Last Updated on 21/02/2026 by Andy Clark
Ciaran Murphy is a seasoned horse racing analyst with a keen eye on the Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets. A passionate follower of National Hunt racing, he has spent years studying trends, form, and betting strategies to uncover value in novice hurdles, chases, and Championship races. Known for combining insightful analysis with practical betting advice, Ciaran provides readers with expert previews, tips, and market commentary to give them an edge ahead of every Cheltenham Festival.
The excitement continues at the Cheltenham Festival 2026, and Wednesday, 11th March promises another action-packed day of world-class horse racing including the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at 1.20pm, the Coral Cup at 2pm and the feature race of the day, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, at 4pm.
As one of the most prestigious events in the National Hunt calendar, Day 2 features key contests that attract top trainers, jockeys, and betting enthusiasts from around the globe.
Our expert Cheltenham tips cover every major race on the Day 2 card, including proven festival trends, form analysis, and value betting opportunities. Leveraging years of experience and statistical insights, we provide guidance you can trust to help navigate this thrilling day of racing. From the Queen Mother Champion Chase Cross Country, we break down the top contenders, highlight potential upsets, and identify the best bets for Cheltenham 2026.
Whether you’re a seasoned punter or following the festival for the first time, our Day 2 Cheltenham Festival tips combine expert opinion, data-driven analysis, and up-to-date odds to give you a competitive edge. Stay ahead of the crowd with our comprehensive preview of Wednesday’s racing action.
Cheltenham Day 2 Betting Tips
1.20pm – Turners Novices’ Hurdle Tips (Grade 1)
Wednesday’s first race unusually sees a short-priced English-trained favourite sitting proudly and in splendid isolation at the head of the market. In fact, only No Drama This End can boast a single-figure price in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle odds. Regardless of how good you think he is, and at the last count he was the 6th horse to have carried the ‘best since Denman’ tag, he simply has to be taken on at the prices.
I do actually think he is a classy horse (not a bold claim for a 7/2 Cheltenham favourite) and indeed he carried some of my money to 9th place in the Champion Bumper last year after putting a highly touted Skelton horse firmly in his place on his racecourse debut. Yet, that rival has yet to be seen this year, leaving the substance of the form open to question. Additionally, the old cliche of hurdling and bonuses is one that I think you can reasonably apply in this case.
At the head of the market, I am very surprised that 12/1 is still available for MIGHTY PARK. Wearing the green and gold, being trained at Closutton and winning his maiden hurdle eased down by 38 lengths doesn’t add up to a double figure price in my eyes. Additionally, Willie seemed very taken with the performance, labelling it ‘special’. And it’s not hard to see why.
An RPR of 145 on his first completed hurdle start puts him only behind Envoi Allen and Samcro for previous Turners winners and ahead of all but Constitution Hill for winners of the supreme (ahead of the likes of Douvan and Shiskin). That is fairly esteemed company, and I think the price is inflated by a lack of clarity on what his target will be (although Willie was good enough to let us know that he had booked his Cheltenham ticket). I don’t see these connections being in a rush to take on Old Park Star, and his pedigree would suggest an extra half mile won’t inconvenience him, and as such, I am happy to put him up as my opening race day 2 tip.
At this stage, I wouldn’t put anyone off 2 big price plays, which I give in order of preference. The first is also English trained and shared the same stable as the favourite last year. ACT OF INNOCENCE (14/1) moved from Nicholls to Nicky Henderson at the start of the year and on his hurdling debut, was very impressive in dispatching a race fit Sinnatra, who easily won next time out. The reason we are getting such big odds (which were even bigger post-race) is as a result of losing out to his old trainer and Minella Yoga, but he gave 20 pounds to that horse, who wouldn’t be out of place in a Triumph Hurdle, and still only lost out by a length. With Old Park Star seemingly the first string Supreme Novices’ Hurdle choice for the owner/trainer combination, I think we can be confident of a run, and I can’t see a world where he isn’t at least half this price on the day.
Additionally, I was very taken by the performance of YOU PROOF (33/1) at Limerick over Christmas. I have seen some suggest the longer Albert Bartlett, but to my eye, he has travelled very powerfully in both his bumper and hurdle starts, something which would surely be more suited to mid-range trips. In that Limerick race, he was well on top of King’s Bucks and value for much more than the 1 and a half length victory. That horse provides a nice comparison with No Drama This End, who was an admittedly eased-down 3l ahead of the same horse on his own hurdling debut. Danny Mullins in his Tote blog, was extremely complimentary of the Double Green horse, and at almost 10 times the price of the favourite, I am happy to take a chance.
Read our full preview and betting tips for the 2026 Turners Novices’ Hurdle to get a full in-depth analysis, race trends and best bets.
2.00pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Tips (Grade 1)
The first graded chase of the day is for the long-distance Novice Chasers, all of whom will aim to catapult themselves into next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup picture. None more so than short price favourite Final Demand, who solidified his place at the top of the market with a visually impressive debut at my local track, Navan.
While his jumping that day was undoubtedly breathtaking (especially for his first time fencing over rules), the subsequent runs of the second, Wingman, haven’t exactly boosted the form. At Christmas, he didn’t sparkle, yet he managed a comfortable win. Yet again, at 5/4 I need all boxes ticked, and I have a major black mark against him.
Last year, in the preceding race, he was beaten (and arguably outstayed) by both The New Lion and The Yellow Clay, the latter of whom has badly let down the form. There is also a worry that he may simply not like the Cheltenham track. He is a worthy favourite and undoubtedly a good horse, but again, I’ll be taking him on with my two Cheltenham day 2 betting tips for the Brown Advisory.
Of the 2, a very strong preference is for Henry De Bromhead’s mare THE BIG WESTERNER (10/1). Despite always looking like she would (as most do from the stable) improve for fences, she found only a former Champion Bumper winner and strong stayer too good in the Albert Bartlett. Jumping 20 fences rather than 12 hurdles will only help her case. She lost out on her seasonal debut, but last time out, she was well on top of fellow mare, the Grade 1 winning Jade de Grugy. Despite some saying she is better on soft ground, she handled the track and ground perfectly well last year, and I think she is highly likely to turn up here rather than the open Mares Chase.
The second selection, at a bigger price, is one that I can’t take sole credit for. In a recent video, the shrewd Tony Keenan pointed out that the reigning Galway Plate champion is actually still a novice and eligible for the race. WESTERN FOLD (20/1) is already rated 157 over fences and has strong form tying in with Savills chase winner Affodale Fury. With the likes of Galvin, Gordon Elliot has shown an ability to freshen up a novice chaser from an early-season start to win first time up at the Festival, and I’m hoping that the pattern repeats here.
Read our full preview and betting tips for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase to get a full depth analysis, trends and best bets.
2.40pm – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle Tips (Premier Handicap)
I am very interested if PUTURHANDSTOGETHER (33/1) is stepped up to 2 and a half miles after easily winning the Boodles juvenile handicap last year. He is by no means guaranteed to turn up here; he will carry my money, whatever race he goes for at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Another JP runner who is a massive price is JOYEUSE (50/1), who is now back hurdling after not taking to fences. She hacked up in last year’s William Hill (Betfair) Hurdle off an admittedly lenient mark of 123, but the 8-length margin doesn’t do justice to just her superiority on the day. She was installed as favourite for the county hurdle, even though a misunderstanding by the trainer meant that she wasn’t actually qualified. She went on to run respectably in the Mares Hurdle over the Coral Cup course and distance. On her latest outing, to my eye, she was getting on top in a Grade 2 mares contest before getting the last all wrong, but she has been dropped to a mark of just 135 as a result. Whether she truly gets the trip is the big concern, and she may end up in the County Hurdle, but she is undoubtedly well handicapped, and the price certainly compensates the risk in my eyes.
3.20pm – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase Tips (Limited Handicap)
4.00pm – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase Tips (Grade 1)
Even before Il Etait Temps blew out last time out, I was happy to take him on based on his previous Cheltenham form. Now seemingly destined to go straight to the Festival on the back of that fall, I am not inclined to change my mind, even with significantly more favourable odds. That disappointing display left defending champion Marine Nationale clear at the top of the betting. While he certainly has a great chance, he is another whose odds are skinny enough in my eyes at 6/4.
Despite a couple of poor showings this year and a clambering for a step up in trip, I do think Majborough will run a big race. His jumping will need to be significantly better, but perhaps a change in tactics will see that come to fruition. That being said, while I would have been tempted to put him up prior to the Clarence House, another knock on effect of that race was his shortening in 5/1, which is short based on what he has achieved.
At this stage, I would suggest two horses for a bet on the day 2 feature race. Towards the top of the market, I think L’EAU DE SUD (10/1) is certainly worth considering. He has won at course and distance this year, and the Arkle form from last year also looks strong. A look further back at festival form is also encouraging when you consider that the only horse better than him in the county hurdle has subsequently been competitive in 3 Melbourne Cups. There probably isn’t a better target trainer in the business at the moment than Dan Skelton, and he will go there fresh, and I would think a fair bit shorter than his current odds.
Additionally, at 16/1 is the previous festival winner QUILLIXIOS who represents a trainer who has a proven track record in the race. Whether he would have beaten the winner when coming down at the last in the last year’s renewal is questionable, but either way, the disparity in price is simply too great. He had a slight hold up at the start of the year, but will make his seasonal debut at the Dublin Racing Festival, where any sign of life should leave him spot on for a big performance at the big one in March
4.40pm – Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase Tip
In keeping with my policy of never writing a preview without tipping an Emmet Mullins horse, MCLAUREY (16/1) is one to look out for. At the time of writing, he is about to make his 4th start over fences, the first being over a trip far too long, and thus qualifying for all open handicap chases. With that in mind, I’ll be keeping an eye out to see if he ends up in the Grand Annual, where I think he would go very close.
5.20pm – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)
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Cheltenham 2026 Day 2 Race Schedule
The races come thick and fast right across the festival, and after an action-packed Day 1, we move to a day which welcomes several Grade 1 races, including the incredibly popular Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase.
The racing gets underway at 1.20pm, with seven races running through to the early evening. You can find the full schedule for Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival 2026 below…
| Time | Race | Grade | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.20pm | Turners Novices’ Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m 5f | Novice Hurdle |
| 2.00pm | Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase | Grade 1 | 3m | Novice Chase |
| 2.40pm | Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle | Premier Handicap | 2m 5f | Handicap Hurdle |
| 3.20pm | Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase | Listed | 3m 5½f | Cross Country Chase |
| 4.00pm | BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase | Grade 1 | 2m | Chase |
| 4.40pm | Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase | Premier Handicap | 2m | Handicap Chase |
| 5.20pm | Weatherbys Champion Bumper | Grade 1 | 2m | NH Flat Race |
Cheltenham Festival Wednesday FAQs
What is the feature race on Cheltenham Day 2?
The Queen Mother Champion Chase at 4.00pm is the headline race on Wednesday. Run over approximately two miles, it is one of the five Championship races at the Festival and is the definitive test for the best two-mile chasers in training. Marine Nationale is the defending champion heading into 2026.
What races are on at Cheltenham on Wednesday?
Day 2 features seven races: the Turners Novices’ Hurdle (1.20pm), Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2.00pm), Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (2.40pm), Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (3.20pm), Queen Mother Champion Chase (4.00pm), Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (4.40pm), and Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.20pm).
What is the Turners Novices’ Hurdle?
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 novice hurdle run over approximately two miles five furlongs on the Old Course. It is the opening race on Day 2 and regularly attracts the best staying novice hurdlers of the season. Previous winners include Faugheen, Envoi Allen, and Samcro — horses who all went on to win at the very highest level.
What is the Coral Cup?
The Coral Cup is a premier handicap hurdle run over approximately two miles five furlongs, typically attracting a large field of 20-plus runners. It is one of the most competitive handicaps of the week and a race where each-way value is regularly found at bigger prices. Extra place offers from bookmakers are particularly worth using for this race given the field size.
What is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase?
The Cross Country Chase is a unique race at Cheltenham run over approximately three miles five and a half furlongs on a specially designed cross country course featuring banks, ditches, and unusual obstacles not found in conventional jump racing. It is a specialist contest dominated by horses trained by Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins, and famously won multiple times by Tiger Roll.
What is the Champion Bumper?
The Weatherbys Champion Bumper is the only Flat race at the Cheltenham Festival, run over approximately two miles on the New Course. It is a Grade 1 contest for National Hunt Flat horses — bumpers — who have not yet run over hurdles or fences. Willie Mullins has a dominant record in the race and typically fields one or more leading contenders.
Which trainers have the best record on Cheltenham Day 2?
Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott dominate the Grade 1 novice races on Day 2 historically, with Mullins particularly strong in the Turners and Champion Bumper. Nicky Henderson has a strong record in the two-mile chasing division. For the handicaps, the Coral Cup and Grand Annual have produced winners from a wider range of yards, making them more open betting propositions.
Is the Cross Country Chase worth betting on?
It depends on your appetite for specialist racing. The Cross Country is a fascinating race but a difficult one to assess using conventional form — horses need specific experience of the course and obstacles. Gordon Elliott’s horses with prior cross-country experience are always worth following, as is any horse that has run well at Cheltenham’s cross-country course previously. For casual punters, the conventional races on Day 2 offer more familiar betting ground.
