Dean Ryan's Tips For Every Day At Cheltenham 2026: Day 4
It’s the final day of the Cheltenham Festival 2026, and we’re in for a belter of a Gold Cup and supporting card.
The ground will hopefully have eased slightly for runners after a dry enough week, and that will be welcomed by most.
The Triumph Hurdle – 13:20
Proactif is a fascinating runner and could be the smartest of all, but we’ve only seen the French recruit once for Willie Mullins, and whilst it was impressive, it’s not a lot to work with.
That’s a comment that applies to plenty of the juveniles, so this is a tricky puzzle to solve, as you would expect.
With a little more racing done, Maestro Conti appeals to small stakes for the Skelton team.
Won well here, streaking away from One Horse Town and Minella Yoga in January, and is likely the best of the home team.
Should be able to act on conditions and can fill the frame at worst.
Dean’s Daily Selection 1: 13:20 Cheltenham - Maestro Conti 0.5pt Each-Way – 13/2 (4 places)
The County Hurdle – 14:00
When Paul Townend takes a handicap ride here, it usually means you need to pay attention.
He has chosen Karbau over Murcia and Absurde, and that can’t have been an easy call.
Very likely to go off favourite based on that, and obviously has claims.
I like Absurde to run well again in the race. Winner two years ago and placed last year, he is worth a small each-way play again, whilst Sixandahalf is a very interesting runner for the Cromwell team.
She has good festival form, and in her first go in a handicap here with the services of Conor Stone-Walsh up top, there is more to come from the six-year-old mare.
Dean’s Daily Selection 2: 14:00 Cheltenham - Absurde 0.5pt Each-Way – 12/1 (6 places)
Dean’s Daily Selection 3: 14:00 Cheltenham - Sixandahalf 0.5pt Each-Way – 14/1 (6 places)
The Mares' Chase – 14:40
Dinoblue should be hard to beat once more in the Mares Chase, but it is stronger than perhaps expected with the likes of Panic Attack, Diva Luna, Spindleberry and others in opposition.
A race to sit out for me, but Dinoblue does look the one to beat with a win and second in this race to her name already.
No Bet
The Albert Bartlett – 15:20
Of all the Willie Mullins novices this term, Doctor Steinberg has impressed me most.
This race has in the past been a bit of a graveyard for punters trying to pile in with the best horse and can throw up shocks, but I’m not convinced there is something lurking here that can stop Mullins and Townend adding another trophy to the 2026 haul.
The 7/2 available is fair, and this smart six-year-old has a big future ahead.
Already a Grade One winner, he races with plenty of enthusiasm and has experience enough to be comfortable in a big field - likely from the front.
Dean’s Daily Selection 4: 15:20 Cheltenham - Doctor Steinberg 2pt Win – 7/2
The Gold Cup – 4:00pm
Such a shame we don’t have Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs to add to the mix, but a brilliant race is in store.
Gaelic Warrior is given a huge chance to land it for the Riccis and team Mullins, has been in great form, seems to want a trip these days, and of course has no real issue with Cheltenham despite a previous tendency to jump right.
The Jukebox Man and Jango Baie both rattled home in a line with Gaelic Warrior in the King George at Kempton, and whilst it’s a very different test, splitting the three is as tight as that was.
I’m going to give a small chance to the wonderful servant Envoi Allen, who will have a swansong swing at the biggest test on his final start.
A legend here with three wins at the festival and reported to be in great fettle coming in here, it would blow the roof off should the 12-year-old run another big race.
Inothewayurthinkin has had a truly terrible season but is reportedly back in form.
Grey Dawning and Spillane’s Tower are similar types who will need to step up a slight notch to get involved, whilst Haiti Couleurs will try to bury them all from the front with a dominant display, which will be very hard.
I have Gaelic Warrior as the most likely winner, but it’s a race where I couldn’t truly put you off a selection. I’ll be rooting for a big run from the old boy Envoi Allen.
Dean’s Daily Selection 5: 16:00 Cheltenham - Gaelic Warrior 0.5pt Win – 4/1
Dean’s Daily Selection 6: 16:00 Cheltenham - Envoi Allen 0.5pt Each-Way – 28/1 (3 Places)
The Hunters' Chase - 16:40
Way better to follow Rhys Williams here on Gambling.com, who put up a couple of ante-post Cheltenham tips and would have a better view than most on the Hunters.
Stattler would be my pick for Patrick Mullins and Faye Bramley, a horse that The Cheltenham Brain also has in the reckoning.
No Bet
The Martin Pipe Conditional Hurdle – 17:20
The final race of the week is a complete minefield as always.
Kel Histoire is all the rage and has been booked up for Michael Kenneally, so the stars are aligning for favourite backers.
I think a chance should be given to the overall disappointing East India Express, who ran well in this last year but has looked out of sorts so far this season.
There were hints of a return at Windsor on New Year's Day, and he hasn’t been seen since.
Freddie Gordon rides again, and I expect they can go closer than that this time around.
Dean’s Daily Selection 7: 17:20 Cheltenham - East India Express 0.75pt Each-Way – 10/1 (5 places)
* Odds correct at time of publication.
