{"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"u28R38WdMo","rid":"R7EKS5F","offerId":"OF3HQTHR122A","offerTemplateId":"OTQ347EHGCHM"}}
Trending:

‘I’m speechless’: Teenager rides his first Festival winner and a pony-sized 66/1 shot springs a shock on Cheltenham day 2

Jennifer Donald Jennifer Donald

    • Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival belonged to the Irish, with five of the seven races coming from across the Irish Sea.

    From Il Etait Temps’ sublime Champion Chase performance to the delight of a teenager riding his first Festival winner and some brilliant stories in-between, here is the round-up from Cheltenham day 2.

    Cheltenham day 2: Il Etait Temps is simply sublime

    Wednesday’s feature race, the high-octane BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, was won by Il Etait Temps (Paul Townend) for the indomitable Willie Mullins. The winner opened up a 10-length margin over nearest rival Libberty Hunter, who was sent off at odds of 50/1 and survived a first-fence blunder that nearly unshipped jockey Sean Bowen.

    “I thought Paul Townend was very brave on him because he couldn’t go the pace they were setting for the first mile; he sat and sat, and coming down the hill we could all see that the further he was going, the better he was going,” said Mullins. “I nearly had a heart attack at the last fence though! But the horse has come to himself at last.”

    Il Etait Temps ridden by Paul Townend on their way to winning the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Wednesday March 11, 2026.

    Il Etait Temps ridden by Paul Townend on their way to winning the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Wednesday March 11, 2026.

    A pony-sized 66/1 shot springs a surprise

    In a thrilling finish for the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, 66/1 shot Martator for trainer Venetia Williams and jockey Charlie Deutsch was adjudged the shock winner, beating last year’s victor Jazzy Matty by a nose.

    “I’m pretty speechless, partly because I was screaming so much!” said the Herefordshire trainer. “I just can’t believe it. We could see he was coming and he was on the wide outside, which was always the plan as he’s only a pony. He met the last few on a great stride and winged them.”

    Teenager rides his first Festival winner: ‘This is a bit surreal’

    Nineteen-year-old Conor Stone-Walsh celebrated his first ever Cheltenham Festival winner when coming home triumphant in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Limited Handicap Chase riding the Gavin Cromwell-trained Final Orders.

    “It’s a bit surreal at the minute – I think it will take a while to sink in!” said the winning jockey. “He jumped from fence to fence and he kept going the whole way. He’s a small horse and when the ground is quick he really enjoys it.

    “I’m only 19 and Gavin’s shown plenty of faith in me – I’m very grateful.”

    Cheltenham Festival winners are like busses: Bowen on a roll

    On day one of Cheltenham, jockey James Bowen rode his first ever Festival winner, beating his older brother Sean to the honour. On Tuesday, James found himself back in the winner’s enclosure, again for trainer Nicky Henderson, when Jingko Blue (one of H&H’s Cheltenham day 2 tips) scored by six lengths in the BetMGM Handicap Hurdle.

    “Plan A went completely out of the window, then B and C!” said the winning jockey. “I never intended to make the running but I winged the first and the next thing I was there, doing nothing. It felt good when I winged the last because he doesn’t always come for you, but he did today.”

    So that wraps up Cheltenham day 2 and another action-packed afternoon of horse racing. Ready to do it all again tomorrow? Here are our Cheltenham Day 3 tips.

    H&H is bringing you all the news from the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and you can enjoy added insight, interviews and exclusive comment from Festival-winning jockey Davy Russell in the bumper magazine report, in the shops Thursday 19 March.

    You may also be interested in:

    Jennifer Donald
    Jennifer Donald

    H&H showjumping editor
    Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.
    Jennifer Donald

    You may like...