Cheltenham Festival Day 2 - Races + Guide for Wednesday 11 March 2026

About Cheltenham Festival Day 2

Wednesday is "Ladies Day" at the Cheltenham Festival so style and fashion will be celebrated alongside the equine achievements. The Cheltenham gates open at 10:30am with the action getting under way at 13:20 and the final race at 17:20. A Preview Show will take place in the Parade Ring before racing starts. Here is some more insight into the seven races taking place on day 2:

Race 1 - Turners Novices Hurdle

The Turners Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 contest over two miles and five furlongs. 10 hurdles are jumped on the Old Course and last year's race was won by The New Lion for the Harry and Dan Skelton combination.

Race 2 - Brown Advisory Novices Chase

The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 novice chase for staying chasers, run over three miles, which regularly throws up a future Cheltenham Gold Cup contender. 20 fences are jumped on the Old Course with last year's victor being Lecky Watson trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Sean O'Keefe.

Race 3 - BetMGM Cup (formerly Coral Cup)

The Coral Cup is now known as the BetMGM Cup but it will remain one of the most fiercely competitive big betting races of the day, run over two miles and five furlongs with ten hurdles jumped. Jimmy Du Seuil won it last year for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Danny Mullins.

Race 4 - Cross Country Chase

The Cross Country Chase is a limited handicap race for specialists featuring a mix of 32 different obstacles and a marathon trip of 3 miles 5 furlongs. It was won by Stumptown in 2025 and he'll be back to defend his crown in 2026 for trainer Gavin Cromwell   

Race 5 - Queen Mother Champion Chase

The fifth race of the day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the feature race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, and the second of the 'Championship' races during the week. Run over 2 miles with 13 fences jumped, it is a thrilling spectacle to watch. Last year, Marine Nationale won for trainer Barry Connell and jockey Sean Flanagan.

Race 6 - Grand Annual Chase

The Grand Annual Chase is a fiercely competitive two-mile handicap contest with 14 fences jumped on the Old Course. Jazzy Matty won the 2025 edition for trainer Cian Collins and jockey Danny Gilligan.

Race 7 - Champion Bumper

The Champion Bumper is the pinnacle of the bumper division, which consists of races that are designed to give horses who don't have a career on the Flat experience of racing under Rules. The Bumper is the only race at the Festival not to involve any jumping so there are often some specialist flat jockeys taking part alongside the jumps specialists. It is run over 2 miles and was won last year by Bambino Fever for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Jody Townend.