Wednesday 11th March - Day Two

The yearly jewel in the crown of National Hunt racing had come around once again, taking its customary mid March spot in the calendar. Enthusiasts from up and down the country would descend on the Cotswold on their annual pilgrimage to the home of jumps racing, Cheltenham Racecourse. The roller coaster track works in harmony with the roller coaster of emotions felt by all involved and some of racing's biggest moments in folklore have taken place on this hallowed turf.
Day one kicked off proceedings with the Champion Hurdle as its centre piece, but day two would continue with the theme of top class quality alongside fan favourite stalwarts of the game. A seven race card would have a bit of everything for punters, two novice events of the highest quality over hurdles and fences, an event over the unique cross-country course, a pair of hotly contested and valuable handicap hurdles and chases with the bumper division also crowning its newest champion. 

Retraining of Racehorses Parade:

Just before the main action took place on track, members of the audience who arrived early were invited down memory lane with a parade of former high class horses from years gone by along with past champions. The popular parade held by Retraining of Racehorses recognises the hard work made by the charity in keeping retired racehorses of all abilities active in their second careers. Such activities include dressage, showjumping and even polo, but for today, they returned to Cheltenham and enjoyed the spotlight once again. 

Race One: The Turners' Novices' Hurdle - Grade One - 2 Miles, 5 Furlongs - 4-Y-O's and older - Runners:

The meeting would dive quickly into the highest quality with the opening contest, the Grade One Turners Novices' Hurdle over the intermediate distance of two and a half miles. Better known to most fans as the Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle, this contest is a key point in a young horse's career as it has the potential to unveil top class chasers or future champion hurdlers. Since its first running in 1971, the quality of winner has improved year on year. The race gave British racegoers their first glimpse of Istabraq, who won this in 1997 before landing three Champion Hurdles and becoming one of the greatest of all time. Hardy Eustace and Faugheen have also won the Champion Hurdle a year after winning this race while "the Tank" Denman was famously beaten here before winning the Gold Cup in a glittering career. Other horses to go on and record subsequent Festival wins include Simonsig, Samcro, Bob Olinger and Envoi Allen.
Last season saw a stellar line-up and a brilliant finish. The unbeaten novices The New Lion, Final Demand and The Yellow Clay lined up against each other, but it was the Dan Skelton-trained The New Lion who finished strongest to take the win. He would return this year to line up in the Champion Hurdle twenty-four hours later.

The usual antics of second guessing the plans of connections involved would be settled and an exciting field would go to post for the 2026 running of the Turners. Heading the card would be Act Of Innocence from the Nicky Henderson stable. The six year old also held an entry in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle but has improved since joining current connections. He won smartly on stable debut at Newbury in November and lost little in defeat when giving heaps of weight to a younger horse a month later at the same venue. Dan Skelton would aim to win this race once again with the prolific winner A Pai De Nom. The six year old has progressed nicely this season with three wins, including a handicap here in November, and two more placings. He ran another solid race when third in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in early January. The high class prospect Ballyfad lined up here for the Gordon Elliott stable, putting his unbeaten record on the line. The five year old has achieved plenty in a short space of time, winning two bumpers and then winning a maiden hurdle by a wide margin at Leopardstown over Christmas. The Bowen family have enjoyed plenty of success in recent seasons and trainer Mickey Bowen would aim for a first Festival winner with Ballykinlar. The seven year old took a while to win a race, but won three throughout last summer in Ireland prior to his move, but those wins only came at handicap level. Alan King has yet to win this race, but has gone close in the past. He would saddle the talented Baron Noir, another who raced here instead of in the Supreme Novice Hurdle. The six year old has always been capable of very good form and has now won his last two starts in good style. This would be his first test at this sort of distance however. Another veteran of the training ranks would be Phillip Hobbs as he saddled Bobby's Nelson in this year's contest. The seven year old had looked unlucky with regular narrow defeats, but appreciated a test of stamina last time with a smooth success at Ffos Las. Willie Mullins has the most winners in this race's history with seven and the first of his runners would be Bon Viveur. The six year old broke his maiden tag in good style, but ran poorly last time out and looks to be a long way down the pecking order at Closutton. Last year's winning trainer Dan Skelton would be represented by Bossman Jack in this year's contest. After winning his bumper last season, the six year old bounced back from a defeat on hurdles debut to beat a previously unbeaten horse at Ffos Las on his latest start, looking like a stayer for the future. The dual purpose yard of Robert Stephens would saddle the likely outsider Caballero Cliff. The five year old entire remains a maiden after six starts, but ran a brilliant race to take fourth in the Champion Bumper last season. So far this season though, he has struggled to get involved in lower level contests. Jeremy Scott made headlines by winning the Champion Hurdle last season and has an exciting prospect in Came From Nowhere. The seven year old has improved for headgear and longer trips by winning a pair of handicaps with plenty of ease recently. Dan Skelton would also be represented by Carlenrig, who won a Grade Two contest over three miles here back in December where he showed plenty of battling qualities. The lightly raced six year old took a heavy fall on his last start at Doncaster and now drops back in trip for this contest. A second runner for the Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown Stud combination would be Classical Creek. The six year old made an impressive hurdling debut in November, but his limitations were found in a Grade One at Naas earlier in the year. Doctor Du Mesnil made a big impression on his racecourse debut a year ago with a wide margin bumper win for Willie Mullins, but has been beaten twice over hurdles in recent times Despite this, the six year old has lot little in defeat and would be an interesting runner at bigger odds for his trainer. Another with multiple entries at the Festival would be Willie Mullins's Doctor Steinberg. The six year old has shaped like a strong stayer over hurdles this season and used his experience to good effect to win a Grade Two on his latest start at Naas. Rebecca Curtis is gearing up towards a live chance in the Gold Cup in a couple of days, but saddled Doujadou for the same connections as stable star Haiti Couleurs. The roan-grey joined the stable after winning a point-to-point at the third attempt and would aim to be a last minute party crasher. Yet another Willie Mullins runner would be the progressive Espresso Milan. The gelding has improved massively since joining the Closutton yard and remains unbeaten over hurdles with two minor race wins. Joe Tizzard would be aiming for a first festival winner as a trainer with the grey Etna Bianco. The point winner has placed over course and distance earlier in the season, but struggled to make an impact in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas. The pink and green silks of Rich Ricci have won this race in the past with Faugheen and Mikael d'Hauguenet and the silks would be carried here by the promising Fire Warning. Nicky Henderson's grey has been well regarded and made a good impression on UK debut at Newbury in January. Chris Gordon has enjoyed one of his best seasons to date and would be represented by the novice Fortune Timmy. After two very classy wins over hurdles, he would keep on into third on Trials Day on his first try at this distance. Henry de Bromhead's Forty Coats would remarkably aim to win this at the second attempt as he remains a maiden over hurdles. The seven year old ran an excellent race to take fourth in this race last year, but has found a win elusive so far. A total unknown would be the French recruit Fou De Toi. The once raced five year old ran well in France last season and has now joined the Willie Mullins juggernaut. One of the most experienced runners in the line-up would be Denis Hogan's Frankie John. He would break his maiden tag over hurdles at the fourth attempt, but is still highly regarded by his trainer. After winning at Navan, he would then struggle in a Grade One at the start of January. One of many fascinating Willie Mullins runners would be Free Spirit. The ex French-trained gelding won narrowly in his home country before joining Mullins and finished last of three in a tactical Moscow Flyer Hurdle in January. Fresh Perspective won his only point-to-point race before joining the Jamie Snowden yard last season and he showed immediate promise. He has won twice over hurdles this season but could only manage third in a listed contest at Sandown in December when last seen. Yet another runner for Henry de Bromhead would be Fruit de Mer, who lost his unbeaten statistic in the Grade One Lawlors Hurdle at Naas, but stayed on nicely into third that day. David Pipe hasn't had the fire power to compete at the highest level lately, but would be represented by Gentleman Toboot. The six year old has paid his way so far and won twice in novice company earlier in the season. His latest run was disappointing when only third over two miles at Leicester at the end of December. Another Irish raider would be Gin Tonic from the Paul Nolan stable. The five year old has shown plenty of ability in a handful of appearances on track and has form over this distance as well. Trainer Andrew Martin only has a small number of horses in his yard, but often aims at the big races. He would saddle Glance At Midnight here and the six year old won smartly on his hurdling debut. Since then however, he was unsuited by the lack of hurdles in the Formby Novice Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day. "Shark" Hanlon has been a friendly face to many racing fans as he searches for his latest bargain superstar. The Irishman saddled Hawk's Rock, who lined up here as a maiden and his latest start saw him finish down the order in a bumper here in November. Also crossing the Irish Sea would be Heads Up from the John McConnell stable. The six year old finished a brilliant second in the Champion Bumper here twelve months ago and has looked a talented horse over hurdles this season. After taking a Grade Two second here in November, he ran below form on Trials Day in January. Margaret Mullins is a legendary trainer in her own right and aimed to be the leading Mullins here with Hillberry Hill. The five year old built on his debut sixth to grind out a nice win at the second attempt in January but needed to improve further for this contest. Willie Mullins has won big races over jumps and on the flat in recent seasons and also saddled the dual purpose horse Hipop de Loire. The Group Two placed nine year old hasn't been seen over hurdles in almost a year and was last in action on the flat in the Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket. The Gary & Josh Moore stable have a good set of novices this year and one of them is Hurricane Pat. The gelding was heading in the right direction this year with a listed race win, but was blown away by Old Park Star on his latest start in January. Declan Queally would have a live chance to become a very rare jockey and trainer winner in this contest with his stable star I'll Sort That. The six year old has done nothing but improve over hurdles and landed a Grade One at Naas in January fairly comfortably. The shrewd stable of Charles Byrnes are more used to handicap winners, but saddled one in a big race with I Started A Joke. The seven year old ran in the Champion Bumper last year and challenged some smart novices over hurdles, but did the job nicely when winning recently at Punchestown and could be one for the future. Lambourn-based trainer Oliver Signy would be represented by It's Top, who hasn't lived up to the potential once shown earlier in his career. Despite this, he would chase home a very smart novice at Newbury last time out. Gordon Elliott's Jalon d'Oudairies had a big reputation as a bumper horse before taking third in the Champion Bumper here in 2024. He would then miss the whole of the following season and was then caught close home on just his second start since the enforced break at Leopardstown. A live outsider for the Jamie Snowden yard would be the maiden hurdle winner Johnny's Jury. He would make a smart debut for new connections at Exeter and the form of that race has worked out nicely since. The maroon silks of Gigginstown Stud would be carried by the Gordon Elliott-trained Kalypso'chance. The six year old found his limit in the Champioon Bumper here and at Punchestown, but has done well over hurdles this season; winning a Grade Three at this distance but struggling over three miles when last in action. Trainer Ben Pauling broke onto the scene in this race in 2017 with the much missed Willoughby Court and has since developed into a leading stable in Britain. This year he aimed to win the race again with Kicour La. The six year old landed a quick double of wins at Leicester at the end of last year, but was exposed over three miles at Doncaster in a Grade Two last time out and dropped back in distance here. One that slipped under the radar over Christmas was Willie Mullins's King Rasko Grey. The well bred six year old posted good efforts in defeat last season and looked a nice prospect when winning on hurdles debut at Limerick. Toby Lawes would hope for a big day here with the exciting novice Klimt Madrik. He looked to be nothing more than a useful hurdler before running a mighty race to take second in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury, getting close to No Drama This End. Joe Tizzard would have a good hand in this race as he also saddled the progressive Kripticjim. Despite tasting defeat on hurdles debut, he has since won three in a row which includes a Grade Two over course and distance in near darkness. Leader d'Allier has been a prolific winner so far in his career, initially in France at the start of his career before joining the Willie Mullins stable. He would win for the sixth time at the end of January and looks to be on the rise further still. Dan Skelton's Le Beau Madrik has run to a good standard in four starts so far, finishing second twice and winning his last two starts. He would win again at Newcastle in nice style and has the potential to be a nice horse for the future. A big talking horse in the build up to the Festival would be Willie Mullins's Mighty Park. The well bred gelding made a stunning debut at Punchestown, winning by a huge margin in the style only top class horses can achieve. No Drama This End has been the apple of Paul Nicholls's eye and the six year old has shown a huge amount of potential so far. His three wins over hurdles have come in facile style and he would 

Race Two: The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase - Grade One - 3 Miles - 5-Y-O's and older - Runners:

The second contest would see the focus switch to the star stayers of the future with the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. Better known as the Royal & SunAlliance Novice Chase, this three mile stamina test has provided Gold Cup winners of bygone eras, including the almighty Arkle in the races' infancy. Looks Like Trouble and Garrison Savannah both won this race prior to landing the Gold Cup while Grand National winner Miinehoma and King George Chase winner Florida Pearl also won this race in the 1990's. Since the turn of the century, some of the very best staying chasers in Britain and Ireland have won this race, including Denman in 2006, Might Bite and Champ in extraordinary circumstances in 2017 and 2020 respectively and then a pair of subsequent Gold Cup winners in the form of Bob's Worth and Lord Windermere in 2012 and 2013. 

In more recent times, the tough L'Homme Presse ploughed through the mud to win in 2022 and Fact To File was a brilliant winner in 2024. Last year, all eyes were on the supposed "good thing" Ballyburn, but it was his stablemate Lecky Watson who kept his jumping in check and caused an upset to win at 22-1. 

The race seemingly revolved around one of the perceived bankers of the entire week, the Willie Mullins-trained Final Demand. The seven year old lost his unbeaten status at this meeting last year, but since then he has looked imperious over fences. Winning a Grade One with ease on his second start and then warming up with another excellent victory at the Dublin Racing Festival just over a month ago. He remains a prospect of utmost excitement. A second runner for Willie Mullins would be last year's Coral Cup winner Jimmy Du Seuil. The seven year old has shown excellent form at Cheltenham and made a flawless chasing debut back in November. He needs to bounce back from a poor showing at Limerick over Christmas though. Another Willie Mullins-trained leading candidate would be the grey Kitzbuhel. Languishing just below top class over hurdles, he has looked a total natural over fences so far this season. A spectacular jumping display saw him win the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton and then added a second Grade One win in the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown. Henry de Bromhead has won all the major prizes at Cheltenham, but is constantly building for the future as he saddled Koktail Divin. The six year old was brought along steadily last season and has really improved this season over fences. After two promising second placings, he would win very easily at the third attempt and returned to the highest level. The top class novice Romeo Coolio lined up here instead of the Arkle 24 hours earlier for Gordon Elliott. Last season's Supreme Novice Hurdle runner up has always possessed natural ability and has shaped as if he needs this longer trip in an unbeaten novice season so far. Jamie Snowden's Wendigo looked ill at ease with Kempton's course over Christmas, but returned to his very best in a small contest at Ayr at the end of January. He also ran very well at this meeting last year and would have plenty of support from his owners. Another runner for Gordon Elliott would be the winning machine Western Fold. The seven year old swept up good races through the summer, including the valuable Galway Plate and a Grade Two in October. He would then finish third in an open company Grade One which showed his class as he returns to face novices. Henry de Bromhead has won an Arkle with a mare in the past and would look to win another big novice chase with The Big Westerner. The seven year old finished an unlucky second in the Albert Bartlett Novice last year, but impressed many onlookers with her win over fences during the Christmas period at Limerick. 

Race Three: The Coral Cup Premier Handicap Hurdle - Class One - 2 Miles, 5 Furlongs - 4-Y-O's and older - Runners:

Race Four: The Glenfarclas Cross-Country Handicap Chase - Class One - X-C Course - 3 Miles, 6 Furlongs - 5-Y-O's and older - Runners:

Race Five: The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase - Grade One - 2 Miles - 5-Y-O's and older - Runners: 

The highlight of the afternoon would finally take place and it would be a chance for just one of these gladiators to step forward and place their name in the history books. The Champion Chase is often described as the pinnacle of jumps racing, speed, agility, bravery and drama. The two mile contest has been a mainstay on this fixture since its first running in 1959 and the likes of Fortria, Flyingbolt and even Grand National runner up Crisp were amongst the early winners. The only triple winner of this contest was the great Badsworth Boy who went back-to-back-to-back between 1983 and 1985. The race would also go through a real purple patch in the 1990's and 2000's as Viking Flagship, Remittance Man, One Man, Moscow Flyer and Azertuiop have stamped their class on this great race. In more recent times, Nicky Henderson's domination of this division has seen him win this race with the legendary Sprinter Sacre and untouchable Altior. 

Last year, the race saw a dramatic, incident-filled contest which saw half of the field fall; including a last fence fall for Quilixios. It left the way for the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale to romp away and win his second Festival race with high emotions for winning connections following the race. The two mile division has arguably dropped in quality with age catching up to the likes of Energumene and Jonbon as well as some unpredictable outcomes in the trial races throughout the season so far.

The usual suspects would return to do battle once again in 2026. Heading the list would be Brookie, who lined up for the optimistic Anthony Honeyball yard. The nine year old won twice as a novice last season before taking a career best second in Grade One company last year. Since then, he has run below par in handicap company and this would be a huge ask on all previous form. Dan Skelton's Calico is a bold jumping type when on song and has enjoyed a perfect season so far. The now ten year old won the same race for the second year in a row here back in October and added to his healthy CV with another win at Ascot when last seen. Despite this, he has yet to make an imprint at the highest level so far. The popular veteran Captain Guinness picked up the pieces to win this race back in 2024 for trainer Henry De Bromhead and could only manage third in last year's running. The eleven year old has been a mainstay on this stage and is now approaching the horizon of his career. The high class Energumene burst onto the scene four years old and landed the 2022 and 2023 runnings of this race for the all-conquering Willie Mullins stable. Now a twelve-year-old, his record remains highly consistent despite pulling up in last year's race, he too would look to regain his crown. The new kid of the block this season would be Gordon Elliott's Found A Fifty. The nine year old emerged from the shadows of his novice chase season to make an impact in this division recently. The multiple Grade Two winner has been exposed in this company on previous attempts, including a fifth in last year's renewal. The giant Gidleigh Park is very talented but also fragile. The star of Harry Fry's stable has form over slightly longer trips, including at Grade One level, but he struggled from an early stage in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January. Willie Mullins would have a strong hand here, backed up with the grey Il Etait Temps. The diminutive terrier landed the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and has been a high class sort throughout his career. He would take a tired fall at Ascot last time out, but remains an upward curve. A second runner for Henry de Bromhead would be Inthepocket, who looked a star in the making by winning a Grade One hurdle at Aintree in 2023. Since then, he has struggled to hit the same heights over fences and has been well beaten in much lower contests than this. The highly progressive novice Irish Panther took on the big boys instead of his own class for the Eddie and Patrick Harty stable. The nine year old has looked transformed this season, winning on chase debut before pushing the talented Romeo Coolio all the way over Christmas at Leopardstown. Joe Tizzard enjoyed plenty of success in the saddle and would love to win a big race as a trainer and he saddled JPR One. The very smart nine year old has found it harder at this level, but is still capable of causing an upset when at this best. A second runner for Dan Skelton would be the grey L'Eau Du Sud. The eight year old was only third in a dramatic Arkle Chase last season, but was deeply impressive on his seasonal comeback here in November, ploughing through the testing ground. His only other start came in the Tingle Creek when third, but he has been freshened up for this contest. Evan Williams has done a great job with Libberty Hunter, who has improved from a handicapper to a Grade One level horse. The ten year old had yet to make his effort when falling in last year's race, but things haven't gone quite to plan for him so far this season. The enigmatic Majborough is a former Festival winner two seasons ago, but is renowned for his jumping frailties. The Willie Mullins-trained six year old is a multiple Grade One winner, but has also lost races due to his bulldozer style jumping this season. The defending champion Marine Nationale put his title on the line here for an ever-bullish Barry Connell. The nine year old landed the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2023 and returned to his very best in this race in 2025. He was unlucky not to win over the Christmas period as he finished second despite a miraculous recovery from rider Sean Flanagan. Another past Cheltenham Festival would be Henry de Bromhead's Quilixious. The former Triumph Hurdle winner was in the process of running a mighty race, giving Marine Nationale a run for his money, but he crashed out at the final fence when just losing the upper hand. This would be an excellent training performance if he could return and win on his seasonal comeback. There would be plenty of pace on display during the early stages as Saint Segal also likes to go forward. Jane Williams's eight year old is a high class handicapper, but also very consistent in recent times, returning either first or second in his races this year. The potential fairytale success  could fall to the mare Senecia, trained in Ireland by Vincent Halley.  She has caused a few upsets in her time, including a Grade Two chase last year, but even a win here would be highly unexpected. Joseph O'Brien has inherited his father Aidan's genes for success and saddled Solness in this year's contest. The eight year old holds an excellent record around Leopardstown where he landed the Paddy's Club Chase for the second year in a row back in December. He would look to improve on last year's fourth in this contest. Gordon Elliott would also send over Touch Me Not from his Irish base and the seven year old has been exposed at this sort of level in the past. He has some useful form, but not enough to challenge those at the top of the table. Gavin Cromwell's stable has begun to find form at a useful point of the season recently and would be represented by last year's Arkle runner-up Only By Night. The mare would make a very narrow winning reappearance earlier in the season, but found herself too far back in the Paddy's Club Chase at Leopardstown on her latest start. 

Winner: 

Race Six: The Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Premier H'Cap Chase - Class One - 2 Miles - 5-Y-O's and older - Runners: