As the famed Cheltenham roar fades over the Cheltenham Racecourse, it is time for the racing action to begin. After a packed day one, Cheltenham Day 2 brings you another day at the tracks full of fierce battles and, this time around, fashion.
In this article we will discuss what to expect on the second day of Cheltenham Festival, take a closer look at the races it includes, and review the race cards in detail.
What Is Cheltenham Ladies Day?
The Cheltenham Ladies Day is the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. While the tracks are hosting one tough Grade 1 action after another, the stands are holding a competition of their own. Renowned for its fashion, the second day of the Cheltenham Festival witnesses a parade of style, with some of the best outfits getting an award at the end of the day.
Also known as the Cheltenham Wednesday because of the day it is held on, Day 2 hosts one of the highlights of the Cheltenham Festival, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which is the leading minimum-distance chase in Britain’s National Hunt calendar.
Known for strong attendance, Ladies Day continues the horse race betting tradition. Betting is available both at the venue and online with the majority of reputable bookmaking platforms that include horse racing betting markets.
New customers can check the Cheltenham Welcome Offer at 7bet.
Cheltenham Day 2 Races (Full List)
The following are the Ladies Day races that will be conducted on Wednesday, 11 March. Below you can find Cheltenham Day 2 runners for all the racess.
Turners Novices’ Hurdle
The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race that accepts both male and female horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (4,225 metres) and includes 10 hurdles to be jumped. The race was named after the organiser of the first Cheltenham Festival in 1902.
The declared runners for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, subject to any late non-runners, are as follows:
- Act Of Innocence (age 6, jockey Nico de Boinville, trainer Nicky Henderson)
- Ballyfad (age 5, jockey Jack Kennedy, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Bossman Jack (age 6, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
- Came From Nowhere (age 7, jockey Lorcan Williams, trainer Jeremy Scott)
- Fortune Timmy (age 6, jockey Freddie Gordon, trainer Chris Gordon)
- Free Spirit (age 5, jockey Mark Walsh, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Hurricane Pat (age 6, jockey Caoilin Quinn, trainer Gary & Josh Moore)
- I’ll Sort That (age 6, jockey Declan Queally, trainer Declan Queally)
- King Rasko Grey (age 6, jockey Paul Townend, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Klimt Madrik (age 6, jockey Kevin Brogan, trainer Toby Lawes)
- Laurets D’estruval (age 5, jockey Brian Hayes, trainer Willie Mullins)
- No Drama This End (age 6, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Paul Nicholls)
- Riskaway (age 6, jockey Sam Ewing, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Saint Baco (age 5, jockey Sean O’Keeffe, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Shuttle Diplomacy (age 6, jockey Daniel King, trainer Thomas Cooper)
- Skylight Hustle (age 6, jockey Danny Gilligan, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Sober (age 7, jockey Patrick Mullins, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Soldier Reeves (age 5, jockey Tristan Durrell, trainer Dan Skelton)
- Sortudo (age 6, jockey Danny Mullins, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Taurus Bay (age 5, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
- Walks In June (age 6, jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- Zeus Power (age 5, jockey James Joseph Slevin, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase that accepts both male and female horses aged five years or older. It is run over a distance of about 3 miles and half a furlong (3 miles and 110 yards, or 4,928 metres) and includes 20 fences to be jumped. Seven winners of this race went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in subsequent years.
The declared runners for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, subject to any late non-runners, are as follows:
- Argento Boy (age 7, jockey Danny Mullins, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Final Demand (age 7, jockey Paul Townend, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Joystick (age 7, jockey Brian Hayes, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Kaid D’authie (age 6, jockey Mark Walsh, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Kitzbuhel (age 6, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Koktail Divin (age 6, jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- Now Is The Hour (age 9, jockey Keith Donoghue, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
- Oscars Brother (age 8, jockey Daniel King, trainer Connor King)
- Predators Gold (age 7, jockey Patrick Mullins, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Romeo Coolio (age 7, jockey Jack Kennedy, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Rushmount (age 9, jockey Sean O’Keeffe, trainer Jonathan Sweeney)
- Salver (age 6, jockey Caoilin Quinn, trainer Gary & Josh Moore)
- Thomas Mor (age 9, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Philip Hobbs & Johnson White)
- Wendigo (age 7, jockey Gavin Sheehan, trainer Jamie Snowden)
- Western Fold (age 7, jockey Danny Gilligan, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- The Big Westerner (age 7, jockey Mike O’Connor, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race that accepts both male and female horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (4,225 metres) and includes 10 hurdles to be jumped. It earned its Premier Handicap status in 2023 after Grade 3 was renamed.
The declared runners for the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, subject to any late non-runners, are as follows:
- The Yellow Clay (age 7, jockey Michael Kenneally, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Ballyadam (age 11, jockey Patrick M O’Brien, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- Storm Heart (age 6, jockey Danny Mullins, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Lucky Place (age 7, jockey Brian Hughes, trainer Nicky Henderson)
- Buddy One (age 9, jockey Jack Gilligan, trainer Paul Gilligan)
- Farren Glory (age 9, jockey Jack Kennedy, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Colonel Mustard (age 11, jockey John Shinnick, trainer Lorna Fowler)
- Puturhandstogether (age 5, jockey James Joseph Slevin, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
- Kopeck De Mee (age 6, jockey Mark Walsh, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Jingko Blue (age 7, jockey James Bowen, trainer Nicky Henderson)
- Iberico Lord (age 8, jockey Nico de Boinville, trainer Nicky Henderson)
- Guard Duty (age 9, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Emma Lavelle)
- Chart Topper (age 7, jockey Brian Hayes, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Kateira (age 9, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
- Sony Bill (age 5, jockey Sean O’Keeffe, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Give It To Me OJ (age 5, jockey Caoilin Quinn, trainer Gary & Josh Moore)
- Rambo T (age 9, jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Olly Murphy)
- Dargiannini (age 11, jockey Paul O’Brien, trainer Harry Derham)
- Franciscan Rock (age 9, jockey Josh Williamson, trainer Michael Morris)
- Beckett Rock (age 7, jockey Mike O’Connor, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- Bunting (age 6, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Minella Rescue (age 8, jockey Gavin Sheehan, trainer Gary Hanmer)
- Forty Coats (age 7, jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- HMS Seahorse (age 8, jockey Eoin Staples, trainer Paul Nolan)
- I Started A Joke (age 7, jockey Philip Byrnes, trainer Charles Byrnes)
- Intense Approach (age 7, jockey awaiting confirmation, trainer John McConnell)
Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase is a National Hunt steeplechase that accepts both male and female horses aged five years or older. It is run over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 1/2 furlongs (3 miles 5 furlongs and 56 yards, or 5,885 metres) and includes 32 fences to be jumped. It was added to the event when the Cheltenham Festival was expanded to four days. It is also one of three cross-country chases held at Cheltenham.
The declared runners for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase, subject to any late non-runners, are as follows:
- Stumptown (age 9, jockey Keith Donoghue, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
- Favori De Champdou (age 11, jockey Jack Kennedy, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Final Orders (age 10, jockey Conor Stone-Walsh, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
- Vanillier (age 11, jockey Sean Flanagan, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
- Conflated (age 12, jockey Danny Gilligan, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Pied Piper (age 8, jockey Sam Ewing, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Fakir D’oudairies (age 11, jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, trainer Enda Bolger)
- Velvet Elvis (age 10, jockey Gavin Sheehan, trainer John McConnell)
- Desertmore House (age 11, jockey Ricky Doyle, trainer Martin Brassil)
- Horantzau D’airy (age 9, jockey Charlie Hammond, trainer Stuart Edmunds)
- Minella Crooner (age 10, jockey James Best, trainer Sarah Humphrey)
- Latenightpass (age 13, jockey Gina Andrews, trainer Tom Ellis)
- The Goffer (age 9, jockey Josh Williamson, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Famous Bridge (age 10, jockey Sean Quinlan, trainer Nicky Richards)
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase that accepts both male and female horses aged five years or older. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile 7 furlongs and 199 yards, or 3,199 metres) and includes 13 fences to be jumped. It is the leading minimum-distance chase in Britain’s National Hunt calendar.
The declared runners for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, subject to any late non-runners, are as follows:
- Brookie (age 9, jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, trainer Anthony Honeyball)
- Captain Guinness (age 11, jockey Jordan Gainford, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- Found A Fifty (age 9, jockey Jack Kennedy, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Il Etait Temps (age 8, jockey Paul Townend, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Irish Panther (age 9, jockey Kieren Buckley, trainer Eddie & Patrick Harty)
- L’eau Du Sud (age 8, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
- Libberty Hunter (age 10, jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Evan Williams)
- Majborough (age 6, jockey Mark Walsh, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Quilixios (age 9, jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- Saint Segal (age 8, jockey Ciaran Gethings, trainer Jane Williams)
Grand Annual Handicap Chase
The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase that accepts both male and female horses aged five years or older. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile 7 furlongs and 199 yards, or 3,199 metres) and includes 14 fences to be jumped. It holds the title of the oldest race at the Cheltenham Festival and the oldest chase in the current National Hunt calendar.
The declared runners for the Grand Annual Handicap Chase, subject to any late non-runners, are as follows:
- Touch Me Not (age 7, jockey James Smith, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Calico (age 10, jockey Tristan Durrell, trainer Dan Skelton)
- Rubaud (age 8, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Paul Nicholls)
- Be Aware (age 7, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
- Inthepocket (age 9, jockey Mark Walsh, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- Boothill (age 11, jockey Bryan Carver, trainer Harry Fry)
- Addragoole (age 7, jockey Keith Donoghue, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
- Jazzy Matty (age 7, jockey Danny Gilligan, trainer Cian Collins)
- Vanderpoel (age 7, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
- Western Diego (age 9, jockey Brian Hayes, trainer Willie Mullins)
- The Other Mozzie (age 7, jockey Brian Hughes, trainer Laura Morgan)
- Special Cadeau (age 8, jockey Mike O’Connor, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- Martator (age 9, jockey Charlie Deutsch, trainer Venetia Williams)
- Ballysax Hank (age 7, jockey James Bowen, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
- Personal Ambition (age 7, jockey Kielan Woods, trainer Ben Pauling)
- Jour D’evasion (age 7, jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, trainer Henry Daly)
- Break My Soul (age 7, jockey Sam Ewing, trainer Ian Patrick Donoghue)
- Relieved Of Duties (age 7, jockey Jack Kennedy, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Jasko Des Dames (age 7, jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
- Release The Beast (age 7, jockey Sean Flanagan, trainer Paul Nolan)
- Golden Joy (age 7, jockey Jordan Gainford, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Ryan’s Rocket (age 8, jockey Jonathan Burke, trainer Fergal O’Brien)
Weatherbys Champion Bumper
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race that accepts both male and female horses aged four to six years. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles and 1/2 furlong (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 metres). It enjoys the reputation of the most prestigious flat race, also known as bumper, in the National Hunt calendar.
The declared runners for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, subject to any late non-runners, are as follows:
- Bass Hunter (age 6, jockey Freddie Gordon, trainer Chris Gordon)
- Boycetown (age 5, jockey Keith Donoghue, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
- Broadway Ted (age 5, jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Charismatic Kid (age 5, jockey Sam Ewing, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Chicker (age 5, jockey Jonathan Burke, trainer Fergal O’Brien)
- Diamant Dore (age 5, jockey Brian Hughes, trainer Adrian Keatley)
- It’s Only A Game (age 5, jockey J L Gleeson, trainer Martin Brassil)
- Keep Him Company (age 6, jockey Jack Kennedy, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Love Sign D’aunou (age 5, jockey Patrick Mullins, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Of Land And Sea (age 5, jockey Richard Condon, trainer Paul Hennessy)
- Tally Ho Back (age 5, jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)
- The Irish Avatar (age 5, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Willie Mullins)
- The Mourne Rambler (age 5, jockey Colin Keane, trainer Noel Meade)
- The Skecher (age 5, jockey Tristan Durrell, trainer Dan Skelton)
- The Wager (age 5, jockey Jody Townend, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Vango Can Go (age 5, jockey Charlie Todd, trainer Dan Skelton)
- Wilde’s Legacy (age 5, jockey Gavin Sheehan, trainer Jamie Snowden)
- With Nolimit (age 5, jockey Harry Swan, trainer Gordon Elliott)
- Moonverrin (age 5, jockey Finian Maguire, trainer Martin Hassett)
- Our Trigger (age 4, jockey Danny Mullins, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Quiryn (age 4, jockey Paul Townend, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Mets Ta Ceinture (age 4, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
Cheltenham Wednesday Feature Race – Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase that accepts both male and female horses aged five years or older. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile 7 furlongs and 199 yards, or 3,199 metres) and includes 13 fences to be jumped.
It is a relatively recent race that was established in 1959. Initially called the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase, it received its modern name in 1980 to commemorate the 80th birthday of the Queen Mother who has always been a big supporter of jump racing.
The latest winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase is bay gelding Marine Nationale who was 8 years old at the time. The 2025 win was his first, but he has already been announced to participate in this year’s chase to try and take the trophy home one more time.
Marine Nationale was trained by Barry Connell and led on the tracks by jockey Sean Flanagan. For both of them, this was their first win in the race.
This year the Queen Mother Champion Chase is scheduled to start at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, 11 March.
Currently, there are 18 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. The jockeys for the race are still awaiting confirmation.
Cheltenham Wednesday Racecard
The daily race card for the Ladies Day of the Cheltenham Festival 2026 is as follows:
Wednesday, 11 March
Going: soft (good to soft in places); cross country: soft (good to soft in places); old course hurdle: soft (good to soft in places), old course chase: soft (good to soft in places)
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:20 pm | THE TURNERS NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (Registered as The BARING BINGHAM NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | Two miles about five furlongs
(2m 5f) |
4YO+ £150,000.00 |
| 2:00 pm | THE BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (Registered as The BROADWAY NOVICES’ CHASE) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | Three miles about one furlong
(3m 1f) |
5YO+ £200,000.00 |
| 2:40 pm | THE CUP HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | Two miles about five furlongs
(2m 5f) |
4YO+ £110,000.00 |
| 3:20 pm | THE GLENFARCLAS CROSS COUNTRY STEEPLE CHASE (A LIMITED HANDICAP) (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | Three mile five furlongs and 56 yards (3m 5f 56yds) | 5YO+ £75,000.00 |
| 4:00 pm | THE BETMGM QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | About two miles
(1m 7f 199yds) |
5YO+ £400,000.00 |
| 4:40 pm | THE DEBENHAMS JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | About two miles
(1m 7f 199yds) |
5YO+ £150,000.00 |
| 5:20 pm | THE WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER (IN MEMORY OF SIR JOHNNY WEATHERBY) (A STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE) (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE) (CL 1) | Two miles about half a furlong
(2m 87yds) |
4-6YO £80,000.00 |
Like any race card, the Cheltenham Wednesday racecard is more than just a timetable and a list of horses. It provides race goers and bettors with all the necessary information to understand and enjoy what they are about to see and make informed decisions if they want to make a bet on Cheltenham races.
- Race time: It shows when the race is scheduled to start. If you know the rules for declaring non-runners and the timeframe in which it can be done, knowing the starting time helps you decide when to place a wager.
- Horse number: All Ladies Day runners are assigned a number before the start. These numbers have nothing to do with the odds or how likely the horse is deemed to win. However, as it is displayed on the side of the saddle, it helps viewers identify the horse while it is on the move. Bettors also use these numbers to place a bet.
- Jockey: The jockey and the horse are a team on the tracks, and it is their common effort that determines the result of the race. Knowing the jockey who will lead the horse you want to back, you can check their recent performance and historical records in this race.
- Trainer: Not only does each trainer have their individual style of preparing the horse for the race, they also can perform better at some races than others.
- Official rating: OR indicates the horse’s ability level. The weight a horse is assigned in a handicap race directly corresponds to the official rating. The higher the OR the better the horse is considered to be and will be assigned an additional pound for each OR point. However, it is not a prediction of a possible result but rather an assessment of their previous performance. Official rating can change depending on the horse’s performance: increase after an impressive result, drop after a poor performance, or stay the same if the result was expected.
- Betting odds: Every bookmaker will include their betting odds on the race card to indicate how likely they think each horse to come to the finish line first and how much a bettor stands to win if they predict the outcome correctly.
Cheltenham Day 2 Runners – When Are They Confirmed?
The initial announcements for the Ladies Day races were made in the following chronological order:
- Queen Mother Champion Chase: January 6, 2026
- Turners Novices’ Hurdle: January 20, 2026
- Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase: January 20, 2026
- Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle: February 17, 2026
- Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase: February 17, 2026
- Grand Annual Handicap Chase: February 17, 2026
- Weatherbys Champion Bumper: February 24, 2026
The final declarations for the confirmed Cheltenham runners on Wednesday will be made within a 48 hour window before the start of each chase. On the day of the race, trainers can still withdraw their horses for a number of reasons (for example, medical issues or unfavourable ground conditions) up until 1.5 hours before the start of the race. In certain cases, later withdrawals are also allowed.
All available updates, including non-runners, ground conditions, weather conditions, or cancellation of a race are announced on the morning of the race. Be sure to check them before you decide to place a bet on any horse or betting market.
What Time Do Cheltenham Wednesday Races Start?
The current timeline for the Cheltenham Wednesday races is the following:
- Gate opening: 10:30 am
- First race: 1:20 pm
- Headline race: 4:00 pm
- Last race: 5:20 pm
FAQ
What is Cheltenham Ladies Day?
The Cheltenham Ladies Day is Cheltenham Festival Day 2. It takes place on Wednesday and includes 7 prestigious races as well as a fashion focus for the attendees, with a “best dressed” award in a number of categories.
What races are on Cheltenham Wednesday?
Cheltenham Day 2 races include Turners Novices’ Hurdle, Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, Cup Handicap Hurdle, Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Grand Annual Handicap Chase, and Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
What is the main race on Day 2?
The main race of Cheltenham Day 2 is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. One of the highlights of the Cheltenham Festival, it is also the leading minimum-distance chase in Britain’s National Hunt calendar.
When are Cheltenham Wednesday runners announced?
The early runners are announced several weeks in advance, between January and February. The final declarations for confirmed runners are made 48 hours before the start of the race. Non-runners are announced on the morning of the race.
What time does Cheltenham Day 2 start?
The gates open at 10:30 am on Wednesday, 11 March. The first race will start at 1:20 pm, while the last one will begin at 5:20 pm. Be sure to check the start time before the beginning of the event for any changes.
Betting is only available to participants aged 18 years and over. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org