2027 Cheltenham Gold Cup Ante-Post Market – Can Anyone Stop Gaelic Warrior?
There are still over 200 days until the 2027 Cheltenham Gold Cup, but the early market already has a very clear leader.
Gaelic Warrior is just 2/1 to defend the crown he won so impressively in March, with Jango Baie next at 7/1. After that, the betting opens up quickly, with Final Demand and Lulamba both 16/1 and Fact To File at 18/1.
At this stage of the season, plenty can change. But the market gives us an early idea of the horses bookmakers believe could be heading towards the biggest chase at next year's Cheltenham Festival.
The Current Ante-post 2027 Gold Cup Market
- Gaelic Warrior 2/1
- Jango Baie 7/1
- Final Demand 16/1
- Lulamba 16/1
- Fact To File 18/1
- Kitzbuhel 20/1
- Inothewayurthinkin 20/1
- The Jukebox Man 25/1
- Jagwar 40/1
- Romeo Coolio 50/1
- Western Fold 50/1
- Wendigo 66/1
*Odds correct at the time of writing and subject to change.
Gaelic Warrior Sets a High Standard
It is no surprise to see Gaelic Warrior at the head of the market.
Willie Mullins' chaser won the 2026 Gold Cup by eight lengths from Jango Baie, with Inothewayurthinkin third. It was the performance many had been waiting for from a horse whose talent had never really been in doubt.
He backed that up at Punchestown in April, beating Fact To File by a huge 26 lengths in the Punchestown Gold Cup.
That makes 2/1 understandable, although it is still a short price for a race more than six months away. Injuries, ground, preparation and the arrival of new contenders can all change a Gold Cup market quickly.
For now, though, every other contender has Gaelic Warrior to beat.
Fact To File Has a Big Question to Answer
Fact To File at 18/1 is one of the more interesting prices.
The JP McManus-owned chaser has already won twice at the Cheltenham Festival, taking the Brown Advisory in 2024 and the Ryanair Chase in 2025. He then won the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February 2026.
However, connections chose not to enter him for the 2026 Gold Cup because of concerns about whether he truly stays the Gold Cup trip. He was instead aimed at the Ryanair but was withdrawn on the day because of the ground.
His later 26-length defeat by Gaelic Warrior over three miles and 213 yards at Punchestown hardly settled the stamina question.
At 18/1, the ability is not in doubt. The question is whether the 2027 Gold Cup is actually the right race for him.
Can The Jukebox Man Come Back?
The Jukebox Man is another horse who will attract plenty of attention at 25/1, not least because he is owned by Harry Redknapp.
He earned his Gold Cup chance by winning a superb 2025 King George VI Chase at Kempton, getting up in a photo finish to beat Banbridge, with Gaelic Warrior close behind in third.
His first attempt at the Gold Cup did not work out as hoped. He travelled and jumped well for much of the race but weakened late and finished eighth.
There was some context. Trainer Ben Pauling later revealed that The Jukebox Man had undergone treatment for an issue around his epiglottis shortly before Cheltenham, and both Pauling and Redknapp were keen on another attempt at the race.
If he returns at his King George level, 25/1 could start to look much bigger.
Wendigo the 66/1 Syndicate Outsider
At the other end of the market is Wendigo at 66/1.
Trained by Jamie Snowden and racing for RC Syndicate I, Wendigo has already given his many owners some memorable days. He won the Grade 2 John Francome Novices' Chase at Newbury last season and finished third in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton.
His Cheltenham Festival run ended with a fall at the final fence in the Brown Advisory when he was still staying on, before he later finished sixth in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree.
He has plenty to find with the very best horses in this market, but he is still only seven and 66/1 reflects the amount of improvement required.
A Market That Could Change Quickly
Jango Baie is the obvious danger to the favourite after finishing second in this year's Gold Cup, while Final Demand, Lulamba, Kitzbuhel and Inothewayurthinkin give the market plenty of strength.
But in August, the Gold Cup market is still more watchlist than final judgement.
Gaelic Warrior has earned his position at the top. The more interesting question over the coming months is which horse can do enough to make that 2/1 start to look too short.
