Picture: Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Pageant kicks off on Tuesday with 4 days of a few of the most prestigious leaping motion of the yr. The four-day race options 13 Grade 1 occasions spanning all divisions of nationwide looking racing. The race card begins at 9:20 a.m. EDT every day of the assembly and can characteristic seven races every day.
The competition’s spotlight race is the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup, with 14 horses scheduled to run at noon (ET) on Friday. The prize cash for the yr’s most prestigious steeplechase is $839,900, making it the most costly steeplechase of the season in Britain or Eire, other than the Grand Nationwide (G3) at Aintree on April 11. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a grueling three-mile, two-and-a-half furlong race with 22 fences alongside the way in which and is open to horses aged 5 and over, absolutely rated by the British Horseracing Authority.
Having crushed 2023 and 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin des Champs in 2025, Inotewayursinkin will intention to match his rival’s feat of successful back-to-back races. As of Monday afternoon, he has a greatest document of 7-1 on the abroad market, however the street won’t be simple for the Gavin Cromwell trainee. The horse returned this season with a robust fifth place within the John Durcan Memorial (G1) at Punchestown in November, completed ninth within the Savills Chase (G1) at Leopardstown, and most not too long ago misplaced within the Irish Gold Cup (G1) at Leopardstown on February 2. The Irish Gold Cup was the race he used final yr as a ultimate tune-up, and though he did not win that race, he no less than confirmed a extra progressive type than earlier than. To his boring look on this marketing campaign.
As of Monday afternoon, Gaelic Warriors had been favorites to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup within the abroad market with a 4-1 document. Gaelic Warrior can be coached by state facet Willie Mullins, greatest identified for coaching the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner. moral diamond. Leaping dynamo Willie Mullins has received this race 4 occasions. Al Bun Foto in 2019 and 2020, and Galopin des Champs in 2023 and 2024. Galopin des Champs are favorites to regain their Gold Cup crown in 2026 and carried out their ultimate main activity on Thursday. Nonetheless, Brian O’Connor of the Irish Occasions studies that he didn’t carry out nicely in Friday’s recreation and has been dominated out for the remainder of the season by supervisor Mullins.
Gaelic Warrior carried out nicely on the Cheltenham Pageant, successful the 2024 Novice Chase (G1) and ending runner-up within the 2023 Novice Hurdle and 2022 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (G3). The three races main as much as the Gold Cup had been fruitful, most not too long ago ending second within the Irish Gold Cup. Appropriate for each good and smooth soils.
Nonetheless, he must face robust competitors. Simply behind him available on the market is Ben Poling’s Jukeboxman, who beat Gaelic Warrior within the King George VI Chase (G1) on December 26 and ran nicely to complete second within the Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2024 after the same layoff. Django Bey, coached by Nicky Henderson, have additionally proven robust curiosity. He misplaced to Jukebox Man by simply half a size at King George, however has continued to carry out nicely, successful final yr’s Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Jukebox Man, Django Bey, Gaelic Warrior and the opposite rider pictured within the picture, King George, additionally lined up at Cheltenham at Banbridge, educated by Joseph O’Brien. He received at King George in 2024 and completed second by a nostril in 2025, however he must show he can run as nicely at Cheltenham as he did at Kempton. Final yr, they had been unable to take part as a result of they completed seventh within the Gold Cup and suffered a crushing defeat. However on a superb day, he can face up to any of those, Baba ought to be a superb match, and his greatest value on the abroad market at 40-1 suggests he is a superb lengthy hit to contemplate worth.
Probably the most thrilling races of the week, and one that might affect the long run operating of the Gold Cup for years to come back, is the Novice Chase (G1). This would be the second race on Wednesday, beginning at 10 a.m. EDT. The race is three miles and one furlong, with 20 fences alongside the way in which, and is open to horses aged 5 and over who haven’t received a steeplechase earlier than the beginning of this season.
The horse to look at is Nicky Henderson’s Romeo Coolio, who’s the highest favourite with 9 wins and a couple of losses on the abroad market as of Monday afternoon. A Grade 1 winner within the December 2024 Hurdle, he was third within the Novice Hurdle (G1) at Cheltenham final yr. He’ll step as much as chase in October 2025 (at the start of the present jumps season, which runs from fall to spring), and the seven-year-old son of Keif Tara is undefeated in 4 races this yr. This contains three consecutive G1 novice races. The most important downside for Romeo Coolio is distance. He hasn’t run greater than 2 1/2 miles since debuting in 2023 together with his first three-mile point-to-point. The previous two races have been shut calls and I placed on the hood for the primary time, most likely to relax on this lengthy journey.
Willie Mullins’ barn is at all times stuffed with prospects and he trains six of the 16 contributors within the Novice Chase. Among the many horses within the group, essentially the most excellent are Kaid Dorsey, who confidently received the Novice Chase (G1) held at Leopardstown on February 1st, and Closing Demand, who received the 4 Win Novice Chase (G1) held at Limerick in front-running type from two begins regardless of being behind his stablemates.
