Cheltenham Festival 2026: Gallic Warrior wins Cheltenham Gold Cup with 8th Jukebox Man

Gaelic Warrior won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in impressive fashion as Harry Redknapp’s Jukebox Man finished eighth.

Gaelic Warrior, trained by Willie Mullins, went off as the joint 11-4 favorite alongside Gangu Bey, but was outpaced by the field after coming home.

Jockey Paul Townend only had to overtake the impressive winner, who crossed the finish line eight lengths ahead of Gango Pie.

2025 Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin finished strongly to take third place in this year’s edition, after being priced at 8-1.

Mullins was full of praise for his owner Rich Ritchie, who became the first owner to win the Champion Hurdle – with Lossiemouth on Tuesday – and the Gold Cup in the same year.

The coach told ITV: “What a performance and what a performance from the owner.

“It is the first time an owner has won the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup in the same season.

“Paul Townend, how good has he been over the last two fences?

“I don’t know how great he was over those last two fences. Gaelic Warrior dominating a good field on paper – it was fantastic for all of them.”

Winning jockey Townend said after the race that he was “lucky” to be riding the Gaelic Warrior.

“It’s the Gold Cup. They keep getting better. I’m speechless,” Townend said.

“Patrick [Mullins] He was convinced he was a racehorse.

“Bad luck on him [in that race] But he did a lot of work with this horse. It’s a big team effort. I was lucky to be behind him today.

“I got the position I wanted. I never imagined going that far, but I didn’t want to slow him down third from last.”

Ritchie said he had “reached the mountain” after wanting to win the Gold Cup for 21 years.

Meanwhile, Envoy Allen – a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner – died after falling ill after Friday’s feature race.