Dave Massey is back for the fourth and final day of The Cheltenham Festival with his exclusive Gold Cup Day Tips. Read his exclusive thoughts each and every day with kwiff.
Cheltenham Festival 2026: Gold Cup Day Tips
One of my better ante-post bets goes here with Minella Study (1.20). I’d like to think this is where going racing a lot helps, as I first saw Minella Study in the Wensleydale Hurdle at Wetherby where he beat the odds-on Ammes and many assumed it was a fluke. It wasn’t.
Gold Cup Day Tips: Minella Study (1.20)
He was the best horse in the paddock that day. “Having seen what Ammes had to beat at Chepstow, I thought this looked a much stronger affair in the paddock and Minella Study got the paddock pick vote, getting the comment “looks well, good coat…fit….the right size for the hurdles game.”
I liked him a lot, and even more after he beat One Horse Town fair and square in a trial for this here in December. He travelled like the best horse and only had to be shaken up to win. He’ll keep getting better, and if this turns into a stamina test, so much the better. Winston Junior running a good second in the Juvenile Handicap earlier in the week is a decent pointer to his chances here, too.
Gold Cup Day Tips: Jubilee Alpha (2.00)
I like one here, and it’s one I didn’t think I would, but the more I look at Jubilee Alpha (2.00), the more I like her. She’s always had a bit of quality about her – a winner at Listed level, placed at Grade 2 in bumpers – and for all she hasn’t won this season, she’s had some tough tasks made harder by the fact she isn’t the biggest for carrying big weights. Twice this season she’s humped 12st around. She’s raced at further for much of this year but isn’t short of speed, and I actually think a strongly-run 2m1f, where she can settle better and travel easier, could be ideal.
Gold Cup Day Tips: Albert Bartlett (3.20)
No strong opinions here but two definitely worth a mention at huge prices. Fruit De Mer (3.20) is very interesting stepping up in trip, as the dam is a half-sister to Song Sung Blue, who stayed trips in excess of three miles, and Fruit De Mer looks certain to improve for a step up in trip today.
He’s actually passed the post in front twice, but lost his bumper win in the stewards room; an easy winner on hurdles debut at Naas, he looked badly in need of further when staying on for third in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle last time, but all the same that was another good effort. There’s loads more to come from him, and at 20s and bigger he’ll be a bet.
Ubatuba (3.20) is another that’s crying out for three miles. Twice a winner at Leicester, he was given far too much to do when second to Dalston Lad at Haydock last time out, running on strongly for second after the last on a day when it paid to be nearer the pace; mark that effort up. You’ll have to put up with Nick Sutton on board but I guarantee he’ll be running through the beaten ones at the death, and a top-five finish isn’t beyond the realms of fantasy. Back with extra places.
Gold Cup Day Tips: The Jukebox Man (4.00)
Given he’s been a horse to follow for the past two years, it makes perfect sense to include The Jukebox Man (4.00) as one of my main selections of the week. We now know he can mix it at the very highest level after his battling King George win and the way he rallied so gamely to get back up after being headed on the run in not only suggests bags of courage, but the he’ll be well suited by the extra stamina demands the Gold Cup will ask of him.
In all the excitement surrounding the horse it is to be remembered that was just his fourth start over fences – a remarkable rise in a fairly short space of time – and he may not have finished improving yet. I think I’d have him favourite.
Gold Cup Day Tips: Nurse Susan (5.20)
Nurse Susan (5.20) is my main selection here, particularly with the ground likely to be drying up by now. Outclassed in bad ground at Fontwell last time, put a line straight through that form and concentrate on her earlier stuff, particularly her C&D win here in December that’s worked out well. She came up the Sandown hill well to beat the useful Jubilee Alpha next time out and she still looks favourably treated.
By Dave Massey
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