WILLIE MULLINS’ MAJBOROUGH was locked in for many as one of the Irish bankers of the week, and sent off the 5/6 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but it was stablemate Il Etait Temps who caused an upset to land the day two feature in the hands of Paul Townend.
Majborough’s inconsistent jumping has often been his Achilles’ heel, and when that proved to be the case once again three from home, Il Etait Temps timed his challenge to perfection, running away to win by 10 lengths at odds of 5/2.
Il Etait Temps was the final leg of a brilliant treble on the day for Mullins, who opened Wednesday’s card with victory for King Rasko Grey at odds of 11/1 in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
King Rasko Grey takes the Turners Novices' Hurdle 🏆
Mullins was back in the winners’ enclosure a short while later as Kitzbuhel upset favourite Romeo Coolio and two well-fancied stablemates in Final Demand and Kaid D’authie to win the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase — again at odds of 11/1.
Kitzbuhel wins the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase 🏆
Gavin Cromwell had his first winner of the week when 7/1 shot Final Orders stayed on strongest in the hands of Wexford claimer Conor Stone-Walsh to win the Cross Country Chase, beating favourite Favori De Champdou and Jack Kennedy into second.
Final Orders wins the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase! 🥇
And the final race of the day, the Champion Bumper, went the way of Noel Meade and The Mourne Rambler (15/2), ridden by six-time Irish champion flat jockey Colin Keane.
That brought up five Irish wins on the day, moving Ireland into a 8-6 lead against Britain in the Prestbury Cup.
Look no further than Martator, who just held off Jazzy Matty by a nose to win the Grand Annual at a massive SP of 66/1 for trainer Venetia Williams and jockey Charlie Deutsch.
WHAT. A. FINISH! 🤯
Martator wins the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase 🏆
While Majborough’s defeat surely put a hole in plenty of this week’s accumulators, anybody who backed the Willie Mullins Grade 1 treble — and picked the right Mullins horses — was sitting pretty at odds of 503/1.
Who had the better day – the bookies or the punters?
If the punters just about shaded things on the opening day, Wednesday was definitely a day for the bookies, who saw the favourites comfortably beaten in all four Grade 1 races.
No Drama This End (5/2f) never got into the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and was ultimately pulled up, as was Romeo Coolio (9/4f) following a bad mistake four out in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Majborough (5/6f) tailed off to finish seventh of eight finishers in the Champion Chase, while Willie Mullins’ bumper favourite Love Sign D’aunou (4/1f) didn’t see out the stiff finish and came home in 14th.
In fact, the only winning favourite on the day came in the BetMGM Cup where the well-supported Jingko Blue ran out a six-length winner at odds of 9/2f.
Jingko Blue takes the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle 🏆@james_bowen_ has his second Cheltenham Festival winner in quick succession 👏
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Cheltenham round-up: Willie Mullins rules supreme with 500/1+ Grade 1 treble
LAST UPDATE | 20 mins ago
Who won the big race of the day?
WILLIE MULLINS’ MAJBOROUGH was locked in for many as one of the Irish bankers of the week, and sent off the 5/6 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but it was stablemate Il Etait Temps who caused an upset to land the day two feature in the hands of Paul Townend.
Majborough’s inconsistent jumping has often been his Achilles’ heel, and when that proved to be the case once again three from home, Il Etait Temps timed his challenge to perfection, running away to win by 10 lengths at odds of 5/2.
Any other big Irish winners?
Yes — plenty!
Il Etait Temps was the final leg of a brilliant treble on the day for Mullins, who opened Wednesday’s card with victory for King Rasko Grey at odds of 11/1 in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
Mullins was back in the winners’ enclosure a short while later as Kitzbuhel upset favourite Romeo Coolio and two well-fancied stablemates in Final Demand and Kaid D’authie to win the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase — again at odds of 11/1.
Gavin Cromwell had his first winner of the week when 7/1 shot Final Orders stayed on strongest in the hands of Wexford claimer Conor Stone-Walsh to win the Cross Country Chase, beating favourite Favori De Champdou and Jack Kennedy into second.
And the final race of the day, the Champion Bumper, went the way of Noel Meade and The Mourne Rambler (15/2), ridden by six-time Irish champion flat jockey Colin Keane.
That brought up five Irish wins on the day, moving Ireland into a 8-6 lead against Britain in the Prestbury Cup.
And any big-priced winners?
Look no further than Martator, who just held off Jazzy Matty by a nose to win the Grand Annual at a massive SP of 66/1 for trainer Venetia Williams and jockey Charlie Deutsch.
While Majborough’s defeat surely put a hole in plenty of this week’s accumulators, anybody who backed the Willie Mullins Grade 1 treble — and picked the right Mullins horses — was sitting pretty at odds of 503/1.
Who had the better day – the bookies or the punters?
If the punters just about shaded things on the opening day, Wednesday was definitely a day for the bookies, who saw the favourites comfortably beaten in all four Grade 1 races.
No Drama This End (5/2f) never got into the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and was ultimately pulled up, as was Romeo Coolio (9/4f) following a bad mistake four out in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Majborough (5/6f) tailed off to finish seventh of eight finishers in the Champion Chase, while Willie Mullins’ bumper favourite Love Sign D’aunou (4/1f) didn’t see out the stiff finish and came home in 14th.
In fact, the only winning favourite on the day came in the BetMGM Cup where the well-supported Jingko Blue ran out a six-length winner at odds of 9/2f.
Cheltenham results – Wednesday
1.20pm – Turners Novices’ Hurdle
1. King Rasko Grey (11/1)
2. Act of Innocence (10/1)
3. Zeus Power (50/1)
2pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
1. Kitzbuhel (11/1)
2. Final Demand (7/2)
3. Salver (25/1)
2.40pm – BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle
1. Jingko Blue (9/2 fav)
2. Franciscan Rock (50/1)
3. Storm Heart (5/1)
3.20pm – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
1. Final Orders (7/1)
2. Favori De Champdou (2/1 fav)
3. Vanillier (13/2)
4pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase
1. Il Etait Temps (5/2)
2. Libberty Hunter (50/1)
3. L’eau Du Sud (13/2)
4.40pm – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup
1. Martator (66/1)
2. Jazzy Matty (8/1)
3. Break My Soul (20/1)
4. Release The Beast (10/1)
5.20pm – Champion Bumper
1. The Mourne Rambler (15/2)
2. Mets Ta Ceinture (14/1)
3. Bass Hunter (8/1)
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Cheltenham Cheltenham 2026 Day Two Horse Racing Racing Willie Mullins