A dramatic victory for the redemptive Il Etait Temps in the day’s feature race headlined a Wednesday of shocks, suspensions, and soaring attendance as Cheltenham’s Ladies Day made a triumphant return.
In the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps, ridden by Paul Townend, produced what was described as a “remarkable comeback” to claim victory. The 5/2 shot, whose preparation was marred by a heavy fall at Ascot in January, secured the win despite a stumble at the final fence. The race unravelled for the 10/11 favourite, Majborough, whose “somewhat error-prone record” resurfaced with a mistake three fences from home that left him out of contention. The 50/1 outsider Libberty Hunter finished a strong second, with L’eau Du Sud, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, in third.
Front-runners and fairytales define supporting card
The trend for front-running winners continued across the card. In the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle, the 9/2 favourite Jingko Blue, ridden by James Bowen for trainer Nicky Henderson, justified strong market support with a commanding performance, winning by a significant distance from 50/1 shot Franciscan Rock.
That pattern held in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, where 7/1 chance Final Orders found an extra burst of pace in the home straight to win with “plenty to spare” for jockey Conor Stone-Walsh, securing his first Festival win. The 2/1 favourite, Favori De Champdou, finished second.
The shock of the day, however, came in the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase. Venetia Williams’ 66/1 outsider Martator, under Charlie Deutsch, won by a “hair’s breadth” in a photo finish from Jazzy Matty, providing one of the week’s most unexpected results.
The day concluded with a popular triumph in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, as the six-time Irish flat racing champion jockey Colin Keane guided 15/2 shot The Mourne Rambler to a length victory. The win denied trainer Willie Mullins a 15th victory in the race, despite fielding five runners.
Ladies Day hailed a success as attendance jumps
Off the track, the return of Ladies Day after a five-year hiatus was heralded a great success by the Jockey Club. Wednesday’s attendance was 46,317, a significant increase from 41,941 on the same day last year. Initiatives led by Rachael Blackmore, appointed head of Ladies Day in November, included promotional visits and the transformation of the Centaur venue into a dedicated “Ladies Day zone” with entertainment and a racing panel designed to “demystify” the sport.
According to the Jockey Club, these efforts yielded results: 33% of ticket purchasers for Ladies Day were female, compared with 25% in 2025. The second day had previously been rebranded as “Style Wednesday” in 2024.
Stewards busy with suspensions and inquiries
The day was also marked by disciplinary action. Cheltenham stewards issued a series of suspensions related to false starts. Jockeys Jack Kennedy, D. Queally, Danny Gilligan, and Darragh O’Keeffe were all sanctioned after the starter reported they had “not approached the tape at a walk or a jig-jog thereby causing a false start.” Kennedy and Queally received one-day suspensions, while Gilligan and O’Keeffe, for a second offence in 12 months, were suspended for two days.
Furthermore, an unresolved dispute from the opening race continues. Stewards have adjourned an inquiry to “obtain further evidence” after receiving a complaint from rider Declan Queally regarding an incident at the start involving Nico de Boinville. The two jockeys had earlier accused each other on ITV coverage, with Queally alleging “abuse” and De Boinville suggesting Queally should “look in the mirror.” The incident has fuelled debate among pundits like Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy about starting procedures.
In a separate incident, jockey Conor Stone-Walsh, despite his win on Final Orders, received a two-day suspension for careless riding in an earlier race.
Gold Cup field confirmed as ground stays good
Looking ahead to Friday’s showcase, the runners for the Boodles Gold Cup were confirmed. Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin will seek a repeat victory, while Willie Mullins will rely solely on Gaelic Warrior. The contenders also include The Jukebox Man, owned by Harry Redknapp, who makes his first start since winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton in December.
The ground remained officially “good” on both courses on Wednesday, with the possibility of watering in the evening due to sunny weather. The forecast, however, suggests a change, with rain expected to arrive on Thursday afternoon and become heavier into the evening and early Friday.
