Wednesday’s race schedule
Turners Novices’ Hurdle – King Rasko Grey
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Kitzbuhel
MGM Cup Handicap Hurdle – Jingko Blue
3.20pm – Final Orders
4pm – Champion Chase
4.40pm – Grand Annual Handicap Chase
5.20pm – Champion Bumper
It’s the fifth Willie Mullins winner of Cheltenham so far, and he has passed the £1m mark for prize money already.
Paul Townend, after winning the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase, has had a great Cheltenham.
Here’s the results of the Champion Chase:
Il Etait TempsLibberty HunterL’eau Du Sud
JP McManus’s Majborough, the odds-on favourite, lost out, and his hunt for a Champion Chase victory goes on. It’s another win for Willie Mullins with Il Etait Temps, though.
Libberty Hunter was 50/1 as the start of the race, a great performance.
IL ETAIT TEMPS wins the Champion Chase!
Majborough fell out of contention after a terrible jump on the third-last hurdle, and Paul Townend pushed Il Etait Temps so hard over the last few hurdles, surviving a troubling final jump to win by a huge distance.
Libberty Hunter followed in second and then L’eau De Sud finished third. Majborough ended up being one of the last finishers.
The third last jump is a disaster for Majborough!
Majborough is about five lengths in front at the halfway mark, and is jumping well so far, but the fifth last fence goes badly.
And we’re underway! Majborough makes a poor start to the Champion Chase, but recovers well to start in front with Quilixios.
Majborough has now moved to odds-on at 4/5. Il Etait Temps is at 11/4, while, further up the field, Irish Panther has moved down to 14/1.
And Malachy Clerkin has his preview of this massive race, with JP McManus’ Majborough the favourite:
4.00 Champion Chase
“The feature race of the day is the fastest race over fences all week and it features the first – and quite possibly only – odds-on favourite of the meeting.
Majborough for Willie Mullins and JP McManus ought to be a cut above the others here, all the more so since Marine Nationale’s injury-enforced withdrawal last week. If he jumps a clear round and doesn’t make a mess of his fences like he did in last year’s Arkle, he should come home alone.
Of the others, Irish Panther is a fascinating entry – still a novice, he could have gone for the Arkle but chose this as the more winnable race. Brave or stupid? Time to find out.”
Now to the main attraction, the Champion Chase:
10/11 Majborough
5/2Il Etait Temps
6/1 Leau De Sud
14/1 Quilixios
16/1 Irish Panther
22/1 Found a Fifty
40/1 Saint Segal
50/1 Captain Guinness
50/1 Libberty Hunter
150/1 Brookie
Results from the Cross Country Chase:
Final OrdersFavori De ChampdouVanillier
Irish one-two-three in the Cross Country Chase.
Here’s the winning jockey, Conor Stone-Walsh, who won for the C M D Syndicate, on a Gavin Cromwell trained horse.
And great reaction, too, from the C M D Syndicate on their first Cheltenham win.
Final Orders wins the Cross Country Chase! Conor Stone-Walsh took the final hurdle perfectly and left Favori De Champdou behind by a few lengths, giving the jockey time to celebrate over the finish.
Vanillier recovered well from a few poor jumps to take third.
Halfway through and Final Orders still leads with Favori de Champdou just off his shoulder. Pied Piper has fallen and is out of the race.
And they’re off for the Cross Country Chase! Favori de Champdou has made a decent start in the front group, with Final Orders in the lead.
The favourite, Favori De Champdou has bolted away from the group at speed. The only problem is that the race hasn’t begun yet. Jack Kennedy gets him under control, showing him around the track eventually.
There has been an equine fatality following the MGM Cup Handicap Hurdle. Hms Seahorse died after falling at the final hurdle.
And here’s Malachy’s preview of the Cross Country Chase:
3.20 Cross Country Chase
“Always great fun to watch, this race tends to come down to a few specialists near the front of the market. Favouri Du Champdou has been the form horse through the winter at this discipline but he has two Gavin Cromwell charges to overcome in last year’s winner Stumptown and Final Orders, who won here in December. Hard to see too many others getting involved. “
Here’s the field for the Cross Country Chase:
7/4 Favori De Champdou
7/2 Stumptown
6/1 Vanillier
15/2 Desertmore House
17/2 Final Orders
12/1 Pied Piper
16/1 The Goffer
20/1 Fakir Doudairies
20/1 Conflated
30/1 Latenightpass
50/1 Velvet Elvis
50/1 Horantzau Dairy
50/1 Famous Bridge
110/1 Minella Crooner
Our racing expert, Brian O’Connor, has an update on the Queally-De Boinville spat stemming from the start of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle:
“Irish amateur jockey Declan Queally described as “horrific” what top English rider Nico de Boinville said to him at the start of the Turners Novice Hurdle on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, a race won by the Willie Mullins-trained King Rasko Grey.
De Boinville finished runner-up on Act Of Innocence while Queally was fifth on I’ll Sort That after what he described as a “mess” of a start. Both jockeys appeared to want to fill the same position at the start which required a number of tries to get off.
Quizzed by ITV after the race, Queally said: “Being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville, is not very nice. I’m an amateur, I’m coming over riding, in front of my kids, horrific.”
De Boinville was asked about the start and Queally’s description of it as mess and replied: “Maybe he should look in the mirror.”
The ITV panel, including former 20-time champion jockey AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh, said Queally was entitled to be in the position at the start that De Boinville seemed to object to in colourful fashion.
No action was taken by the stewards into the incident. Ballyfad was kicked at the start by another runner but was allowed race and finished unplaced.”
Nico de Boinville celebrates after winning with Old Park Star on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
More controversy over the start of a race today, as that race went off very hastily. Six riders seemed to be totally left behind at the start, trapped on the inside, including Puturhandstogether, Bunting and Hms Seahorse.
Jingko Blue wins the MGM Cup Handicap Hurdle! And by quite a few lengths. James Bowen was the jockey for the Nicky Henderson trained horse.
Franciscan Rock followed well throughout the race, and finished in second, while Storm Heart came third, and Ballyadam in fourth.
The Yellow Clay fell on the third last hurdle, after making good ground up on the leader, as did Hms Seahorse on the final hurdle.
They’re off and running for the MGM Cup Handicap Hurdle! Jingko Blue and Franciscan Rock leading it so far.
The two favourites, Jingko Blue and Storm Heart are now at 15/4 and 5/1 respectively. Previous favourite, Kopeck De Mee, is now at 10/1, while Brian O’Connor’s pick, Puturhandstogether, is at 11/1.
If the first two races are anything to go by, we’ll be seeing plenty of Willie Mullins. He would have been pretty relaxed at that finish, with both Final Demand and Kitzbuhel in his stable.
Here’s Malachy’s preview on the 2.40pm race:
2.40 MGM Cup Handicap Hurdle
“The Coral Cup as was, this is a notoriously difficult race to find the winner of. With as many 50/1 winners as winning favourites in the past decade – one apiece – you might be as well closing your eyes and saying a prayer as anything more sophisticated here.
Certainly Kopek De Mee looks like a dodgy favourite given how many times it hasn’t lived up to its sizeable reputation for Willie Mullins. Maybe look at something like Farren Glory for Gordon Elliott, or the likeable Ballyadam, who has twice been placed in this race.”
4/1 Storm Heart
4/1 Jingko Blue
11/2 The Yellow Clay
15/2 Kateira
17/2 Iberico Lord
9/1 Kopeck De Mee
10/1 Puturhandstogether
14/1 Bunting
16/1 Lucky Place
20/1 Forty Coats
22/1 Guard Duty
28/1 Farren Glory
30/1 Beckett Rock
30/1 Ballyadam
30/1 Chart Topper
35/1 Buddy One
40/1 Give It To Me Oj
50/1 Francsican Rock
50/1 Colonel Mustard
50/1 Rambo T
50/1 Hms Seahorse
50/1 Sony Bill
90/1 Minella Rescue
125/1 Dargiannini
A bit of controversy from the first race of the day, as Declan Queally was not happy about the conduct of Nico de Boinville at the start of the Turners Novices’ Chase.
“Being abused by an English rider, Nico de Boinville is not very nice” 👀
“I’m an amateur, I’m coming over riding in front of my kids. HORRIFIC” 😯
Declan Queally is NOT HAPPY with Nico de Boinville 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/ZooWaL1PDI
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2026
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase:
KitzbuhelFinal DemandSalver
Kitzbuhel wins the Turners Novices’ Chase! Harry Cobden led the race throughout and pulled away to win ahead of Final Demand in second and Salver in third. Another win for Mullins.
Wendigo fell at the last, but is up safely.
Kitzbuhel ridden by Harry Cobden after winning the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.
Kaid Dauthie has fallen. Kitzbuhel is still in front, with Romeo Coolio going backwards.
Kitzbuhel’s striking grey coat is out in front by about two lengths, nearly halfway through. Romeo Coolio is still nicely positioned in the front pack though.
And we’re off for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. The favourite, Romeo Coolio, is 2/1 now.
Willie Mullins couldn’t believe what price King Rasko Grey fell to before the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
“I couldn’t believe he was 11/1” 😅
“I thought he’d be 2/1, 3/1 MAX” 😳
Willie Mullins had faith in King Rasko Grey and he delivered 👊 pic.twitter.com/kYgyqN7iF1
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2026
Here’s Malachy’s preview of the upcoming race:
2.00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
“Looks to be a high quality race this year, benefitting from the deletion of the two-and-a-half-mile novice chase from the Cheltenham programme. Romeo Coolio would almost certainly have been sent to that race if it still existed but the Gordon Elliott hope comes here instead and has been an uneasy favourite.
Final Demand could turn out to be the Gold Cup horse among these, although that never guarantees a win in this race. One to keep an eye on is Koktail Divin for Henry DeBromhead – he was favourite for the Jack Richards Handicap Chase on Thursday but goes here instead, with connections clearly fancying their chances.”
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is next at 2pm.
3/1 Romeo Coolio
16/5 Final Demand
9/2 Kaid Dauthie
6/1 Koktail Divin
17/2 Wendigo
12/1 Western Fold
12/1 Kitzbuhel
14/1 Oscars Brother
25/1 Salver
35/1 Argento Boy
50/1 Thomas Mor
70/1 Now Is The Hour
50/1 Joystick
150/1 Rushmount
Here’s the top three for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle:
King Rasko GreyAct of InnocenceZeus Power
The winning jockey, Paul Townend, recorded his 40th Cheltenham victory.
King Rasko Grey takes the Turners Novice Hurdle! Willie Mullins has another winner, with Paul Townend the jockey.
Act of Innocence comes in second, and there’s a scramble for third, with Zeus Power possibly nicking it.
No Drama This End fell out of the running very early, and never looked like figuring at the top end of the race.
An even pace in this race, with No Drama This End quite far back in the pack with five hurdles to go. Skylight Hustle and Ill Sort That still leading.
It’s taking quite a while to steady the horses and line them up for the start. Sortudo even needs a wee before we get underway.
And we’re off eventually! King Rasko Grey off to a good start, as is Skylight Hustle.
Brian O’Connor’s pick, King Rasko Grey, is up to 9/1 now, while the favourite, No Drama This End, has come down to 9/4. Riskaway has made big moves, coming down from 66/1 less than half an hour ago to 35/1.
The favourite for today’s first race is ready to go.
Malachy Clerkin provides us with his first preview of the day, with less than 20 minutes before the first race of the day:
1.20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle
“The Day Two opener has no stand-out – at least no obvious one anyway. The favourite is No Drama This End for Paul Nicholls, with Bossman Jack for the Skeltons near the front of the market as well. Seeing as there was a British 1-2-3-4 in the Supreme, maybe the Irish novice hurdler form isn’t up to much.
Willie Mullins sends six to this, which suggests that your guess is as good as his as to which is the best of them. It could be best to side with two small Irish trainers here – Waterford’s Declan Queally brings I’ll Sort That and Kerry’s Tom Cooper has Shuttle Diplomacy. Both of them travel with right chances in what looks a very open renewal.”
Willie Mullins (right) on the gallops ahead of day two of the Cheltenham Festival. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
Here’s the odds for the 1.20pm Turners Novice’s Hurdles.
5/2 No Drama This End
7/1 Sober
7/1 Sortudo
8/1 King Rasko Grey
8/1Act of Innocence
8/1 Skylight Hustle
12/1 Ballyfad
14/1 Ill Sort That
16/1 Bossman Jack
22/1 Zeus Power
25/1 Laurets Destruyal
30/1 Shuttle Diplomacy
33/1 Saint Baco
33/1 Taurus Bay
40/1 Hurricane Pat
66/1 Klimt Madrik
66/1 Fortune Timmy
66/1 Riskaway
100/1 Walks in June
100/1 Solider Reeves
110/1 Free Spirit
NR Came From Nowhere
Our racing expert, Brian O’Connor, is in Cheltenham for this week’s festival and has made his picks for the races on day two.
1.20 – King Rasko Grey
2.00 – Predators Gold
2.40 – Puturhandstogether (Nap)
3.20 – Desertmore House
4.00 – Il Etait Temps
4.40 – Release The Beast
5.20 – Our Trigger
And if you won’t take it on faith, you can read up on why he’s made his selections below.
[Cheltenham day two tips: Willie Mullins’s best hope in the opener and picks for each race]
With Cheltenham’s capacity expanded to 66,000 last year, attendance on day one was around 9,000 short of that figure. However, it was up on last year’s attendance on the opening day, writes Brian O’Connor.
[Cheltenham attendance up on opening day but well short of new capacity limit]
Majborough may be the favourite for the Champion Chase at 4pm, but, as Brian O’Connor writes, JP McManus has had bigger favourites slump to defeats in this race. McManus will be hoping that Majborough can overcome stablemate companion Il Etait Temps and the rest of the field for his first Champion Chase victory.
[JP McManus aims to land elusive Champion Chase crown with Majborough]
Hello all and welcome to The Irish Times live blog for the second day of Cheltenham!
The feature for the day is the Champion Chase at 4pm, where JP McManus and Willie Mullins’ Majborough is favourite to win.
There’s six other races throughout the day, starting with the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at 1.20pm.
Join us as we build up to today’s races and for updates on all the action across day two of Cheltenham.