The Cheltenham Festival’s second day was crowned by a commanding performance from Lossiemouth, who routed her rivals to claim the Unibet Champion Hurdle. The 6-4 favourite, already a dual Mares’ Hurdle winner at the meeting, showed no ill effects from her defeat to Brighterdaysahead in last month’s Irish Champion Hurdle, powering up the hill to win by a widening margin.
Jockey Paul Townend reported a much happier partner than at Leopardstown. “I knew she was much happier,” he said. “We didn’t go hard early on… she travelled much better and sweeter.” Her trainer, Willie Mullins, paid tribute to her consistency, noting she had “come back four years on the trot” to win at the Festival. The race was run without last year’s shock 25-1 winner Golden Ace, who could only manage fifth, and the absent defending champions Constitution Hill and State Man, whose non-participation had opened the door for a new champion.
Mixed Fortunes for the Home Team
The day began promisingly for British stables, filling the first four places in the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, won by the 15/8 favourite Old Park Star. However, the Irish swiftly responded, taking the next two contests. The Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy went to the 7/1 shot Kargese, in a race marred by the fatal injury sustained by the Gary and Josh Moore-trained Hansard. Course officials later issued a statement confirming the horse had been put down on welfare grounds, extending condolences to his connections.
The British challenge was revived in the day’s major handicaps. At 3.20pm, the Ultima Handicap Chase produced an 18-1 victory for the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Johnnywho, who denied the well-fancied 3-1 favourite Jagwar. The win provided a timely success for owner JP McManus, who had also seen his colours carried to victory earlier by Saratoga (10/1) in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
The pendulum swung back towards the Skelton family in the penultimate race, the Plate Handicap Chase. The well-backed 3-1 favourite Madara, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by his brother Harry, justified the late market confidence with a decisive victory. “He has absolutely routed them,” declared the race commentator as the six-year-old streaked clear. “This horse has been brilliant,” said a delighted Harry Skelton afterwards, referencing the horse’s return from an autumn injury.
Trainer Licence Transferred After Conviction
Away from the track, a significant administrative change was confirmed involving festival-winning trainer Evan Williams. The British Horseracing Authority stated that Williams, found guilty this week of assaulting a dog-walker with a hockey stick and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, had “ceased being a licensed trainer by mutual agreement”. His licence has been transferred to his wife, Cath, who will be the official trainer of their Queen Mother Champion Chase contender, Libberty Hunter. Williams is due to be sentenced on 14 April.
Ladies’ Day Returns as Festival Aims for Revival
The social focus of the day was the return of ‘Ladies’ Day’ after a five-year hiatus, rebranded as a celebration of “glamour and glory” with jockey Rachael Blackmore acting as an ambassador. The Jockey Club, which owns the racecourse, has implemented several changes aimed at improving the customer experience and reversing a recent decline in attendance. Daily capacity has been reduced from 68,500 to 66,000, while the price of a pint of Guinness has been cut by 30p to £7.50. ITV reported that ticket sales for the day were approximately 2,000 ahead of the equivalent point last year, with Gold Cup Day already sold out.
As the day concluded, attention turned to the final race, the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novice Handicap Chase. The market suggested a fiercely open contest, with Kurasso Blue for Gordon Elliott solidifying favouritism in a race described as a “getting-out race that will have the bookmakers salivating”. Other leading contenders included the Paul Nolan-trained Iceberg Theory, who was up 13lb for two recent wins, and the Rebecca Curtis-trained Newton Tornado, representing the stable that won the race in 2025.
