If you spent today at Prestbury Park, you either have a very dusty wallet or a very smug grin. It was Day Two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, and the scriptwriters clearly decided “predictability” was for the amateur leagues.
The afternoon was defined by the kind of drama that makes punters question their life choices. The headline act, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, saw the odds-on favorite Majborough jump like he’d left his glasses in the stable. After a series of errors, he faded into the background while Il Etait Temps, the supposed “second string” for Willie Mullins, cruised home under Paul Townend. It turns out the “B” team is still an “A+” in Mullins-land.
The real “insider” pain, however, came in the Grand Annual. If you had Martator at 66/1, please stop reading and go buy a private island. He nabbed last year’s winner, Jazzy Matty, by a nose in a finish so tight it required a magnifying glass and a prayer. We wrapped up with the Champion Bumper, where The Mourne Rambler proved that when Flat-jockey-extraordinaire Colin Keane shows up over jumps, you listen.
Tomorrow’s Playbook: Thursday, March 12, 2026
Day Three is traditionally “Stayer’s Thursday,” but with a side order of “Mares’ Power.” Here is the word from the gallops and the Timeform ratings for the big ones.
The “Naps” (Best Bets)
• The Festival Banker: Ballyburn (15:20 Cheltenham). He’s the highest-rated horse on the card. Unless the Prestbury Hill decides to relocate, he looks nearly impossible to oppose in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
• The Value Play: Kabral Du Mathan (15:20 Cheltenham). While everyone watches Ballyburn, Harry Skelton’s mount is the “whisper” horse for an each-way steal at 9/2.
• The Dark Horse: Jeriko Du Reponet (17:20 Cheltenham). Dropped into the Kim Muir handicap, Nicky Henderson’s charge looks suspiciously well-treated if Derek O’Connor can keep him out of trouble.
Bambino Fever (13:20) – NAP: Expected to dominate the Dawn Run. She showed massive improvement at Fairyhouse and returns to the scene of her Champion Bumper glory.
• Ma Shantou (15:20) – NAP: A “course specialist” who has already won three times at Cheltenham this season. Tipped as a fair price to upset the market leaders in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
• Bob Olinger (15:20) – Timeform Verdict: While Teahupoo is top-rated, Timeform’s official “Verdict” NAP for the feature race is the reigning champ Bob Olinger, citing his perfect 4-for-4 record at the track.
Quick Summary for Bettors
• The Banker: Bambino Fever (13:20) is the most widely Napped horse of the day.
• The Value: Take No Chances (14:40) and Carrigmoornaspruce (13:20) are being flagged as strong each-way alternatives to short-priced favorites.
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