Key occasions
1.20 Turners Novices consequence
1st King Rasko Grey 11-1
2nd Act of Innocence 10-1
third Zeus Power 50-1
4th Soldier Reeves 150-1
Paul Townend secures an eighth Turners win for Willie Mullins, and his fortieth win on the festival. “I love this horse, he’s still a little babyish but they’ve brought him on a lot, he can be great. Hopefully he can replicate half of what Galopin [Des Champs] has done.”
It’s King Rasko Grey who holds on in a crowded end … full consequence to observe.
Act of Innocence joins the leaders approaching the ultimate hurdle, and Bossman Jack is gaining floor …
With 5 to go, No Drama This End is in a spot of trouble behind the pack. King Rasko Grey and Sober each effectively positioned …
Some ironic cheers amid the normal Cheltenham roar after that drawn-out begin. Skyline Hustle and I’ll Sort That are the main pair early on.
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle is held up by a false begin and loads of jostling – with one horse (Sortudo, I believe) taking the chance to alleviate themself – earlier than they’re lastly gathered collectively for a standing begin.
Here’s hoping you all have higher luck than this unlucky Barça fan:
We’re half-hour away from the day’s opening race. Here are the newest odds:
1.20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle
No Drama This End – 5/2
Sober – 7/1
King Rasko Grey – 9/1
Act Of Innocence – 9/1
Sortudo – 9/1
Skylight Hustle – 10/1
Ballyfad – 11/1
Ill Sort That – 14/1
Bossman Jack – 14/1
Shuttle Diplomacy – 28/1
28/1 bar
NR: Came From Nowhere
Full race betting by way of Oddschecker
Greg Wood
4.40 Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
As ever, there’s a large subject of specialist two-milers for this annual, high-octane cost over the minimal journey, together with final yr’s winner, Jazzy Matty, who has spent a lot of the meantime working over hurdles, presumably to guard his handicap mark. He has had a wind-op too since working sixth over timber at Thurles in January, however it is a race the place novices have dominated in latest seasons and he might wrestle to see off a few of his more unexposed rivals this time round from an 8lb larger mark. Dan Skelton’s Be Aware very a lot suits the profile of a typical latest Grand Annual winner after simply 4 begins over fences, and his coach has already added to his spectacular document in handicaps at this assembly with Madara’s victory right here yesterday. Inthepocket is a second-season chaser somewhat than a novice however is attracting help to present JP McManus’s a fifth winner of this race, whereas Ben Pauling’s Vanderpoel may very well be the choose of the costs at round 8-1. He travelled and jumped notably effectively for a novice on the best way to victory at Sandown final time and appears to be like tailored for this step up at school.
Selection: Vanderpoel.
5.20 Champion Bumper, National Hunt Flat
The final of the 4 Grade Ones on the cardboard has been gained by an Irish-trained runner yearly since 2016, and by a Willie Mullins-trained runner no fewer than 14 instances. As a consequence, many punters will look no additional than Love Sign D’Aunou, the mount of his son, Patrick, and a formidable winner at Naas in January. Plenty of Mullins-trained winners have been second-, third- and even fourth-strings within the betting, nonetheless, together with the Ruby-Walsh ridden Briar Hill who went in on the astonishing value of 25-1 again in 2013, so the likes of Quiryn (Paul Townend), The Irish Avatar (Harry Cobden) and Our Trigger (Danny Mullins) are price contemplating too, whereas the truth that Gordon Elliott’s Keep Him Company is difficult Love Sign D’Aunou for favouritism might additionally show vital. And although the latest stats are hardly promising, the British problem appears to be like a bit stronger this yr, with Chris Gordon’s Bass Hunter and Dan Skelton’s latest French import Mets Ta Ceinture each buying and selling at round 14-1. At a (very) large value each-way, in the meantime, Adrian Keatley’s Diamant Dore, with Brian Hughes booked to trip, might give punters a run for his or her cash at round 50-1. He bolted up by 17 lengths on his solely begin to date at Ayr, posting a helpful time within the course of, and has a first-time hood to maintain him settled.
Selection: Diamant Dore.
Read all of Greg’s day two tips right here:
Greg Wood
4.00 Queen Mother Champion Chase
The two-mile chasing championship promised to be a compelling head-to-head between Majborough and Marine Nationale earlier than final yr’s winner suffered a late damage, however it might now show to be a case of Majborough versus the fences, given his considerably error-prone document previous to his spectacular success on the Dublin Racing Festival. A repeat of that type would absolutely be sufficient, however he made a hash of the second-last when odds-on for the Arkle right here final yr and the bookies laying him at round 10-11 will harbour excessive hopes of getting him crushed.
Stable companion Il Etait Temps, the mount of Paul Townend, has emerged because the clear second-favourite this morning, which suggests he has been displaying up effectively at dwelling following his disappointing run within the Clarence House at Ascot, whereas Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud, who goes effectively contemporary and saves his finest for this monitor and journey, is subsequent within the record at 11-2. The novice Irish Panther is one other attention-grabbing runner in a race the place a lot will fancy their possibilities ought to the favorite disappoint, whereas Quilixios, the 2021 Triumph Hurdle winner, was booked for a commendable second place when he got here down on the final 12 months in the past.
Key type:
G1 Dublin Chase, Leopardstown, 1 Feb 26 (Majborough)
G1 Racing Post Novice Chase, Leopardstown, 26 Dec 25 (Irish Panther).
G1 Clarence House Chase, Ascot, 17 Jan 26, 2m 172f (Il Etait Temps)
G2 Shloer Chase, Cheltenham, 14 Nov 25, 1m 7f 199yd (L’Eau Du Sud).
G1 Celebration Chase, Sandown, 26 Apr 25, 1m 7f 99yd (Il Etait Temps)
Timeform Top-Rated: Majborough.
Selection: L’Eau Du Sud
Two more Wednesday previews, courtesy of Greg Wood:
2.40 BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle
The race that had been the Coral Cup since 1993 has a brand new identify this yr, because of the earlier sponsor’s resolution to drop its help citing latest rises in betting taxes as the principle cause. It doesn’t appear to be a problem that considerations the brand new sponsor, although, which has added the race to its help of the characteristic occasion, and it has actually not affected the depth or competitiveness of a race that’s all the time one of the vital tempting carrots dangling earlier than punters all week. It could be faster to record the horses that may’t win immediately somewhat than those that may, however the one for cash thus far immediately has been Nicky Henderson’s Jingko Blue, because the coach bids to construct on his double on the opening-day card. He’s right down to 7-1 second-favourite (from 10-1 this morning) behind Willie Mullins’s Storm Heart, the mount of secure super-sub Danny Mullins. Gordon Elliott’s The Yellow Clay has been nibbled at within the betting too, whereas Nicky Henderson has a helpful second-string to his bow in Iberico Lord, the mount of Nico de Boinville. I’ll be having a bit each-way on Henry de Bromhead’s Forty Coats, in the meantime, as he returns to the scene of his helpful effort to complete fourth within the Turners Novice Hurdle right here 12 months in the past.
Selection: Forty Coats.
3.20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Handicap
Love it or hate it, the Cross Country Chase has now reached its 21st birthday and the reversion to its authentic handicap format 12 months in the past additionally appears to be like like a wise transfer with 5 runners on this yr’s race at the moment on provide at single-figure odds. Favori De Champdou has been the seemingly favorite since romping to victory from a mark of 149 on Trials Day in January, and an 8lb rise for that straightforward success over monitor and journey is more than honest. The veteran Vanillier, the runner-up behind Corach Rambler within the 2023 Grand National, is one other earlier course winner with a good racing weight whereas the 2025 winner, Stumptown, is up 5lb for his success 12 months in the past and shall be very powerful to maintain out of the body. The final horse within the handicap correct, in the meantime, is Martin Brassil’s Desertmore House, the winner of the Risk Of Thunder Chase over Punchestown’s cross-country course in November, and if you happen to put a line by way of his effort over hurdles at Leopardstown final time, he has a really live likelihood off a mark of 140.
Selection: Desertmore House.
Greg Wood
2.00 Brown Advisory Novice Chase preview
The type of Romeo Coolio’s win within the Irish Arkle appears to be like lots stronger following the success of Kargese, the runner-up, within the Arkle right here on Tuesday. Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old is at the moment edging Final Demand, one among 5 runners within the race from the Willie Mullins secure, within the betting. The large step up in journey is the plain query mark over Romeo Coolio’s likelihood, and Elliott has acknowledged that if the Turners Novice Chase, over 2.5 miles, had nonetheless been within the schedule, it could have been the plain race for him. The coach is utilizing a first-time hood on the favorite to assist him settle, but it surely stays a fear for coach and punters alike.
Final Demand, in the meantime, was solely third behind his stable-companion, Kaid D’Authie, in a Grade One at Leopardstown final time, however narrowly favoured within the betting to reverse the shape. Western Fold, who break up the Mullins pair at Leopardstown, can also be a live contender, alongside the lightly-raced improver Koktail Divin, from the Henry de Bromhead secure, unraced since profitable a newbies’ occasion at Leopardstown’s Christmas assembly. Jamie Snowden’s Wendigo is the shortest-priced runner from a British secure, and he was not too far behind Mullins’s Kitzbuhel – re-opposing immediately with Harry Cobden within the saddle – within the Grade One Kauto Star Novice Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
G1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase, Leopardstown, 1 Feb 26 (Kaid D’Authie, Western Fold, Final Demand).
G1 Irish Arkle Novice Chase, Leopardstown, 2 Feb 26 (Romeo Coolio).
G1 Kauto Star Novice Chase, Kempton, 26 Dec 25, (Kitzbuhel, Wendigo)
G1 Racing Post Novice Chase, Leopardstown, 26 Dec 25 (Romeo Coolio).
Beginners’ Chase, Leopardstown, 28 Dec 25 (Koktail Divin).
Timeform Top-Rated: Romeo Coolio
Selection: Kaid D’Authie.
Cheltenham reaffirms security dedication after battle footage seems on-line
Cheltenham Racecourse has reiterated its dedication to offering a “safe and enjoyable experience for all” after footage emerged on social media of a battle on the monitor on Tuesday.
A gaggle of males have been videoed pushing and shoving earlier than punches began to be thrown, with one man particularly wanting dazed after affected by a really heavy blow. The disturbance was quickly introduced underneath management and it has been confirmed that no arrests have been made.
A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse stated: “Our focus is always on providing safe and enjoyable experiences for all our racegoers and we operate a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of antisocial behaviour.
“There was an isolated incident yesterday involving a small number of racegoers which was dealt with quickly by our security team on site. Police based at the racecourse attended but no arrests were made. Millions of people enjoy a day at the races every year while behaving perfectly safely and responsibly.” PA Media
Greg Wood
1.20 Turners Novice hurdle, Grade one, 2m 5f preview
After the 4 British-trained runners crammed the primary 4 locations within the Supreme on Tuesday, there may be comprehensible curiosity in whether or not the house crew can full a double within the openers on Tuesday and Wednesday for the primary time since 2012. It is a definite risk, as Paul Nicholls’s No Drama This End is a strong favorite at round 5-2 after his spectacular win within the Challow Novice Hurdle at Newbury in December. Nicholls’s earlier winners of that race embody Bravemansgame, Stage Star and the mighty Denman, and whereas Denman got here up simply quick on this race when favorite again in 2006, No Drama This End has an apparent likelihood to go one higher.
The most important opposition, in accordance with the market no less than, comes from the Willie Mullins secure: Sober, the mount of the coach’s son, Patrick, and King Rasko Grey, the mount of secure jockey Paul Townend. Sober has loads of high-class Flat type, together with a Group Two success in France and a win within the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot final summer time, and stays unbeaten after two begins over hurdles. Danny Mullins, the coach’s nephew and perennial No 2 or No 3 rider, now has 32 profession Grade One wins after his success in Tuesday’s Arkle, none of which have been favourites, and makes an attempt to make it 33 on Sortudo. Act Of Innocence represents the identical proprietor/coach/jockey combo as Old Park Star, Tuesday’s Supreme winner, whereas Ballyfad is Jack Kennedy’s choose from a few live runners for Gordon Elliott.
Key type and choice:
G1 Challow Novice Hurdle, Newbury, 29 Dec 25 (No Drama This End)
G1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle, Naas, 9 Jan 26 (I’ll Sort That, Sortudo).
G2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, Punchestown, 11 Jan 26 (Sober).
G1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle, Leopardstown, 1 Feb 26, (Ballyfad, King Rasko Grey)
Timeform Top-Rated: No Drama This End.
Selection: No Drama This End.
Wednesday’s race card
1.20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle
2.00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
2.40 Coral Cup Hurdle
3.20 Cross Country Steeple Chase
4.00 Queen Mother Steeple Chase
4.40 Grand Annual Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
5.20 Champion Bumper
Here are the day two market movers and hottest bets:
Market movers:
Jingko Blue – 5/1 from 10/1
Pied Piper – 10/1 from 22/1
Bossman Jack – 9/1 out to 16/1
Most widespread bets:
Majborough – 46% of Champion Chase bets
No Drama This End – 28% of Turners bets
Romeo Coolio – 24% of Brown Advisory bets
All odds by way of Oddschecker.
Sean Ingle stories on day one, with loads of positives to report after a buildup marked by in-fighting and considerations for racing’s future.
Preamble
Greg Wood
Good morning from Cheltenham racecourse on day two of the 2026 festival assembly: Champion Chase day, and additionally now Ladies’ Day, because the monitor makes an attempt to deal with the obvious gap within the crowd figures after three straight years of declining attendance.
Last yr’s Wednesday attendance dipped under 42,000 for the primary time, and additionally under the (document) determine for the New Year’s Day fixture right here two months in the past. It may appear a bit cursory to slap a “Ladies’ Day” tag on the cardboard and count on a big increase to the group, however hey, it’s labored like a attraction for racecourses the size and breadth of the nation during the last 20 years, so why not give it a strive?
It mustn’t, in any case, be a troublesome promote. The Champion Chase is one among 4 Grade One races on the cardboard – the opposite three days have solely three – and whereas the characteristic race is usually low on numbers, and sadly lacking a defending champion too after Marine Nationale was dominated out final week, the quixotic Majborough is an intriguing favourite, more likely to divide punters pretty evenly over whether or not he needs to be backed or opposed.
The going at Cheltenham is barely faster immediately, having shifted from good-to-soft to good-to-soft (good in locations), and the motion is underway at 1.20pm with the Turners Novice Hurdle, the place Paul Nicholls’s No Drama This End will set off as favorite and try to finish an opening-race double for British yards after their 1-2-3-4 within the Supreme Novice Hurdle on Tuesday.
There is a most subject for the 3m 1f Broadway Novice Chase at 2.00, vindicating the choice to axe the Turners Novice Chase over two-and-a-half miles. You can observe all of the motion, as all the time, right here on the weblog all through the afternoon.
