HARRY SKELTON: Cheltenham Festival 2026 – Day 2

Mydaddypaddy ran a big race in the Supreme, as did The New Lion in the Champion Hurdle, writes HARRY SKELTON.

I had waited a long time to ride The New Lion, but everything can change so quickly in racing and it was brilliant to get a win on the board with Madara in the Plate.

He won really well and it was a great training performance from Dan and the whole team.

It doesn’t get any better than having a winner at the Festival and hopefully we have a few more with good chances on day two.

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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

WEDNESDAY

BOSSMAN JACK & SOLDIER REEVES – 1:20pm Cheltenham (Turners Novices’ Hurdle)

We’ve got two runners here and I ride Bossman Jack. He’s a horse with a lot of ability and we’ve always thought a lot of him. He’s improved nicely through the season, winning well at Ffos Las and Chepstow on his last two starts, and I think there’s more to come from him. Whether he handles this kind of track remains to be seen, as it’s different from anything he’s run on. He’s got a big engine and I think he can outrun his odds here.

Soldier Reeves has been dying for this step up in trip. He’s got some nice form to his name this season after running well in some good races, including when chasing home Old Park Star at Haydock, which looks very good form now. He’s got plenty of ability and I could see him going well and possibly sneaking a place.

KATEIRA – 2:40pm Cheltenham (BetMGM Cup)

She has struggled on softish ground through the winter but the handicapper now looks to have given her a chance. I think this race will suit her, as she’ll like the hustle and bustle of the big field. The drying ground is in her favour, and I think she has a good each-way chance.

L’EAU DU SUD – 4:00pm Cheltenham (Queen Mother Champion Chase)

He’s nice and fresh, which is key for him, having not run since the Tingle Creek. It’s worth putting a line through that run as it came too soon after his victory in the Shloer. He obviously enjoys it at Cheltenham, which is a big help. If he puts in the performance that we think he can, then I think he will go very close. Majborough was very good at Leopardstown last time but we’re happy with our horse. He’s been training really well and this has always really been the target after the Shloer, as we knew in the Tingle Creek that it probably wasn’t going to happen for us. He’s definitely got a live chance.

BE AWARE – 4:40pm Cheltenham (Grand Annual Handicap Chase)

He’s a novice and has finished second on his last three starts in Graded company, including when behind Lulamba in a Grade 1 in December. I think he looks nicely weighted now, dropping back into a handicap. If there’s a good strong pace up front that will suit him as he seems to finish his race out strongly and sticks to his guns well. He should have a good chance here.

METS TA CEINTURE, THE SKETCHER & VANGO CAN GO – 5:20pm Cheltenham (Champion Bumper)

This is obviously going to be a very tough race to win. I ride an interesting filly here called Mets Ta Ceinture. She has got some really good form in France in AQPS Graded races and receives 17 pounds from most of her rivals with a four-year-old allowance as well as a fillies allowance. We’re really happy with her work at home, she goes well and we like what we see from her. We think she’s smart and are excited to see how she gets on.

The Sketcher won last time up at Ayr. He stays well, is very straightforward and looks a nice galloping type of horse. He won’t mind this type of race.

Vango Can Go was placed in a Listed bumper at Ascot so has some solid form to his name. He also stays well and wouldn’t mind any rain that falls.

It’s a big occasion for these young horses but they all have good, level heads on them and won’t be fazed by the occasion.

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