Good morning from Cheltenham on the concluding day of the 2026 festival meeting, setting the stage for what could become one of the most memorable days in recent history. The spotlight shines brightly on Harry Redknapp's unbeaten chaser, The Jukebox Man, as the popular and high-profile owner dares to dream of victory in the championship race: the prestigious Gold Cup.
The Jukebox Man Leads a Competitive Field
The Jukebox Man is among three horses that delivered a blanket finish in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, with Jango Baie and Gaelic Warrior also in the mix. These contenders are currently vying for favouritism in today's feature race. Additionally, after significant overnight rainfall, support is growing for Haiti Couleurs, the Welsh Grand National winner, whose proven stamina makes him a strong competitor in the challenging conditions.
Ground Conditions and Controversy
Jon Pullin, the clerk of the course, reported this morning that the going at Cheltenham has shifted to good-to-soft, with soft patches on the chase track after 10mm of rain overnight. On the hurdles course, it is soft, good-to-soft in places. Pullin addressed criticism from Willie Mullins, the most successful trainer in festival history, who expressed concerns about the ground on Thursday. Mullins suggested insufficient watering earlier in the week, leading to the scratching of Fact To File, the favourite and defending champion, from the Ryanair Chase.
"It was disappointing for everyone that Fact To File didn't run," Pullin stated. "As far as the ground was concerned, it was good, good-to-soft in places, and we did 4mm of irrigation on Wednesday night into Thursday. It was safe ground as we wanted, and we always knew we were going to get the rain we received last night."
Prestbury Cup in the Balance
A compelling subplot on today's card is the closely contested Prestbury Cup, which remains undecided for the first time in a decade. Ireland currently leads with 11 wins, while the home team has secured 10 victories. Historically, the Irish have dominated the Friday card on multiple occasions, and bookmaker Paddy Power rates the visitors as 1-6 favourites to finish the week ahead. A 14-14 tie is priced at 5-1, with the hosts at 9-1.
Betting and Racing Action
Today marks the second-biggest betting day of the year, trailing only the Grand National. The action commences at 1.20pm GMT with the Triumph Hurdle, where Adam Nicol's Minella Study, trained on the beach in north-east England, aims to kickstart the British campaign. As the day unfolds, this blog will provide every snippet of news worth knowing, including results, gambles, and more updates from Cheltenham.
