Derek Thompson's Road to Cheltenham: Tips, Picks and Inside Knowledge for the 2026 Festival
Derek Thompson, known to racing fans across generations as "Tomo", has been at the heart of British horse racing for over five decades.
From calling Red Rum's first Grand National victory at just 22 years old, to commentating on Frankel's debut, to presenting at the world's greatest race meetings, few people in the sport have seen more, done more, or loved it more.
Ahead of the 2026 Festival, he sat down exclusively with Freebets.com to share his thoughts on the biggest week in National Hunt racing, including his Gold Cup selection, value tips, and his passionate vision for where the sport needs to go.
Find out what Tomo had to say just weeks away from that iconic Cheltenham roar, with Free Bets, the home of the best Cheltenham Betting Offers.
Cheltenham Festival 2026
Derek Thompson has been going to Cheltenham for over 50 years.
He's been there as a commentator, as a presenter, as a broadcaster, and as one of the sport's most recognisable faces. You'd think it might lose its magic. It never does.
"The build-up to this Festival feels bigger than ever," he says. "And I've been saying that for 50 years, but I mean it every time."
This year, he says, the racing itself is as compelling as any card he can remember.
"Nothing is confirmed until they pass that winning line. That's the beauty of it. That's what makes Cheltenham the greatest four days in sport."
Coming from someone who has witnessed the sport at every level, across every era, that's not a throwaway line.
So what does he actually expect to happen? We asked him everything.
The Gold Cup: "Gaelic Warrior Is the One They've All Got to Beat"
Ask Tomo for his Gold Cup selection and the answer comes without hesitation.
"Gaelic Warrior has got to have a great chance. He's the one they've all got to beat."
The Willie Mullins-trained chaser has been one of the most talked-about horses in the build-up to the Festival, and Tomo's endorsement carries the weight of someone who has watched Gold Cup contenders at every level across five decades of broadcasting.
He also has strong views on the wider Gold Cup picture. The Jukebox Man catches his eye as a horse capable of troubling the market leaders.
"He's the one I'd take out of Kempton as most likely to thrive at Cheltenham. Everything about that race didn't suit him and he won. At Cheltenham, over the right trip, he's a different proposition."
Selection: Gaelic Warrior - 7/1 with bet365
The Coral Cup: Indeevar Bleu (Each-Way)
For punters seeking a bigger-priced opportunity, Tomo pointed firmly to Indeevar Bleu (Each-Way) for trainer Ollie Murphy in the Coral Cup.
"I don't think it'll be 25/1 for long," he said. "Ollie Murphy has said he'd give back 50 winners just to have one Cheltenham Festival winner. He thinks this could be the one, and when a trainer talks about a horse like that with that kind of conviction, you take notice."
The angle here matters beyond the price. Murphy has been one of the most consistent trainers on the British and Irish circuit this season, and a horse he specifically singles out for the Festival deserves serious attention.
"If you're looking for each-way value, this is the race to find it. And this is the horse I'd look to."
Selection: Indeevar Bleu (Each Way) - 25/1 with Coral
The Foxhunters' Chase: Panda Boy
Away from the headline races, Tomo identified Panda Boy in the Foxhunters' as a horse he believes could run a big race at around 7-1.
It's a selection that carries an extra endorsement. Ruby Walsh, who spent a day guest-editing the Racing Post the day before Tomo spoke to Freebets.com, was equally enthusiastic about the same horse.
"When Ruby Walsh recommends a horse, you pay attention," Tomo says. "And I was already on the same page. That tells you something."
Selection: Panda Boy - 8/1 with bet365
Each-Way Outsider: Winston Junior
For those who enjoy finding a longer-priced runner with a story behind them, Tomo flagged Winston Junior, a 33/1 shot trained by Faye Bramley, likely to head for either the Fred Winter or the Triumph Hurdle.
"I'd love to see that win," he says simply. "She's a lady trainer, the horse won at Windsor last time out, and there's a lovely story there. Sometimes the ones nobody's talking about are the ones that produce the moment."
Selection: Winston Junior (Each Way)
The Irish Question
Don't expect Tomo to dress up the British challenge at Cheltenham.
"It will be Ireland's Cheltenham Festival, without a doubt," he says, with characteristic directness.
"When Willie Mullins sends horses over, when Gordon Elliott sends 50 horses over, they don't come for a day out at the races. They come to win. It's as simple as that."
But his follow-up captures the spirit of the man perfectly.
"It's lovely to see all the Irish at Cheltenham every year. Because they help us make it special."
He reserves particular admiration for Willie Mullins. "He is not only one of the greatest trainers of all time but also one of the nicest people of all time. Whether you're the King, whether you're a Sheikh, whether you're Tomo, he always has time."
The Future of Racing: "Use the Old Champions as Ambassadors"
Beyond the tips, Tomo had something important to say about where British racing needs to go, and he says it with the urgency of someone who has watched the sport for half a century and doesn't want to see it lose its place in the national conversation.
"We tend to forget about the horses and we should concentrate on them much more," he says.
"The former champions should become racing's ambassadors. Bring them out between races. Let people come and say hello. Have your photo taken with an equine superstar. Don't just stand back, bring the people close up."
He extends the same logic to jockeys, who he feels too often disappear from public view between races.
"Get the jockeys out. Talk to them. What are your interesting rides today? Make more of the occasion. Frankie Dettori jumping off the horse, everybody loved it. Let's have more of that energy."
The Derby, he argues, should be returned to its traditional Wednesday slot. "Make it the one day in the calendar that everyone stops for. The Melbourne Cup runs on a Tuesday in Australia and it's the biggest sporting event in that country. What's wrong with our Wednesday?"
At its heart, his vision is simple: make the horse the star again.
"When Red Rum was around, when Frankel was around, these were household names. We've got to build those names again. Racing produces stories that no other sport can match. We just need to make sure the world knows it."
A Career of Remarkable Moments
Tomo was 22 years old when he commentated on Red Rum's first Grand National victory in 1973, still the youngest person ever to do so.
"Peter Bromley's commentary on that race was the best I've ever heard," he recalls. "Sadly, those three commentators I shared the race with are no longer with us. They're at that racecourse in the sky."
The story of Red Rum still moves him. "He was sired by a sprinter. Supposed to stay five furlongs. He won over four and a half miles. Three wins, two seconds in the Grand National. And if Ginger McCain hadn't trained him near the sea at Southport — if the salt water hadn't cured his lameness — he wouldn't even have run. That, to me, is the best story of all time in sport."
He was also present for Frankel's very first race at Newmarket. "I'll never forget that. You could see it immediately — this was something completely different."
"I'm just a little lad from Middlesbrough," he says.
"And I've been lucky enough to commentate on the world's best races and meet these incredible people. Racing produces stories that no other sport can match. Nothing is confirmed until they pass that winning line — and that's the beauty of it."
Derek Thompson's Cheltenham 2026 Summary
| Race | Selection | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham Gold Cup | Gaelic Warrior | "The one they've all got to beat" |
| Coral Cup | Indeevar Bleu (Each Way) | 25/1, Ollie Murphy's Festival hope |
| Foxhunters' Chase | Panda Boy | 7/1 value, endorsed by Ruby Walsh |
| Each-Way Outsider | Winston Junior | 33/1, Faye Bramley-trained dark horse |
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