Ben Morgan’s 2026 Cheltenham Festival tips – Day 4 – Jango Baie to strike Gold Cup glory

Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan selects his best bets for Day 4, and the final day, of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

JCB Triumph Hurdle – 1.20 – A good start if North Shore coasts home

An open Triumph Hurdle kicks us off on Day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival, and the absence of Narciso Has makes this look very winnable.

There are plenty of runners, and as we saw on Wednesday in the Turners Novice Hurdle, a lot of runners can cause a bit of chaos.

I’ll be hoping the chaos creates an opportunity for NORTH SHORE, who I think has more to offer after two nice runs earlier this season.

He was given a nice introduction on both occasions and finished 12 lengths, staying on, behind Narciso Has last time out.

Natural improvement from that run would give him a good chance here, but I do think there is plenty more to come from this useful French import.

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William Hill County Handicap Hurdle – 2.00 – Joyeuse occasion in the County Hurdle

Nicky Henderson is enjoying a fine week so far, especially in the handicaps and I hope that run of form continues.

JOYEUSE stands out in the County Hurdle down the bottom of the page and is beginning to look very well handicapped.

She seemingly returned to form last time out when travelling like the winner before a final flight error all but bought her down.

That was a much better performance and a return to hurdling seems to have rejuvenated her.

If you look at her earlier form, in particular her Betfair Hurdle win, then she could be very well handicapped off 135 and at 16/1 she represents solid each way value. 

Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase – 2.40 – Gavin Cromwell hoping to spoil Willie Mullins party

The Mares Chase isn’t a race I will be getting too excited about, so I will have a punt at one each way, hoping the favourite, Dinoblue, is off her ‘A’ game.

ONLY BY NIGHT has stamina to prove, but is very unexposed in this company and could prove to be a bit of a fly in the ointment to the market principles.

Gavin Cromwell will take encouragement from her run in the Arkle last year, where she narrowly got denied by Jango Baie, and if she can put in a similar performance this year, then she will be in the places for sure at least.

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – 3.20 – Sometimes it’s better Thedeviluno

I was mightily impressed with THEDEVILUNO last time out as he took the River Don Novice Hurdle at Doncaster in facile fashion.

A race which is normally a slog and won by a dour stayer, this year was turned into a bit of a procession as this lad travelled up smoothly and put the race to bed in a decisive manner.

His earlier form in Ireland is top-notch, also, which gives me plenty of hope that he is a high-class horse who might just be too good for these.

He is probably one of my stronger fancies of the week and I hope he can reward his followers.

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase – 4.00 – Nicky Henderson to cap a fine week with Gold Cup glory

As many people have already stated, this is one of the most open Gold Cups in recent memory, and it’s very refreshing to see so many in with a chance.

The King George probably has a big bearing on why the market is so close, as four horses finished within a head of each other, and although I will be very surprised if the same distance separates three of those today, it does give you a handle on just how closely matched some of these runners are.

Immediately after the King George, I felt JANGO BAIE was the horse to take out of the race as he looks set to improve markedly for the switch to this more galloping track.

His Arkle win last year is proof enough that he has plenty of stamina, and if latched onto the pack turning in, I don’t think many will stay up that hill stronger than him. 

One at a higher price that I will support each way as well is GREY DAWNING, who looks to have had his season mapped around this race.

I took plenty of encouragement from his last run despite getting beaten as a mistake two out put him right on the back foot.

That, however, would have put him spot on for this assignment and I think he will show up well at 12/1.

Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase – 4.40 – Panda Boy to show class in Foxhunters

PANDA BOY is a horse to have shown more recent high-class form under rules than most of his rivals and I think that touch of class will see him go close here.

Martin Brassil seems to have got him back to form in this division, as two recent victories suggest, and a repeat of either of those runs might just be enough to gain a Festival victory. 

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – 5.20 – East India Express to steam up the hill 

The concluding Martin Pipe handicap hurdle isn’t quite the race it was due to the qualification changes in recent seasons, so seasoned handicappers do have more of a chance again now.

EAST INDIA EXPRESS would be high on my shortlist as he looks set to relish the Cheltenham hill on the back of his recent run at Windsor.

Freddie Gordon is a very good jockey booking as he is one of the more experienced conditionals on offer, and I would suggest Nicky Henderson has had his eye on this race for a while now.

One at a higher price is last year’s second, ACT OF AUTHORITY, who should again run well.

Beaten by Wodhooh last year, there doesn’t seem to be anything of that class in here this year, which will encourage Olly Murphy and his team, who will no doubt have him in tip-top form. 

READ MORE: Ben Morgan’s 2026 Cheltenham Festival tips – Day 3 – Jonbon to bring the house down