All attention on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival will be on the Gold Cup, as one of the deepest renewals of the race in recent memory sets a thrilling contest in prospect.
However, two further Grade Ones are also run on day four, and you can find the important trends for all races here.
The concluding day of the Cheltenham Festival kicks off with the Grade One Triumph Hurdle. Poniros was the shock 100/1 winner of the race 12 months ago, winning without having previously jumped a hurdle in public.
However, historical trends indicate that bettors will be looking for horses with at least one win over hurdles, while eight of the last 12 have made at least two starts over obstacles. A major red flag is previous Cheltenham experience, with just two of the last two winners having previously run at the track.
Proactif could have the race at his mercy following the absence of Narciso Has, and the Willie Mullins star has been eye-catching in both wins over hurdles this season.
The first handicap on the final day of the Festival is the County Handicap Hurdle, run over two miles and a furlong. Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton have dominated the race since 2015, with there being only one other winning trainer over the period, Peter Fahey (Belfast Banter-2021).
Classy horses off low weights have been a trademark, with State Man, Absurde, and Kargese all included on the roll of honour. Previous Cheltenham form should be respected, with eight of the last 12 having made at least one start at the track. However, winning experience at the course is a red flag, with Cheltenham winners winning just two of the last 12.
Murcia has previous experience at the track, finishing eighth in last year’s Fred Winter. Was eye-catching on unsuitable ground at the Dublin Racing Festival, but still finished fourth.
The Grade Two Mares’ Chase is one of the newest races added to the Festival schedule, with Dinoblue being the reigning champion. Willie Mullins is the obvious starting point, with the Irish maestro having won three of the last five renewals.
Meanwhile, there has never been a British-trained winner of the contest. Classy horses should be respected, with four of the last five victors holding ratings of 150+.
Spindleberry should be forgiven for her latest effort when pulled up in the Irish Gold Cup. Otherwise progressive before that point, winning on each of her five starts over fences.
The final graded race for novice hurdlers is the Albert Bartlett, run over three miles. The poor strike-rate of favourites in the race is hard to ignore, while only one of the last five editions has been won by a horse in the top three of the betting.
Since 2014, there have been four winners priced at odds of 33/1 or bigger, meaning that bettors shouldn’t be afraid of a price. Green flags to look for include horses with winning form over three miles and those aged either 6 or 7.
The Passing Wife could maintain the strong Irish record in this race for Gavin Cromwell. Has little to find on Thedeviluno based on a clash earlier this season, and she was extremely eye-catching on her first attempt over two miles and three last time when beating Doctor Du Mesnil by nine lengths.
A thrilling renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup headlines the final day of the Festival, with Galopin Des Champs bidding to become the first horse since Kauto Star to regain the title. Stamina must be proven, based on trends, with eleven of the last 12 winners having made at least two starts over three miles.
Meanwhile, the Irish Gold Cup has been a notable prep, with the Dublin Racing Festival contest accounting for half of the winners since 2014. Experience over fences is also key, with ten winners since 2014 having made at least seven chase starts.
The fact that there has been no ten-year-old winner since Cool Dawn in 1998 ensures that the unexposed contenders could be the most viable angles.
Gaelic Warrior was unfortunate in the King George on Boxing Day, and was second in the Irish Gold Cup last time. Has been a high-class performer since winning the Aintree Bowl last April, and is the only runner from the Willie Mullins stable, ensuring maximum respect.
The Hunters’ Chase is the penultimate race at the 2026 Festival. Horses aged 10 or older have an excellent record, winning 9 of the last 11.
Bigger priced selections have tended to out-run their odds, with 66/1 (Premier Magic) and 28/1 (Wonderwall) winning two of the last three editions. Seven of the last 12 victors have had prior experience around Cheltenham without winning, which is a notable trend angle.
Based on the trends, Panda Boy could be capable of out-running his odds for trainer Martin Brassil.
The 2026 Cheltenham Festival draws to a close with the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle. Gordon Elliott has an excellent recent record in the race, winning each of the last two. Meanwhile, Irish-trained runners have won four of the last five.
Favourites have a poor strike rate in the finale, but each of the last three winners have been in the top three in the betting. Classier horses have a reliable record in the Martin Pipe, highlighted by the fact that nine of the last 12 have been towards the top of the handicap.
Experienced runners with race fitness and a win this season are the way to go. Five-year-old Its Bilbo ticks plenty of boxes, and was an eye-catching winner at Limerick on his previous start.
