Cheltenham 2026

Another plot horse wins the 4.40. Every year there's one of them

Cheltenham need to sort out the starts. Maybe 5 or 6 horses beaten at the off in 24 runner races.

Going to take a complete swing in the Gold Cup. Firefox each way at 33/1. All sorts of doubts about the leading players, a few potential non stayers there. Firefox looks like the type that could be staying on up the hill late.

Once more unto the breach…

1:20: Highland Crystal 6/1

2:00: Karbau 7/2

2:40: Dinoblue 2/1

3:20: The Passing Wife 15/2

4:00: Gaelic Warrior 11/4

4:40: Solitary Man 14/1

5:20: Act of Authority 11/1

1:20: May have to step up to win but Saratoga gave the Naas form a good boost in the Fred Winter so hopefully this more can have further improvement in what looks an open race.

2:00: Willie Mullins has dominated this and won with horses with a similar profiles in the past, State Man most notably. Surely won’t be far away.

2:40: You feel this mare will be retired after this regardless so I’m hoping she can go out retaining her crown here. Hard to knock her form but the race looks deeper this year but you feel one of the other market leaders will have to improve to beat her if she is at her best.

3:20: Siding with Kevin Blake again here who gave this horse a good shout on his At The Races blog. The fact the Cromwell team supplemented him here could be tip in what is always a very muddling race to figure out.

4:00: Struggled with this one but by a process of elimination I keep coming back to the favourite. I feel he has experience and class on his side and if the race doesn’t become a complete slog, I think that class can tell up the hill.

4:40: I backed this horse last night at about 28/1. He seems to have attracted a bit of support since then. Enda Bolger has won this before and this could be a horse that can outperform his odds but price may have gone a bit now.

5:20: Again always a tricky race but this horse finished second in it last year so looks like he’s been primed for it again. Following Kevin Blake again here — who has had a decent week with his tipping column. 

What are people’s feelings on the Gold Cup? Seems to be the most open renewal that I can remember in a long time.

Again Karbau beaten as soon as the race was started. Near the rear, had to run wide and between horses. Similar to Salma de Vary in the previous race

Cheltenham Is not half the festival it was once. One trainer with 5/6 runners in some races . Its only for the rich and elite now.

No chance for the small owners/trainer anymore.

Apologies, The Solitary Man never ran any sort of race

Down slightly for the week. Gaelic/Dinoblue double today took the dirty look off it. Lessons learned but hope to go again next year with the help of God.

Didn’t get to watch much of the coverage but the buzz seemed to be back around the place and the competitiveness and big fields for so many of the races was good to see. Willie’s dominance again aside, it was good to see there the Prestbury Cup still all to play for down to the last few races. We need that for the Festival.

See a few of ye around here for Aintree and Ptwon as well hopefully if it’s not gone completely dead on here.

I think they will have to reduce the number of runners to 18 in the 2 mile races. Nothing more frustating than known your bet is lost at the start

Gordon had a stinker really.

Thought the stayers hurdle summed up his festival, went out like a light.

I struggled this year with the handicaps, didn't expect such dominance from the Brits. Did get a few to place.

Festival was made around the Skelton plot job double and the Mourne Rambler.

Delighted for Gaelic Warrior, but crazy to think, he might have ended up in the Ryanair.

The starts was an absolute mess, getting them off the bend has to be the starting point and go from there.