The 2025 Cheltenham Festival began with a bang and now Style Wednesday promises more drama as the UK’s biggest week of racing continues.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase headlines the action at 4pm, where Jonbon is much fancied with Nico De Boinville aboard, while the Coral Cup Hurdle (2.40pm) and Cross Country Steeple Chase (3.20pm) are among the other fascinating races on Day 2.
How the weather impacts today’s racing could be a fascinating subplot, after a snow flurry landed on the course this morning. The New Lion claimed the first victory of the day in the Novices’ Hurdle.
The opening day of racing delivered a huge shock as the showpiece Champion Hurdle was won by 25/1 shot Golden Ace, with horse racing superstar and heavy favourite Constitution Hill stunningly falling halfway through, as did last year’s winner State Man. It allowed Golden Ace to come from nowhere to triumph.
The “greatest show on turf” will also include Friday’s Gold Cup, where Galopin Des Champs, who is the favourite on betting sites, hopes to land a famous hat-trick this. The full race card and Festival schedule is here, and we’ll be bringing you all the action as Day 2 unfolds.
Follow all the news, including previews, expert tips, free bet offers and the latest Cheltenham odds from Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival with our live blog below:
Harry Skelton reflects on Turner Novices’ Hurdle victory
A 10th Cheltenham Festival success for Harry Skelton as he steers The New Lion to glory in a battle of the big three in the Turner Novices’.
He has talked to ITV Racing about the victory
Luke Baker12 March 2025 13:35
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle result
So, the top three in the betting were the first three over the line but not in price order. Dan Skelton-trained, Harry Skelton-ridden The New Lion gets a rare Cheltenham win for the Brits.
Winner: The New Lion (3/1), 2) The Yellow Clay (5/2), 3) Final Demand (6/4f)
Luke Baker12 March 2025 13:30
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle result
The big three move to the front after the penultimate hurdle. The Yellow Clay narrowly leads over the last, as Final Demand falls back a bit but here comes The New Lion!
Charges past The Yellow Clay down the final straight and The New Lion wins the Turners Novices’ Hurdle – too much pace in the end and a perfectly timed run. Harry Skelton and his black eye will be in the photos!
The Yellow Clay comes second and a disappointing third for Final Demand.
Luke Baker12 March 2025 13:27
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle
Potters Charm moves ahead of Sixmilebridge, with The Yellow Clay and Supersundae on their tail.
Final Demand and The New Lion sticking together in the pack. A couple of hurdles to go.
Luke Baker12 March 2025 13:25
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle
Sixmilebridge and Potters Charm still the front two, while The Yellow Clay has moved up to third to keep them in check. Kel Histoire out the back of the main pack a little bit.
Four hurdles to go, when will Final Demand make a move?
Luke Baker12 March 2025 13:24
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle
Kaid D’Authie makes a bit of a mess of the first but stays on his feet. Sixmilebridge makes the early running, with Potters Charm behind and Supersundae in third then a little gap to the rest.
The whole field over the first three hurdles safely
Luke Baker12 March 2025 13:22
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle
Style Wednesday is underway at Cheltenham – they’re off in the Turner Novices’ Hurdle! 2 miles, 5 furlongs to race and 10 hurdles to clear
The Townend-Mullins duo have the favourite Final Demand, who is much fancied, but second-favourite The Yellow Clay and third-favourite The New Lion are not far behind in the betting.
Luke Baker12 March 2025 13:21
Final Demand fancied in opening race
Here are the expert tips for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle – Final Demand well-fancied it seems.
Final Demand is a very good horse. He jumped brilliantly at Limerick and brought that to a whole new level at the Dublin Racing Festival. He travelled really well and his jumping was rock solid. His form overall is more solid than The New Lion’s. If Paul Townend is positive on him then he’ll be hard to beat. The Yellow Clay is a bigger danger than The New Lion.
Sam Turner’s tip: Final Demand 6/4
A cracking renewal of this race with the powerful Dublin Racing Festival winner Final Demand facing a strong challenge from The New Lion and The Yellow Clay, while the likes of Potters Charm (tongue tie for the first time) and Sixmilebridge help to provide a strong supporting cast.
The shower that fell at the track on Monday may just play to the strengths of Final Demand who posted a freakish performance at Leopardstown and is held in extremely high regard by Willie Mullins and the team at Closutton.
A decisive winner of the Challow Hurdle at Newbury, The New Lion must overcome the poor strike rate of those winners trying to win this, while The Yellow Clay could be slightly underestimated by the market given, he is tough and genuine and boasts a touch of class.
Ed Chamberlin’s tip (via Sky Bet): The New Lion 15/8
It’s The New Lion – big head-to-head against Final Demand – who I think is going to be a Gold Cup horse, against The New Lion, who I think could be a champion hurdle horse, hopefully he’ll have too much speed.
Luke Baker12 March 2025 13:15