Cheltenham Gold Cup Day: Ground Conditions and Key Contenders

The final day of the Cheltenham Festival, headlined by the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, is set to grab place on Friday, March 13, 2026, following recent rainfall that has altered the ground conditions. A total of 12 millimeters of rain fell during the past 24 hours, with an additional 10mm overnight, impacting the state of the track.

Ground Conditions Update

As of 6:45 am on Friday, Cheltenham’s clerk of the course, Jon Pullin, reported that the chase course is now “good to soft, soft in places,” while the hurdles course is “soft, good to soft in places.” Racing Post reports that Pullin anticipates mostly dry conditions for the remainder of the day, with the possibility of isolated showers, but not of significant volume.

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Contenders

The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, a Grade 1 race for 5-year-olds and over, is scheduled for 4:00 pm. Eleven runners are set to compete in the feature race. Sporting Life lists the following contenders:

• Envoi Allen (Age: 12, Weight: 11-10, Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe, Trainer: H De Bromhead, OR: 162) – A seasoned competitor with a strong record at the festival.
• Firefox (Age: 8, Weight: 11-10, Jockey: Jack Kennedy, Trainer: G Elliott, OR: 158) – A smart novice last season, looking to build on recent performances.
• Gaelic Warrior (Age: 8, Weight: 11-10, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: W P Mullins, OR: 172) – Boasts a fine record at the festival and is considered a strong contender.
• Gold Tweet (Age: 9, Weight: 11-10, Jockey: C Lefebvre, Trainer: Gabriel Leenders, OR: 144) – A Grade 2 winner in France.

At this stage, Gaelic Warrior and The Jukebox Man are battling for favouritism.

Recent Concerns Regarding Ground Conditions

The state of the ground at Cheltenham has been a point of contention, with trainer Willie Mullins expressing concerns. Yahoo Sports reports that Mullins withdrew Fact To File from the Ryanair Chase on Thursday, believing the ground was too hard and that promises of additional watering had not been fulfilled. Mullins stated he may reconsider bringing horses to the festival in the future if ground conditions are not suitable.

Jon Pullin responded by stating that selective watering took place on Wednesday evening to maintain the going description of Good, Good to Soft in places, and that their focus remains on providing safe jumping ground for all participants.

Festival Schedule

The final day of the Cheltenham Festival begins at 1:20 pm with the JCB Triumph Hurdle.