Day two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival delivered drama, big-priced winners and more Irish success as spring conditions finally took hold at Prestbury Park.
The ground was officially changed to good during the afternoon, reflecting drying conditions after a wet winter, and the improved surface played its part in a series of competitive contests on what proved another compelling afternoon of racing.
Mullins and Townend strike early
The opening race went the way of the formidable partnership of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend as King Rasko Grey landed the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at 11-1.
Townend guided the gelding to victory after asserting late on the run-in to defeat Act Of Innocence, with Zeus Power finishing third. The win marked Townend’s 40th Festival success and added another chapter to Mullins’ remarkable Cheltenham record.
Mullins later admitted he was surprised by the price.
“I never dreamed he would be 11-1,” the trainer said. “I thought he had a really good chance and expected him to be much shorter in the betting.”
Kitzbuhel shows heart in novices’ chase
The afternoon continued with another gripping finish in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase where Kitzbuhel produced a courageous front-running display to hold off stablemate Final Demand.
Ridden by Harry Cobden, the 11-1 winner refused to yield after being challenged late and battled on to secure victory for Mullins.
The race favourite Romeo Coolio never featured after a sketchy round of jumping before being pulled up, highlighting once again the unforgiving nature of Cheltenham’s fences.
Front-runners continue to prosper
The BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle reinforced a growing theme of the Festival — the advantage of racing prominently.
Jingko Blue, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by James Bowen, made every yard of the running to justify strong market support at 9-2. Franciscan Rock finished second at 50-1 with Storm Heart third.
The victory added to a pattern that has defined the meeting so far, with horses racing on or near the pace dominating many of the races.
Final Orders takes the Cross Country Chase
The quirky Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase again proved one of the most distinctive spectacles of the meeting, with runners negotiating banks, hedges and the famous “cheese wedges”.
On this occasion it was Final Orders, trained by Gavin Cromwell, who made all to land the prize at 7-1 under Conor Stone-Walsh.
The victory represented Stone-Walsh’s first winner at the Festival and came ahead of favourite Favori De Champdou, while Vanillier finished third.
“I just tried to follow the example of Keith Donoghue who rides in the race so well,” Stone-Walsh said afterwards. “To get a winner at a festival like this is very special.”
Il Etait Temps claims Champion Chase
The highlight of the afternoon, the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, produced a dramatic finish as Il Etait Temps stormed to victory for Mullins and Townend.
Sent off the 5-2 second favourite, the horse powered clear of his rivals despite an anxious moment at the final fence when he pitched slightly on landing.
Liberty Hunter, a 50-1 outsider, ran a huge race to finish second, while L’Eau Du Sud took third.
Race favourite Majborough faded after his jumping deteriorated under pressure, a costly flaw in the high-speed two-mile championship.
For Il Etait Temps it was a long-awaited Festival breakthrough after three previous attempts.
Martator springs Grand Annual shock
The biggest shock of the day arrived in the Grand Annual Chase when Martator edged a dramatic photo finish to defeat Jazzy Matty.
Trained by Venetia Williams and ridden by Charlie Deutsch, the 66-1 outsider produced a powerful late surge from the rear to snatch victory on the line.
It was Williams’ first Festival winner since 2022 and a welcome boost after a difficult season.
Deutsch reflected on the result afterwards.
“The blinkers helped his jumping and helped him travel,” he said. “Venetia is classy. Form is temporary and class is permanent.”
The dramatic finish was reflected in the betting exchanges, where Martator traded at enormous odds before the official result was confirmed.
Festival momentum building
The meeting continues to underline the dominance of the sport’s leading stables. Between them, Mullins and Henderson were responsible for seven of the first ten winners across the opening two days.
With spring sunshine replacing winter rain and the ground continuing to dry, conditions at Cheltenham are likely to remain quick heading into the remainder of the meeting — setting the stage for more high-class action before the curtain falls with the Boodles Gold Cup on Friday.
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