The biggest race in the first half of 2026 will come during the Cheltenham Festival, and this year’s renewal of the Gold Cup looks set to be one of the hottest in recent memory.
Previous champions will return to make a statement, while emerging stars in the staying division will bid to make themselves legends.
Horses will regularly be included in a horse racing calculator at the Festival this year, but the Gold Cup is unlikely to feature a strong front-runner. But, who are the current contenders for Gold Cup glory in the Cotswolds this March?
Galopin Des Champs
Galopin Des Champs will be aiming to become the first horse since Kauto Star in 2009 to regain the Gold Cup. The Willie Mullins superstar is a two-time winner of the race, but he ran below his best in the 2025 edition when beaten by Inothewayurthinkin.
The ten-year-old retains plenty of ability, and he produced an excellent end to the season at Punchestown when beating Spillane’s Tower by 22 lengths in the G1 Punchestown Gold Cup.
There was plenty to like about his comeback effort when third behind Affordale Fury in the G1 Savills Chase. Heads to Leopardstown as the one to beat in the Irish Gold Cup, and history could beckon.
Inothewayurthinkin
Gavin Cromwell-trained Inothewayurthinkin will bid to follow up his success in the race 12 months ago by becoming a back-to-back winner of the Gold Cup. However, questions can be asked of the eight-year-old since his win at Cheltenham last March.
He was beaten 53 lengths on return in the G1 John Durkan Memorial, before finishing 41 lengths off the pace in the G1 Savills Chase last time.
Cromwell has insisted that his stable star will peak at Cheltenham, but his runs this season have done little to capture the imagination of the racing audience, and it could be easy to argue that he isn’t the same horse as 12 months ago.
Jango Baie
Jango Baie is one of the young contenders looking to make his mark in the staying division at Cheltenham. The Nicky Henderson runner will be aiming to become the first horse since Alverton in 1979 to win the Gold Cup 12 months after winning the Arkle.
Jango Baie should be primed for a big effort based on his finishing effort when landing the Arkle last year. Has since followed up on that promise with a nine-length demolition of Gidleigh Park at Ascot in November.
However, he will have form to find based on the G1 King George, finishing behind The Jukebox Man. But, Cheltenham could play to his strengths more so than his reappearing rival.
The Jukebox Man
The King George Chase is one of the most important preps on the way to Cheltenham, and The Jukebox Man could follow on from his success at Kempton to join the likes of Best Mate, Kauto Star, and Arkle to win the Gold Cup in the same season.
Ben Pauling’s stable star is unbeaten in four starts over fences, and showed his staying prowess to outlast a talented field on Boxing Day. He never wins by far, but the step up in trip almost certainly should suit at Cheltenham.
The eight-year-old has Cheltenham form in the book too, finishing second in the G1 Albert Bartlett at massive odds in March 2024. Remains unexposed and hard to poke holes in his unbeaten record over fences.
Gaelic Warrior
Willie Mullins will also be represented by the talented, but sometimes erratic, Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup. The eight-year-old was beaten a short head in the King George, but he appeared to be closing the gap on the eventual winner with every stride.
The runner has been a standout since being switched to fences, landing a memorable G1 John Durkan win at the start of the season when beating Fact To File by a neck.
He was a winner over three miles and a furlong last season when beating Grey Dawning in the G1 Aintree Bowl. Handles Cheltenham based on his Arkle win in 2024, and should go close.
Haiti Couleurs
Haiti Couleurs could be one of the most interesting Gold Cup contenders. He will be aiming to become the first Welsh Grand National winner since Burrough Hill Lad in 1983 to follow up with a success at Cheltenham in the same season, but this unexposed contender will have the services of Champion Jockey, Sean Bowen.
The way in which the Rebecca Curtis runner won the Welsh National was emphatic, claiming success by a three-length margin despite carrying nearly top weight.
The nine-year-old will have ambitions at the Grand National in April, but his dominant win at the Festival last March shows that he handles Cheltenham, and he could be a dangerous player for an improving yard this year.