Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting 2026: New Favourite As Galopin Disappoints at DRF

The 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup betting odds have been shaken up after the Irish Gold Cup saw Galopin Des Champs well beaten into third by stablemates Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Odds 2026 

Note: 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup betting odds are subject to change 

Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Odds Market Shake-Up After Irish Gold Cup

Trainer Willie Mullins fired in an Irish Gold Cup 1-2-3, but it wasn’t necessarily the order that most punters wanted.

His three-time winner of the race Galopin Des Champs would have brought the Leopardstown house down had he’d won again.

However, despite a gallant effort, it seems the hands of time are catching up with Galopin Des Champs after fading into third in the closing stages.

Which left the slightly younger legs of his stablemates FACT TO FILE (9) and Gaelic Warrior (8) to fight it out.

With the former bouncing back to form to take the 2026 Irish Gold Cup by an impressive five lengths.

Adding the Leopardstown DRF race to his 2024 Ladbrokes Novice Chase and improving on this Irish Gold Cup third in 2025.

Fact To File is now a Irish Gold winner 🏆

Do they head back for the Ryanair or roll the dice now in the big one?

JP potentially has Jonjon for it now, with Majborough for the Champion Chase. Could he pick them all up?

🟩🟨pic.twitter.com/chSiH2ZTh6

— Racing Tales (@Racing_Tales) February 2, 2026

Fact To File NOT Entered In The Cheltenham Gold Cup 

But Fact To File DOESN’T at this stage hold a Gold Cup entry at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival in March.

With the Ryanair Chase – the race he won easily in 2025, his likely target – where he’s now into odds-on at 4/6 with most firms.

As a result of his third, the two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs was moved out to 10/1 in the betting (from 5/1).

And Gaelic Warrior was cut slightly into 6/1.

While several horses that didn’t even run in the Irish Gold Cup also saw their Cheltenham Gold Cup betting odds cut.

All due to Galopin and last year’s winner Inothewayurthinkin running down the field at Leopardstown.

Let’s also hope Inothewayurthinkin is okay, as he took a heavy fall at the last too.

With last year’s hero now as big as 16/1 (from 6/1).

Can Fact To File Be Supplemented For The Cheltenham Gold Cup?

Yes, despite not having an entry for the Gold Cup, Fact To File can still be supplemented for the race at a cost of £25,000.

This typically happens at the final confirmation stage, closer to the Festival in March – often at the start of the month.

Don’t forget, the 2025 winner Inothewayurthinkin was supplemented at that late stage too.

But, despite winning the Irish Gold Cup, you still feel the Ryanair Chase would be his preferred target.

With Inothewayurthinkin having a poor season though, it would be no shock to see JP McManus get his cheque book out to supplement Fact To File.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Race Details 2026 🏆

📅Date: Friday 13th March 2026
⌚Time: 4:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
🔄Trip: 3m 2 1/2f
💷Winning Purse: £364,313.57
📺 TV: ITV Racing / Racing TV

Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Odds See Jango Baie As New Favourite

Another 2026 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner that is well-touted in the market is Jango Baie – who is the new favourites, without even running a race.

This Nicky Henderson runner was last seen running a close fourth in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day – and many feel he’ll be even better back at Cheltenham and up in trip.

He landed the Arkle Novices’ Chase 12 months ago, when coming from way off the pace and this season has improved over longer trips.

Jango Baie will be looking to give Henderson his third Gold Cup winner – having won this famous race with Long Run (2011) and Bobs Worth (2013).

But due to Galopin Des Champs running only in the Irish Gold Cup, this has seen his Gold Cup odds shorten into favourite.

He could be next out in Saturday’s Denman Chase at Newbury, where he’d face Haiti Couleurs.

Jango Baie Gold Cup Betting Odds: 5/1

King George Winner The Jukebox Man Fancied In The Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Odds Market

The last horse to win the King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season was the mighty Kauto Star.

Meaning this season’s big Boxing Day winner The Jukebox Man has some big shoes to try and fill.

However, this Ben Pauling chaser is certainly on the up and is four-from-four and unbeaten over fences.

This 8yo has also tasted the Cheltenham Festival before, when a head runner-up to Stellar Story in the 2024 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp pays his training bills, so The Jukebox Man will be hoping to hit the back of the net for his famous owner.

Without even running, The Jukebox Man was cut into the 6/1 Gold Cup second favourite.

The Jukebox Man Gold Cup Betting Odds: 5/1

Galopin Des Champs Bidding To Be First Horse To REGAIN The Gold Cup Since Kauto Star

Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs provided Willie Mullins with his third and fourth wins in the race in 2023 and 2024.

Following on from Al Boum Photo winning in 2019 and 2020.

But his bid for a famous three-timer in the race was foiled by Inothewayurthinkin in 2025, with Galopin running a gallant second.

Meaning Galopin Des Champs, who was only third in the Irish Gold Cup, will be looking to regain his Gold Cup crown.

But this is not easy – the only horse in recent times to win back the Cheltenham Gold Cup was Kauto Star.

The former Paul Nicholls-trained chaser won back the prize in 2009 – two years after winning in 2007.

Kauto remains the only horse to do this.

Galopin Des Champs, who is aged 10, would also need to be the oldest Gold Cup winner since Cool Ground, who was 10 when successful in 1992.

Since then ALL winners have been aged 9 or younger.

Galopin Des Champs Gold Cup Betting Odds: 10/1

2025 Gold Cup Winner Inothewayurthinkin On The Drift For Repeat Win 

Repeat winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup have been popular in recent times.

With Galopin Des Champs the most recent – winning in 2023 and 2024.

Plus, we’ve also had Al Boum Photo win in 2019 and 2020, Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009.

And, of course, Best Mate won three Gold Cups on the spin between 2002 and 2004.

The next to try will be the 2025 winner Inothewayurthinkin, who will also be looking to give owner JP McManus his third win in the race – having won with Synchronised in 2012.

Inothewayurthinkin hasn’t won since landing the Gold Cup, but his season would have been geared up for a repeat win.

He’s also two-from-two at Cheltenham, having won the Kim Muir back in 2024.

But, as mentioned, suffered a heavy fall in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown and is now out to 16/1.

Hopefully he’s okay.

Inotherwayurthinkin Gold Cup Betting Odds: 16/1

Welsh National Winner Haiti Couleurs Looking For Famous Double

Past Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Synchronised and Native River also won the Welsh Grand National in their careers.

However, no horse has ever landed both races in the same season.

Something the Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs will be trying to do if making the final runners on March 13th.

He also landed the Irish Grand National in 2025 and will have top jockey Sean Bowen, who is hunting his first Gold Cup, in the saddle.

The horse was meant to run in the Irish Gold Cup, but will next be seen in Saturday’s Denman Chase at Newbury.

Haiti Couleurs Gold Cup Betting Odds: 10/1

Recent Cheltenham Gold Cup Winners 🥇