Il Etait Temps secured a dominant victory in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, marking a strong performance for Irish runners. The day featured five Irish wins out of seven races, including surprises in the Grand Annual and Cross Country Chase, amid celebrations for Ladies Day. Tragedy struck with the death of HMS Seahorse in the BetMGM Handicap Hurdle.
Day two of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, held on Wednesday, March 11, at Cheltenham Racecourse, showcased Irish dominance with five of the seven races won by horses from across the Irish Sea. The highlight was the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, where Il Etait Temps, ridden by Paul Townend for trainer Willie Mullins, triumphed by 10 lengths over the 50/1 outsider Libberty Hunter, jockeyed by Sean Bowen. The pre-race favorite Majborough faltered with jumping errors, finishing out of contention. Mullins commented, “I thought Paul Townend was very brave on him because he couldn’t go the pace they were setting for the first mile; he sat and sat, and coming down the hill we could all see that the further he was going, the better he was going.” Townend added, “It shows how tough this lad is … such a courageous horse.”
In the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, 66/1 shot Martator, trained by Venetia Williams and ridden by Charlie Deutsch, edged out last year’s winner Jazzy Matty by a nose in a thrilling finish. Williams said, “I’m pretty speechless, partly because I was screaming so much! … We could see he was coming and he was on the wide outside, which was always the plan as he’s only a pony.”
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Limited Handicap Chase saw 19-year-old Conor Stone-Walsh claim his first Festival winner aboard Final Orders for Gavin Cromwell, winning at 7-1. Stone-Walsh remarked, “It’s a bit surreal at the minute – I think it will take a while to sink in! … He jumped from fence to fence and he kept going the whole way.”
James Bowen secured his second win of the Festival in the BetMGM Handicap Hurdle on Jingko Blue for Nicky Henderson, prevailing by six lengths at 9-2. However, the race was marred by the fatal fall of HMS Seahorse, an eight-year-old trained by Paul Nolan, at the last hurdle. A Cheltenham statement noted the horse was attended by vets but could not be saved, offering condolences to connections. This marked the second horse death of the Festival, following Hansard on day one.
The day’s final race, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, went to The Mourne Rambler at 15-2 under Colin Keane. Attendance reached 46,317, up from 41,941 in 2025, boosted by the return of Ladies Day, with Rachael Blackmore promoting the event. Ground conditions were good to soft, good in places. Stewards suspended four jockeys for a false start in the opener: Jack Kennedy and Declan Queally for one day, Danny Gilligan and Darragh O’Keeffe for two days.
