Cheltenham Day 2 tips: Race rundown and predictions for 2026

Mar 10, 2026 - 16:45

After a thrilling opening day, attention quickly turns to Day 2 of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

Wednesday might not have quite the same depth as some of the other days this week, but it still features several fascinating contests particularly from a betting perspective.

Cheltenham Day 2 quick tips

1.20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle
- NO DRAMA THIS END at 9/2 with talkSPORT BET
- BALLYFAD at 13/2 with BetMGM
2.00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
- ROMEO COOLIO at 22/5 with SBK
- KOKTAIL DIVIN at 11/2 with BoyleSports
2.40 BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle
3.20 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
- FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU at 15/4 with SBK
- DESERTMORE HOUSE at 4/1 with BoyleSports
4.00 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase
- MAJBOROUGH at 9/10 with SBK
- QUILIXIOS at 10/1 with BoyleSports
4.40 Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
5.20 Weatherbys Champion Bumper
- KEEP HIM COMPANY at 8/1 with SBK
- BROADWAY TED at 16/1 with Coral

Cheltenham Day 2 WIN DOUBLE

Romeo Coolio
Majborough

Cheltenham Day 2 WIN DOUBLE pays 8/1 with talkSPORT BET

Cheltenham Day 2 EACH WAY DOUBLE

No Drama This End
Inthepocket

Cheltenham Day 2 EACH WAY DOUBLE pays 53/1 with SBK

The Champion Chase is the clear highlight on the card and this year’s renewal looks particularly intriguing with Majborough aiming to confirm himself as the leading two-mile chaser. Alongside that there are competitive handicaps and novice races that often produce some of the best betting opportunities of the week.

Here are my Cheltenham Festival 2026 Day 2 tips and best bets for Wednesday action at Prestbury Park.

Cheltenham Day 2 race schedule

Time	Race	Length
1.20	Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)	2m5f
2.00	Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)	3m1f
2.40	BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)	2m5f
3.20	Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Limited Handicap)	3m5f56y
4.00	BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)	1m7f199y
4.40	Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)	1m7f199y
5.20	Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)	2m87y

Turners Novices’ Hurdle tips

Favourites have done well in the Turners in recent years and I’m expecting NO DRAMA THIS END to prove popular here for Paul Nicholls. This horse has looked hugely promising winning all three starts over hurdles and his form is stacking up too. He has won at this track before as well and he should take a lot of beating under Harry Cobden.

With a big field heading to post it is worth including a couple at decent prices. BALLYFAD was only denied on the line at Leopardstown and had looked promising prior to that thrashing Leader D’allier. He can improve again up in trip and should run a big race. TAURUS BAY won his first two over hurdles before going down just a short head to Kripticjim at this track and has potential to progress further and has been largely overlooked in the market.

12 NO DRAMA THIS END

Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Harry Cobden
Form: 19111
Age: 6yo
Weight: 11-7

Bet on NO DRAMA THIS END to win Turners Novices’ Hurdle at 9/2 with talkSPORT BET

2 BALLYFAD

Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Form: 1-1112
Age: 5yo
Weight: 11-7

Bet on BALLYFAD to win Turners Novices’ Hurdle at 13/2 with 247Be t

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase tips

Willie Mullins has won the last two renewals with Fact To File and Lecky Watson and he could have a decent chance again if Final Demand manages to bounce back. I prefer ROMEO COOLIO though for Gordon Elliott. He is a perfect 4-4 over fences and given his trainer thinks he could be a Gold Cup horse down the line I’d be hopeful he can see out the extra yardage. He did have a hard race at the Dublin Racing Festival but he seems the type to bounce back quickly and with this better ground to his liking I think he’ll be tough to beat.

I’m also going to have a saver on KOKTAIL DIVIN who put in a monstrous performance to win by a wide margin at Leopardstown and if he improves again on just his fourth start over fences he could be a big player here. He obviously has ground to make up on the selection but looked a different horse last time and his trainer Henry De Bromhead always does well at the Cheltenham Festival. Plenty made the shortlist including Kaid D’authie who beat Final Demand and Wendigo who should relish this test.

10 ROMEO COOLIO

Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Form: 125-12132-1111
Age: 7yo
Weight: 11-7

Bet on ROMEO COOLIO to win Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at 22/5 with SBK

6 KOKTAIL DIVIN

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
Form: 2314-221
Age: 6yo
Weight: 11-7

Bet on KOKTAIL DIVIN to win Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at 11/2 with BoyleSports

BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle tips

There was quite a big upset in this last year with Jimmy Du Seuil winning but it still went the way of Willie Mullins! The English had been dominating in the race prior to last year with Nicky Henderson winning it with William Henry and Dame De Compagnie and Dan Skelton winning it twice with the legend Langer Dan. I think it can go to the English this year as Henderson looks mob handed. IBERICO LORD ran in the Champion Hurdle 2 years ago and while he has largely struggled since he was back in the winners enclosure at Kempton when last seen. He is capable off this mark and should run a big race.

I also like JINGKO BLUE from the same yard with James Bowen riding. This horse is still very much unexposed and was last seen bumping into Kabral Du Mathan which is obviously very smart form. He goes handicapping now and could be capable of going close given he ticks plenty of the trends for this race. At a massive price BECKETT ROCK was a good second over fences at Gowran last month and catches the eye back over hurdles and back up in trip on ground that should suit.

11 IBERICO LORD

Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Form: 6F12-171PU-1F41217-991
Age: 8yo
Weight: 11-3

Bet on IBERICO LORD to win the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle at 10/1 with Tote

10 JINGKO BLUE

Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: James Bowen
Form: 211PU-11U-72
Age: 7yo
Weight: 11-3

Bet on JINGKO BLUE to win the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle at 12/1 with talkSPORT BET

20 BECKETT ROCK

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Jockey: Mike O’Connor
Form: 1-41152616-13542
Age: 7yo
Weight: 10-12

Bet on BECKETT ROCK to win BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle at 37/1 with SBK

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase tips

Gordon Elliott has dominated this race down the years and looks to have leading claims again with FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU. This 11yo has shown a real liking to this unique test and was an impressive winner on Trials Day thrashing J’arrive de L’est who was sent off a warm order. The likes of Escaria Ten and Final Orders were trailing in behind and I can see him confirming that form here. For his age he is lightly raced and given he is versatile regarding the ground it is hard to pick too many holes in him.

I have also backed DESERTMORE HOUSE and he has come in 6/1 into 4/1 now. He pulled up at Leopardstown when last seen but that was a tough ask back over hurdles and he was thriving before that. He beat The Goffer by 4 lengths at Punchestown which is good form and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t get involved here. Stumptown obviously won the race 12 months ago and looks the most obvious danger towards the top of the market. Vanillier has also made somewhat of a resurgence recently and is another one who must have a chance.

2 FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU

Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Form: 421-2-111PU4-2154F1-833115-105F11
Age: 11yo
Weight: 11-5

Bet on FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU to win Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at 15/4 with SBK

9 DESERTMORE HOUSE

Trainer: Martin Brassil
Jockey: Ricky Doyle
Form: 639118561111-8421711843-PU431116PU2-11PU
Age: 11yo
Weight: 10-5

Bet on DESERTMORE HOUSE to win Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at 4/1 with BoyleSports

BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase tips

I will be at the track on Wednesday and I can’t wait to see MAJBOROUGH in the flesh. He is a tank of a horse and if he jumps as well as he did at Leopardstown the last day then he should have the beating of this field. He would have won the Arkle but for those late errors and he won the Triumph the year before that so is arguably unlucky not to be coming here searching for a hat-trick of Festival wins. Marine Nationale was no match for him at the Dublin Racing Festival and has since suffered a setback and come out the race which has left him a shade of odds-on. I really only see him as a danger to himself as if he goes error free it should be comfortable.

L’eau Du Sud and Il Etait Temps are fighting it out for second favourite at the time of writing but both have something to prove and that leaves QUILIXIOS as decent each way value. He was in the process of running a big race in this last year before hitting the deck and if his jumping holds up this time he could go better than his odds suggest. Irish Panther will be up with the pace and should appreciate the drying ground but he has enough to find.

8 MAJBOROUGH

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Form: 1-31-1131-231
Age: 6yo
Weight: 11-10

Bet on MAJBOROUGH to win Champion Chase at 9/10 with BetMGM

9 QUILIXIOS

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
Form: 1-11117-223-16185-124F
Age: 9yo
Weight: 11-10

Bet on QUILIXIOS to win Champion Chase at 10/1 with bet365

Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase tips

This is quite comfortably the toughest race of the Cheltenham Festival so far so no surprise that I’ve taken three against the field. INTHEPOCKET could easily turn into a bit of a gamble for this. He has been given some questionable rides this season and down the weights and on better spring ground could definitely show more here. Henry De Bromhead would have had this in mind all season and I definitely want to keep this horse on side given how lightly raced he is.

JAZZY MATTY won the race last year and despite being higher in the weights ticks a lot of the trends and could be capable of getting involved. He was well backed at Thurles but was never really put in the race and was tenderly handled once his chance had gone. He has had a wind op since and could take a big step forward now. The other one I like is ADDRAGOOLE for Gavin Cromwell. This horse impressed winning at Leopardstown on penultimate start and backed that up with a good third at the Dublin Racing Festival. If this better ground suits he could have a squeak as well.

5 INTHEPOCKET

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Form: 11241-2-13-F555
Age: 9yo
Weight: 11-5

Bet on INTHEPOCKET to win Grand Annual Handicap Chase at 8/1 with Betfred

8 JAZZY MATTY

Trainer: Cian Collins
Jockey: Danny Gilligan
Form: 52154113-15PU-12F13PU12216PU1256
Age: 7yo
Weight: 11-2

Bet on JAZZY MATTY to win Grand Annual Handicap Chase at 8/1 with Ladbrokes

7 ADDRAGOOLE

Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Jockey: Keith Donoghue
Form: 22-22211F1231115321413
Age: 7yo
Weight: 11-4

Bet on ADDRAGOOLE to win Grand Annual Handicap Chase at 14/1 with BoyleSports

Weatherbys Champion Bumper tips

The Champion Bumper is as wide open as I can remember and you would struggle to rule anything out with confidence. KEEP HIM COMPANY has looked like a smart horse winning both starts to date. He found plenty off the bridle to win convincingly at Leopardstown and should have a bright future. This is tougher again but he is a horse I’d rather keep on side than go against especially with Jack Kennedy on. I can see this track suiting so hopefully he gets seriously competitive.

Sean Bowen rides for Gordon Elliott here on the unbeaten BROADWAY TED and he is another one I want to side with. He is also 2-2 having won impressively on debut at Ayr and then somewhat scrambled home at Leopardstown. That form is decent enough and if he improves again he could get involved. Obviously plenty of dangers including the Rich Ricci horse at the top of the betting Love Sign D’aunou and also The Irish Avatar who has Harry Cobden in the saddle. If you have followed me long enough though you will know I never have strong opinions in bumpers as they are difficult to assess.

8 KEEP HIM COMPANY

Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Form: 1-11
Age: 6yo
Weight: 11-7

Bet on KEEP HIM COMPANY to win Champion Bumper at 8/1 with SBK

3 BROADWAY TED

Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Sean Bowen
Form: 11
Age: 5yo
Weight: 11-7

Bet on BROADWAY TED to win Champion Bumper at 16/1 with Coral

Expert advice: Cheltenham Day 2 best bets

Aside from the singles above, there’s no reason not to combine the top picks, as follows:

Cheltenham Day 2 WIN DOUBLE

Romeo Coolio
Majborough

Cheltenham Day 2 WIN DOUBLE pays 8/1 with talkSPORT BET

Cheltenham Day 2 EACH WAY DOUBLE

No Drama This End
Inthepocket

Cheltenham Day 2 EACH WAY DOUBLE pays 53/1 with Ladbrokes

Cheltenham Festival 2026 news, tips and free bets:

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.