown and should be even better suited by the Cheltenham track. At 6-4, he's short, but it's hard to argue with Mullins when he talks like this about a horse.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Contenders: Market Watch

Fact To File remains at the head of the Gold Cup market but has drifted slightly to 4-1 with William Hill, with his stamina over the Cheltenham hill still a topic of debate.

Meanwhile, Kabral Du Mathan has been the most significant mover in the Stayers' Hurdle market this week, tumbling from 10-1 to as short as 7-2 with some firms after a surprise declaration at Haydock — though that price looks very keen given the stamina questions that remain around him.

With the festival now firmly on the horizon, the yards are buzzing, the markets are moving, and the storylines are only going to get more compelling from here.

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