Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival: Day 4 Schedule and Odds
The fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival brings with it the biggest race of the week, the Gold Cup.
Alongside the Gold Cup, we have the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle, Grade 2 Mares’ Chase, and some competitive handicaps including the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle.
Here’s the schedule for day four in 2026.
Friday 13th March 2026
Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
The Triumph Hurdle is the premier juvenile hurdle contest of the week, brining together the best four-year-old hurdlers from both sides of the Irish Sea. Persian War, Tiger Roll, Vauban and Lossiemouth are just a few of the superstars to have won this contest in their juvenile campaign.
Last year we got a shock winner in Poniros at 100/1, but the winning trainer was no surprise as he was saddled by Willie Mullins. He had the clear favourite in Narciso Has before that horse was ruled out, but his strength in depth is epitomised by the fact that Proactif (10/3) and Salma De Vary (7/2) have since jumped to the top of the betting, both of which are trained at Closutton.
William Hill County Handicap Hurdle
Next up is one of the most interesting handicaps of the week, the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle. This always attracts some top-class horses who have snuck there way into handicap company, some of whom have ended up at championship race winners.
This year’s race looks as open as ever, with Murcia heading the betting at 6/1. Khrisma is Britain’s best hope for Nicky Henderson and JP McManus, while I Started A Joke (10/1) can’t be looked over easily for shrewd operator Charles Byrnes.
Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
Ahead of the Gold Cup, the best of the chasers in the mares’ division go to battle over two-and-half-miles on the new course. In a similar dynamic to the Mares’ and Champion Hurdle, this race can sometimes throw up a mare capable of mixing it in open Grade 1 contests such as the Champion Chase or Arkle.
With a rating of 159 Dinoblue is a horse who would be seen to have a chance in open company and as such is a warm order at 7/4 here. She takes on some classy mares, including Spindleberry (3/1), who had been tipped up by a few for the Gold Cup before blowing out at the Dublin Racing Festival. Only By Night, a 7/1 chance for William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell, is also worth another look having finished a close second in last year’s Arkle.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Next up is another Grade 1 contest for the novice hurdlers, the Albert Bartlett. It is fittingly placed before the Gold Cup, as it has produced a couple of eventual winners over the years in Bobs Worth and Minella Indo.
The three-mile trip on the new course is a proper stamina test, which is not something that should pose a problem for 5/2 favourite Doctor Steinberg. No Drama This End (4/1) is an exciting prospect for the Paul Nicholls yard, while Thedeviluno (4/1) gives Paul Nolan a great chance.
Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
Millions around the world will be tuning in at four o’clock on Friday afternoon for what many consider to be the biggest race of the year, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The three-mile-two-and-a-half-furlong contest is one of the biggest events in the British sporting calendar and winning it almost instantly gives a horse legendary status. Multiple winners such as Arkle, Best Mate, Kauto Star and Galopin Des Champs are racing icons, and this year we have to horses hoping to win the race not for the first time.
Galopin Des Champs, the 2023 and 2024 victor, is hoping to complete the hat-trick after finishing second last year (7/1). He was dethroned by Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin who will likely turn up to defend his title, but doesn’t arrive in the best of form and is 12/1 as a result. Fact To File is the Non Runner Money Back favourite at 4/1, but he could go for the Ryanair and still needs to be supplemented here, while Jango Baie is a certain runner at 5/1 in the ante post market.
Hunters’ Chase
In the wake of the Gold Cup, we move on to the Hunters’ Chase. Open to horses who have placed or won hunters’ chases or point-to-points previously, this is a unique contest which offers an opportunity for smaller yards to land a big pot, having been won last year by Sam Curling’s Wonderwall.
The 1-2 reoppose here and the market has them in the same order, with Wonderwall at 4/1 and Its On The Line a 5/1 chance for Emmet Mullins. Some old favourites from Festivals past could also line up here, with Chemical Energy (12/1) and Stattler (12/1) among the entries.
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
The conditional jockeys get a chance to leave their mark on the Cheltenham Festival as the week comes to a close with the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle. This is another open betting heat, which hasn’t been won by the favourite for over 10 years.
Four horses are joint at the head of the Non Runner Money Back betting, with Roc Dino, A Pai De Nom, The Passing Wife and Murcia all priced at 8/1.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
