Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips

Friday is the conclusion of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and the function race on the day is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the biggest reward in National Hunt racing.


A field of 11 will line up to attempt and declare the reward and a place in history. The lack of two-time winner Galopin Des Champs means just in 2015's winner Inothewayurthinkin can avoid a new name being carved into the story of jumps racing.


Racing Post tipster Keith Melrose has two bets for the huge race, and fancies the Gold Cup to be won by a British horse for the first time given that 2018.


Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting Tips


16:00 Cheltenham - Haiti Couleurs @ 13/2
16:00 Grey Dawning @ 12/1


16:00 Cheltenham - Haiti Couleurs @ 13/2


The last British winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Native River, had actually run in the National Hunt Chase as a beginner and won the Welsh Grand National the following season. Haiti Couleurs is a natural follower to that horse, a strong galloper and improver who can reach the summit of the sport on Friday.


After winning the National Hunt Chase at last year's Festival, Haiti Couleurs went to Ireland where he won the Irish Grand National. He then raised the double when winning at Chepstow in December.


Ever since, he has won the Denman Chase, another race Native River took en route to winning his Gold Cup.


Given we are discovering numerous lessons from Native River, we require to take the warnings as well. He twice did not go quick enough in a Gold Cup and completed in the minor cash as a result.


It was under a forceful trip from Richard Johnson that he dominated in 2018 and Sean Bowen will definitely be continuing aboard Haiti Couleurs. That would take a few of the less doughty stayers into unknown territory. That admittedly includes our 2nd option, so perhaps see the staking strategy as covering the most bases.


16:00 Cheltenham - Grey Dawning @ 12/1


I thought this was a rare case of a horse progressing value after it was beaten. Grey Dawning last ran in the Cotswold Chase here in January, where he was given a peaceful ride and was simply sneaking into things when belting 2 out.


Harry Skelton immediately chose that was enough, and let him get home in his own time. It suggested connections of this horse have actually discovered lessons from last season, when he came into the spring without adequate in the tank to do himself justice.


Before Cheltenham, Grey Dawning had actually won the Betfair Chase in convincing style, suggesting he was all set to step up to Gold Cup standard. At the time, there was still a large and looming danger from Ireland. As the season has endured, a lot of those horses have beaten each other or fallen off track for this race.


With the Irish obstacle not as strong as it might have been, the door is ajar for a British winner. The Jukebox Man and Jango Baie are both obvious contenders after their prominent surfaces in the King George, however the possibilities of Haiti Couleurs and Grey Dawning are being ignored.


Tipster's Recent Winners


Keith Melrose was on Kap Vert when that horse won at Taunton on Monday and has been on the facilities at Cheltenham today, with each-way collections in his favoured handicap goes after on Jagwar, Leave Of Absence and Zurich.


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