2026 Cheltenham Festival Preview - Day 2

13.20 - Turners Novice Hurdle

We kick off Wednesday's action with yet another deep Novice hurdle with 22 runners going post which is really good to see. No Drama this end heads the market at around 4/1 but I've been quite keen on wanting to take him on and that's exactly what I'll be doing.

As impressive as he's been this season his form doesn't add up to much and he still has to defy the trend that Challow Hurdle winners don't have a very good record in the race - Although this was broken last campaign with The New Lion coming out on top.

The one I'll be taking him on with is King Rasko Grey for Willie Mullins & again I'll be using that form line with Talk The Talk & Ballyfad as a guide as I think that's the best piece of form from any Novice hurdle this season. Talk the Talk did slightly let down the form from that race today in the supreme but I do think the step up in trip will see him at his best.

Willie Mullins suggested that he lacked fitness that day likening him to a 'pregnant Mare' - So I'm fairly confident that he'll come on for that run and worth a go at the prices.

Selection: King Rasko Grey

Danger: No Drama This End

14.00 - Brown Advisory Novice Chase

Next up we have yet again one of the most open Brown Advisory's in recent years with 16 runners taking their chance including multiple grade 1 winning novice chaser Romeo Coolio so I'm sorry to say it's another hard one for me to have too strong of an opinion.

I must admit I've not played this amazingly well from an Ante-post perspective after I put up Final Demand at a short price before he bombed out at the DRF against stable mate Kaid D'Authie but I did put up Wendigo at odds of 20/1 so with 2 darts to throw I don't see the need to get too involved in this.

Looking at the race at the current prices I'd give a small chance to Kocktail Divin who I thought would have a great chance in the Jack Richards Novice Chase off a mark of 150 on the Thursday, however connections must feel He's good enough to compete in this which would be a huge vote in confidence - But again there's a good 7-8 runners in here that I wouldn't put you off backing.. a proper tricky race.

Selection: Final Demand (AP) & Wendigo EW (AP)

Danger: Romeo Coolio , Kaid D'Authie

14.40 - Bet MGM Cup

This is a race that usually throws up quite a classy winner with a lot in hand over the handicapper so I'm going to side with one with a very similar profile to last years winner Jimmy Du Seuil. For that reason I'll be siding with Kopeck De Mee in this years renewal for Willie Mullins once again. He was sent off a 5/2 favourite for the Martin Pipe last season where he ran poorly but was seen to much better effect next time out when narrowly being beaten by Wellington Arch at Aintree over 2m4f where he had to give nearly a stone to the winner. Like last years winner he's had a very quiet campaign this year and comes here off a mark of 145 which if he's seen to his best he'll have a massive chance and could be well in here.

The obvious danger is the favourite Storm Heart who could also be the class angle in the race. He's off a mark of 151 after winning his last 2 starts and could easily improve again here.

Selection: Kopeck De Mee

Danger: Storm Heart

15.20 - Glenfarclas Cross Country

The cross country is next and although this is a race I rarely get too involved in I do think the favourite in Favori De Champdou is a very fair price. He was a very impressive winner on his first attempt over the banks back at Cheltenham on trials day winning by 8 and a half lengths & I think he can improve on that performance again.

Trainer Gordon Elliot has been on countless preview shows on the build up to the festival & has been singing this ones praises in every one of them stating that this is is one of his best chances of the week.

The obvious danger is X-country specialist Stumptown who was an impressive winner of the race 12 months ago before winning the Velka Pardubicka over in the Czech Republic last October and has been kept fresh since with this race in mind. My only worry with him is he will be carrying top weight off a mark of 162 as well as the fact that the yard are in some awful form of late so for that reason I'd be happy to take him on.

Selection: Favori De Champdou

Danger: Stumptown

16.00 - Champion Chase

The feature race of day 2 is of course the champion chase which has manged to throw up the odd upset with only 1 of the last 6 favourites coming out on top. Majborough is the odds on favourite in this years renewal but at odds of 4/5 I think he deserves to be taken on. On his day he is by far the best horse in the field and he showed that last time out at Leopardstown where he romped home to win the Dublin Chase however I do have my concerns at Cheltenham. He was sent off 4/7 in the Arkle 12 months ago and was beaten after making 2 serious jumping errors so I would worry that his jumping frailties might get him into trouble again here. I also think he got it all his own way at the DRF which certainly wont happen in a Champion Chase.

My first ante-post tip of the season was Quilixios EW at 33/1 so I'm happy with that position & I don't see the need to get too involved in the race looking at the current prices. Again Majborough is a very worthy favourite and could easily win this but I'm happy to let him do so at odds on.

Selection: Quilixios EW (AP)

Danger: Majborough

16.40 - Grand Annual Chase

There's no such thing as an easy race at this years festival and this handicap is a real tough one. Be Aware leads the betting for the Skelton team with last years winner Jazzy Matty just behind him but I'm going to play 2 against the field here at bigger prices starting with In The Pocket for Henry De Bromhead. He was very eye catching last time out behind Jacobs ladder at Leopardstown and whilst he was no match for the winner that day he wasn't given too much of a hard time and I expect they had this race in mind well before that run.

Th other I'll give a chance to is Release The Beast for Paul Nolan. He was 2nd in both of his starts this campaign most recently at Leopardstown over Christmas where he finished behind Addragoole off a mark of 128. Given that was his 2nd run of the season I feel he can improve again and is highly competitive off a mark of 136.

Selections: In The Pocket & Release The Beast

Danger: Be Aware

17.20 - Champion Bumper

The last race on day 2 is the Champion Bumper which is a race punters find one of the hardest of the week. I'd give a small chance to both Quiryn whose the choice of Paul Townend as well as The Irish Avatar again trained by Willie Mullins. Having said that I'd only give them a small chance based on both their previous starts winning nicely but this is race where every runner is entitled to improve at different times so it's a bit tricky to nail down a selection so I'm happy to just leave this race alone.

NAP: FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU

NEXT BEST: KING RASKO GREY

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