AUTHOR: Star Sports Content
STAR RACING PREVIEW Weds: Cheltenham Festival 2026, Day 2
The Cheltenham Festival started with a fantastic first day’s racing, including a fine display by Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle and thrillers in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle to boot, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.
There was no luck for those who followed our selections, unfortunately, so we head into the second day to get back on track!
Harry Skelton had an eventful and successful day, including a wide-margin Plate win on Madara, and he’s back with another good book of rides for day 2. For his views, click below:
📽️ Davy Russell previews: https://starsportsbet.co.uk/davy-russell-cheltenham-festival-2026-previews/
📈 Trader Chat special: https://starsportsbet.co.uk/trader-chat-cheltenham-festival-2026-special/
📘 Cheltenham PDF guide: https://starsportsbet.co.uk/cheltenham-festival-guide-with-davy-russell-harry-skelton-3/
🏆 STAR SPORTS RACING MARKETS 🏆
🏆 1:20 Cheltenham – Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) 2m5f
A great contest to kick off day 2 with a full field of 22 runners, all of whom hold some sort of chance. The dominance of the British runners in the Supreme – they had the first four home and no Irish runners ever seriously threatened – has turned the market for this contest on its head, with No Drama This End hardening as favourite, Act of Innocence and Bossman Jack shortening fairly dramatically, and other Irish-trained contenders. It’s been clear through the season Britain has had plenty of talented novice hurdlers – so the fact Old Park Star (favourite), Sober Glory (well backed all day) and Mydaddypaddy (similar comments apply) ran so well should surprise nobody. The disappointing Irish runs have obviously affected the market, but it is too early to tell exactly what happened with some of the runners and likely too early to discard form.
Gordon Elliott could hold the key here with Ballyfad and Skylight Hustle making strong appeal against the field. Ballyfad was hugely impressive when slamming Leader d’Allier by nine and a half lengths at Leopardstown over Christmas and he lost no shame in defeat when just caught on the line by Talk The Talk in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival with King Rasko grey just behind (1/2 a length) in third. That form looks to be some of the strongest in the race, a step up in trip should suit him nicely (3m point to point winner, had to make own running, albeit at a slowish pace, at the DRF, and didn’t travel as well as King Rasko Grey, and this better surface might be a bonus for him also.
Skylight Hustle was arguably fortunate to take the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, as Talk The talk tipped up at the last when looking to take control, but connections are adamant he’d have found more after the last, he was well clear of the rest there and it was yet another improved effort from a horse who has finished second to Grade 2 winner and Albert Baretlett contender Thedeviluno before winning by 21 lengths in his two other hurdles starts.
No Drama This End has impressed in his three wins this season and is a fine prospect, although even better can be expected over fences, and he was caught for toe when only ninth in the Champion Bumper last year. He’s a big contender but others appeal more for this assignment and also at the prices.
Sober was group class on the flat for Andre Fabre and showed a fair enough turn of foot to take the Moscow Flyer, although it’s hard to put much value on that form and he wasn’t fluent when taking the last at pace. More is needed from him and also Free Spirit– third that day.
I’ll Sort That outstayed and outbattled Sortudo in the Lawlor’s Novice Hurdle and both are respected here, although this test might suit Sortudo slightly more here. Both may need to take a step forward in this company if some of the other formlines hold but they have each/way chances at the very least.
Act Of Innocence was rated more highly amongst the Henderson yard than Supreme favourite Old Park Star at the beginning of the season, before he ended up going up in trip after defeat (gave well over a stone) to 3yo Minella Yoga. He was a good winner of the Sidney Banks, enjoying himself at a new distance, and he can take another step forward here, although on balance his form has him needing to find 10lbs or more to threaten the top of the market.
Bossman Jack looks like a wonderful prospect but further progress will be needed on his bare form (for all that the skeltons are happy not to take advantage of what would be a generous mark), and Laurets d’Estruval has a lovely profile although his Christmas form at Limerick (albeit that he will have needed the run) leaves him with a fair amount to find. Tarus Bay and Fortune Timmy were second and third in a course and distance trial, but the ratings of the winner suggest both have ground to make up.
🏆 2:00 Cheltenham – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices’ Chase) (GBB Race) 3m1f
A 16-runner field for this event, which has a wide-open look to it. Romeo Coolio, Champion Bumper second and Supreme Novices’ third at last two Cheltenham Festivals, is a perfect 4-4 over fences, including a dominant success over Koktail Divin, an easy Drinmore win (2m4f) and then back-to-back 2m1f successes, including the Irish Arkle over yesterday’s Arkle winner Kargese to boot. His quality is impossible to argue with, and this looks the right call here given he stays 2m4f well, especially on decent ground. The worry is that 3m is an unknown at this stage of his career and a first-time hood suggests that Jack Kennedy will be at pains to conserve all the energy he can.
Final Demand’s sole defeat over hurdles came in the Turners last year to the New Lion and he’s always shaped as a chaser, but over fences he’s won two weak contests, not impressing some in the Faugheen over Christmas before running no race when third behind Kaid ‘dAuthie in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival (Western Fold second). There’s been no official reasoning for that blowout which doesn’t build confidence and on balance, he’s taken on.
Indeed, Kaid d’Authie and Western Fold in particular make more appeal. Kaid d’Authie has quickly made into a much better chaser than hurdler, and over distances short of 3 miles he’s impressed with his grinding attitude after the last, particularly when he put his three rivals under pressure at Leopardstown last time. He should relish extra distance and the hill here and is a major player.
Western Fold gave way at the Dublin Racing Festival, but it was his first run since November on ground softer than he cares for and back down in trip slightly from his peak efforts. Since May, on ground described as good to yielding or better, he has beaten the reopposing Oscars Brother, landed the Mayo National off topweight, won the Galway Plate in clearcut style off 148, finished third in the Down Royal Champion Chase behind Envoi Allen and the Savils Chase winner Affordale Fury.
He caught the eye last time and now is back on his ground, with the step up in trip likely to help him, and quotes of 14/1 look overpriced considering his good ground collateral form and improvement.
Henry De Bromhead holds a strong hand in the shape of Koktail Divin, second to Romeo Coolio and Oscars Brother on his first two chase starts before romping home at Leopardstown, and The Big Westerner, second in last year’s Albert Bartlett and an impressive Grade 2 winner over Christmas. Both have their chances, although the Big Westerner might be happier on softer ground (although she handles a decent surface) – Darragh O’Keefe has chosen Koktail Divin, who could have gone for the Jack Richards, something many are taking as a tip in itself.
Wendigo was the unluckiest horse in last year’s Albert Bartlett, losing key momentum and at least two and a half lengths when squeezed at the second last and then stumbling on the run to the home turn. Over fences, he’s continued to shape with promise, finding overdrive to win the John Francome at Newbury before finding Kempton much too tight behind Kitzbuhel (also runs here; and is highly respected), and having a confidence booster at Ayr. A real chance to stretch his legs over this course again should help hugely and he makes strong each/way appeal here to get much closer to Kitzbuhel and shake up the market leaders. Thomas Mor was second in the Kauto Star there, although the track suited him more then and he missed his intended target due to an abscess at Ascot.
Now Is The Hour was possibly lucky to take the Thyestes (for all he was running a massive race) and is a talented horse but one who needs to improve still whilst his best form has come on softer ground. Argento Joy and Joystick might also want a softer surface, Predators Gold is a nice chaser but one who might have found his level whilst this trip might stretch him (outstayed at the Dublin Racing Festival of 2024).
🏆 2:40 Cheltenham – BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) 2m5f
Any number of contenders here. Storm Heart has an obvious form chance on paper, this has been a pretty clear plan for Kateira, Puturhandstogether, and Bunting, whilst Ballydam always seems to run well here and was a creditable third last year. They all have their chances but the two that make appeal are The Yellow Clay and Iberico Lord. They have to be taken on trust – The Yellow Claw has been a disappointment in two runs this season but his novice hurdle form would give him every chance, whilst Iberico Lord needs to show the same form that he did when turning a competitive Lanzarote into a procession, but if doing so he’ll take serious stopping off 144.
🏆 3:20 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (A Limited Handicap) (GBB Race) 3m5½f
A high-quality renewal with a gap between the top two in the weights and the rest. Favouri De Champdou is only having his third cross-country start but he was taking to the experience easily when he fell in December and he then duly took apart the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas before destroying the opposition here, including the highly touted ex-French prospect J’Arrive De L’Est and many other reopposing horses on Trials Day. An 8lbs rise wouldn’t have stopped him that day and whilst he’s older than chief rival Stumptown, the defending champion, Gavin Cromwell’s charge will have to be at his very best to give away 5lbs to the Gigginstown contender.
Desertmore House was a close second in the La Touche Cup on his cross-country debut at Punchestown (4m1f, good to yielding) last May at the Festival and he looked in very good nick when beating The Goffer and Final Orders to win over 3m on that Bank course (soft to heavy) in November. He’s 5lbs out of the handicap but still needs major respect whilst Final Orders should like this ground more than Trials Day (see his win in December) and Vanillier looked to be enjoying life again when landing a cross-country event at Punchestown so has an each/way chance.
🏆 4:00 Cheltenham – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m
The big question of the race is whether Majborough can jump with the same fluency and aggression that he did when turning the Dublin Chase into a procession, smashing the now absent Marine Nationale by 19 lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival. If the cheekpieces applied there work in his favour again and he’s able to put in the same round then it will take an almighty performance to stop him but the same thing could have been said before last year’s Arkle when he smashed into the last two fences and cost himself victory, and it was only at Christmas that he looked laboured enough when third in the Paddy’s Rewards’ Club Chase. At odds on he can be avoided here – many an odds-on favourite has had something go wrong in this race of late.
Il Etait Temps hasn’t brought his best to the Cheltenham Festival in the past (figures of 553 at this meeting) but his hurdling efforts are forgivable, and he’s a more mature horse now who is a serious player based on his defeats of Gaelic Warrior and Jonbon over the past 12 months. The worry for him is a flat performance in the Clarence House at Ascot, when he was exhausted and well beaten when he took a heavy fall. Which horse we see – and the market will tell us a lot based on the first day – could go a long way to deciding his race.
L’Eau du Sud was very close to Majborough in the Arkle last year and was feeling the effects of that run at Aintree afterwards. The key to him may be getting him fresh – he’s been successful the last three times he has returned from a break of two months or bigger – and his Sandown effort (never went a yard, and beaten 18 lengths into third) in the Tingle Creek is easily forgiven, making him a serious player.
Irish Panther is headed here rather than the Arkle, a bold and brave call by connections and one that’s understandable given his age. His form – even from just two chase starts – reads very well on a line through Jacob’s Ladder and Romeo Coolio, with the ground also just right for him. He has upwards of 10lbs to find but a clean round would give him certain prospects.
Quilixios was running a mighty race in last year’s renewal before coming down at the last, and a repeat of that form will give him strong prospects. He’s got a solid record off an absence and will love the ground, so he has to be considered each/way for all that a seasonal reappearance victory would be one of Henry de Bromhead’s finest feats.
Found A Fifty is admirable but has been outpaced at the top level before on good ground, and Saint Segal probably wants more cut. Brookie is overmatched on all his form, Captain Guinness’s best days look to be behind him and Libberty Hunter will likely be picking up pieces, although his Game Spirit effort won’t be good enough.
🏆 4:40 Cheltenham – Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) 2m
Be Aware looks the best of the market leaders here, for all that Jazzy Matty ought to be ready to defend his title with a bold bid, whilst Vanderpoel clearly has more to offer. Of the leading trip Be Aware makes the most appeal, although Irish raiders Addragoole and Release The Beast have impressive handicap form and at a price Western Diego is interesting on better ground than at the DRF. One for the placepot hunters.
🏆 5:20 Cheltenham – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (In Memory Of Sir Johnny Weatherby) (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (GBB) 2m½f
As ever, it’s impossible to write off any of these totally, but it’s appealing to take on favourite Love Sign d’Aunou, who was visually impressive at Naas but who also coped best with extremely testing ground when untested as he cantered clear over the last two furlongs. He’s talented, clearly, but is taking up too much of the market for a totally different test.
Gigginstown haven’t always been the fondest of the Champion Bumper, but they had the third two years ago and the favourite last year, and this time around they have a squad of four to go to war with.
Keep Him Company, a sales purchase at last year’s meeting, has impressed with his attitude in two bumper wins, the first at Fairyhouse on his rules debut when getting the better of a stablemate and subsequent hurdles winner before taking his form up a level at Christmas, beating several previous winners and recording the best topspeed figure in the field. The well beaten third that day was runner up to the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle contender Oldschool Outlaw in Listed company beforehand and would have won the Grade 2 Mares’ Bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival if his rider hadn’t misjudged the winning post.
The Irish Avatar is part of the Willie Mullins battalion, and he might be amongst the best of them based on how he absolutely scooted home on his debut at Navan in January, beating a subsequent ten-length winner by nine lengths with a striking turn of foot considering the ground and Navan’s stiff finish. The booking of Harry Cobden is a bonus for those supporting him and his forward positioning at Navan, if repeated here could be another helping hand.
Of the others, a clear top of that shortlist was Quiryn, who made such a striking impression when leading his field for dead at Naas. More mature than most 4yos who tackle this (he’s been in training as a flat horse), he showed a brilliant turn of foot and and had the form backed up when the second was runner up to another horse from that race next time out. This might possibly be too much too soon but it was a painful call to leave him out despite his age.
The British challenge is led by Bass Hunter, who has a massive engine based on a wide margin win and Newbury on debut and a Listed win at Ascot when he shot clear of his field (at least 10 lengths ahead at one point approaching the final furlong) before just tiring and holding on. He should enjoy the quicker ground and a stronger gallop, but he’ll need to race more efficiently. The Skelton’s Mets Ta Ceinture has a fascinating profile – two APQS wins in good style, and second in a Grade 2 back in October to an unbeaten gelding – and is the choice of Harry Skelton from three runners here. A 710,000 Euro purchase, she gets 17lbs from her rivals, and makes her debut here to boot. Watch the market closely.
Broadway Ted won the Dublin Racing Festival Bumper when he got the better of With Nolimit, Charismatic Kid (third) and It’s Only A Game (fourth), and he looks a fine prospect although he’ll need much more pace than he showed there and this is much faster ground. Moonverring was lucky to take the Fillies equivalent and others make more appeal.
RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Ballyfad in the 1.20 Cheltenham 1pt each/way at 10/1 (🏆
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BACK Skylight Hustle in the 1.20 Cheltenham 1pt each/way at 14/1 (🏆
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BACK Wendigo in the 2.00 Cheltenham 1pt each/way at 15/2 (🏆
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BACK Western Fold in the 2.00 Cheltenham 1pt each/way at 14/1 (🏆
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BACK Favori De Champdou in the 3.20 Cheltenham 2.5 pts win at 5/2 (🏆
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BACK Keep Him Company in the 5.20 Cheltenham 1 pt each/way at 13/2 (🏆
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BACK The Irish Avatar in the 5.20 Cheltenham 1 pt each/way at 11/1 (🏆
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PROFIT/LOSS (MAR 2026): -24.60 points
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