Cheltenham Gold Cup 2026 prize money: Showpiece winner to take home biggest chunk of record-breaking pot

The Cheltenham Gold Cup will once again be the star of the horse racing festival as an incredible week ends with the main showpiece race.

And not only will punters be looking to win some money, but every jockey, owner and trainer will be eyeing the biggest prizes.

AFP

Last year saw a record-breaking pot of cash made available for all runners and riders to take home from the famous festival.

Inothewayurthinkin claimed the highest prize of the week in 2025, winning the Gold Cup to pick up over £350,000.

Here’s what the showpiece winner will be taking home in 2026…

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Prize money

The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will claim a whopping £351,688.

This is the same prize as last year’s race, with a total of £625,000 in prize money on the line in the final day showpiece.

Across the four days, a total of £4.9million will be handed out, with £2.7m of that going to race winners.

Once again, the biggest prize comes in the Gold Cup – and it is the one that everyone wants to win.

Huge cash rewards are also available for the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Chase, Ryanair Chase and Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.

The winner of the Champion Hurdle will win £253,215, while the Queen Mother Chase victor claims £225,080.

As for the Ryanair Chase, it’s a £211,013 prize, and for the Stayers’ Hurdle, the winner takes home £182,878.

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Cheltenham Festival: Prize money per race

Figures via Racing Post

Tuesday, March 10

• Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – £84,405
• Arkle Chase – £112,540
• Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Chase – £45,016
• Ultima Handicap Chase – £84,405
• Champion Hurdle – £253,215
• TrustATrader Festival Plate Handicap – £84,405
• National Hunt Chase – £51,440

Wednesday, March 11

• Turner Novices’ Chase – £84,405
• Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – £112,540
• Coral Cup Hurdle – £61,897
• Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase – £39,022
• Champion Chase – £225,080
• Grand Annual Chase – £84,405
• Champion Bumper – £45,560

Thursday, March 12

• Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – £59,083
• Jack Richards’ Novices’ Hurdle – £64,300
• Mares Hurdle – £70,337
• Stayers’ Hurdle – £182,877
• Ryanair Chase – £211,012
• Pertemps Handicap Hurdle – £61,897
• Kim Muir Handicap Chase – £36,233

Friday, March 13

• Triumph Hurdle – £84,405
• County Hurdle – £61,897
• Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – £84,405
• Gold Cup – £351,687
• St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase – £24,445
• Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle – £38,580

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How much do the jockeys win?

Every winning horse will claim the biggest chunk of the prize money, which will then be split between all of its connections.

The jockey, owner, trainer and stable staff will take home some cash.

Typically, the jockey will be picking up 8-9 per cent of the winnings after riding their horse to victory.

If a horse places in a race at Cheltenham, jockeys take 3.5 per cent of the placed prize money, which is what is left from the pot after the winner takes their cut.

Even if a jockey doesn’t win or place in a race at all, they will still get paid a guaranteed fee for each ride too.

That guaranteed fee is usually north of £160.