Cheltenham Festival 2025 LIVE: Latest tips, racecards and results as the Queen arrives to watch Day Two

He was foot-perfect over the final fence and turned on the afterburners to gain two, three lengths over the remainder of the pack, and Ballyburn had no hope of catching the front runners.

Another for Willie Mullins – but by no means the one they expected.

The former is out of contention, having unseated his rider, galloping along riderless. The latter could have done without that second disturbance, but Paul Townend battles on.

At the front, Dancing City makes a mistake on the third to last as Lecky Watson powers into the lead.

Looking fast over the fences as he continues to lead the pack ahead of Brighter Days Ahed and Lecky Watson.

Ballyburn is pushing, but as the frontrunners quicken, he’s still seven lengths behind with four fences to go. Will he pull it out of the bag?

With 11 fences to go, but what a mistake that could be when the horses past the post.

The favourite is only four lengths off the lead but the backmarker for now, and not jumping happily yet.

Dancing City still leads, with Better Days Ahead a neck behind.

… with Ballyburn second last, biding his time, as Quai De Bourbon struggles over the fourth.

But Ballyburn has a dreadful jump next, and falls way back, with Townend struggling to get his foot back into the stirrup for some time!

It’s an all-Irish affair for this one, with Britain’s Prestbury Cup hopes destined to take a hit by the time the dust settles. But the hosts have the lead for now…

Dancing City takes the lead as they make their way over the first, ahead of Better Days Ahead and Lecky Watson, at a steady pace.

Over fence number two, Dancing City extends his lead with 17 to go.

We hope so (that going up in trip will be good). Few people out there think the trip could be the problem. But let’s jump round safely, be there at the end, and if we’re there are the end, let’s see what happens.

It is (as exciting as Omar Marmoush signing for Man City)!

Ballyburn – P. Townend – 1/2

Dancing City – D. E Mullins – 13/2

Better Days Ahead – J. W Kennedy – 15/2

Gorgeous Tom – D. J O’Keefe – 12/1

Quai De Bourbon – P. W Mullins – 16/1

Stellar Story – Danny Gilligan – 22/1

Lecky Watson – S. F O’Keefe – 28/1

Odds courtesy of Paddy Power correct at the time of publication

No one is safe from Cheltenham Festival face, I see.

1. The New Lion
2. The Yellow Clay
3. Final Demand

I think so. We’ve got a lot of good horses (but) this is unchartered territory for me. I haven’t had one that can do things like this one.

His simplicity is his greatest aspect. He’s just so easy.

He’s got it all. You hope you have one day in your career when you come across a good one. He’s good. I’m just delighted he’s done it on the day.

The first time I rode him I thought, he’s so indifferent. Masterful bit of training from Dan.

I’m the man who gets to sit on top and come back in… this place is magic. It gives you everything. When you get a winner here, it is that special.

The Yellow Clay over the final hurdle kept his nose in front, but as the three leaders chases down the final stretch, Final Demand falls away – and The New Lion pounces.

They’re neck and neck approaching the post from the outside, and burns past The Yellow Clay to claim the Novices’ Hurdle.

… as they go down the hill with two hurdles to go, but up comes The Yellow Clay looking for the lead ahead of the last hurdle.

Final Demand comes from the outside to challenge The Yellow Clay as Potterscharm falls away.

… but landed a little awkwardly with six to go. The horse still has the lead passing the grandstand, with Potterscharm still looking keen to keep the pressure up half-a-length behind.

The Yellow Clay moves up to keep pace with Potterscharm, with Supersundae fourth on the outside.

The New Lion is some way back, just ahead of another JP McManus horse, Kel Histoire.

After a standing start, the contenders are off, greeted by an opening roar from the expectant crowd.

Sixmilebridge is at the front of the pack setting a quick pace, tracked closely by Potterscharm, and Supersundae just on the outside.

Kel Histoire is bringing up the rear with seven to go.

… until today’s opening race. It’s not too late to make your selections based on some of Mail Sport’s crack tipsters’ predictions.

State Man was tought to take because I think he was going to confirm what we’ve always thought, that he was a top class racehorse.

But Lossiemouth won, Kopek Des Bordes won, Majborough was unlucky – on another day, we could have had four winners.

Cheltenham – it’s just not easy.

Taking in the racecourse with just one day to go, it’s Teahupoo, who will be looking to claim the Stayers’ Hurdle for the second year in a row.

The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding was unbeaten last year, and will look to reclaim dominance tomorrow, running for the first time since December 1.

The boxer was an excitable presence when grabbed by ITV to discuss his picks – and suggested people should put the house on Ballyburn.

Needless to say, the broadcaster must loved that.

Fortunately, he’s tempered his enthusiasm to remind you to bet responsibly ahead of today’s Novices’ Chase.

Final Demand – P. Townend – 11/8

The New Lion – Harry Skelton – 11/4

The Yellow Clay – J. W Kennedy – 3/1

Potters Charm – Sam Twiston-Davies – 11/1

Sixmilebridge – Kielan Woods – 18/1

Kel Histoire – P. Walsh – 33/1

Kiss Will – P. W Mullins – 40/1

Kaid Dauthie – B. Hayes – 50/1

Supersundae – D. E Mullins – 66/1

Forty Coats – D. J O’Keefe – 100/1

Kappa Jy Pyke – S. F O’Keefe – 100/1

Odds courtesy of Paddy Power correct at the time of publication

I love Jonbon as a horse. He’s an absolute model, an athlete, he’s got loads of stature. I think he’s got it all. I know he hasn’t won at Cheltenham but –

I’m a believer. I don’t think the real Jonbon has ever come to this Festival.

… well, at least when you take into account the impact a day at the Festival might have on your bank balance.

The good people at GG have worked out exactly how much a trip to Prestbury Park could cost you – although, they haven’t been that optimistic about an average punter’s betting form.

After some smash successes yesterday – including Lucinda Russell’s Myretown – Mail Sport’s tips are required reading ahead of day two.

Why not leaf through them at your leisure, below.

There’s a veritable bounty of football-related figures set to be present in the paddock today, and some will hope the winner’s enclosure too.

Ballyburn, as mentioned moments ago, is the pride of noted agent David Manasseh, whose clients have included Jack Grealish and Gareth Bale – and five players on the books at Brighton.

Seagulls owner Tony Bloom saw his Ile Atlantique defeated by Ballyburn last year, but will have higher hopes for Bunting in today’s Coral Cup, and Energumene in the Champion Chase.

And then there’s Sir Alex – keen Man United fans should keep an eye on Potters Charm in the Novices’ Hurdle. Even if, like this season’s team, he might be a bit of a long-shot.

After a barnstorming win in the Novices’ Hurdle on day two of the Festival last year, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old will be keen to make a permanent mark on Cheltenham Wednesday in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

This race is a traditional hunting ground for future Gold Cup winners – could this be the perfect next test for the Closutton bay?

While it may have looked hazardous this morning under its blanket of white, there’s been little actual change to the ground conditions since yesterday.

The means, as per Clerk of the Course Jon Pullin, going is good to soft on the Old Course, and good in places and soft on the top loop of the Cross Country Course.

There has been some – one day’s – let-up in the seemingly relentless battering British trainers have taken from across the Irish Sea at the Festival.

Wins from the yards of Nicky Henderson, Rebecca Curtis, Jeremy Scott, and Lucinda Russell have given the hosts the edge going into day two, while the Irish wins were supplied by Willie Mullins (inevitably) and Joseph O’Brien.

Here’s today’s edition of your Cheltenham Breakfast, courtesy of Mail Sport’s DOMINIC KING – aptly named as I wouldn’t recomment attempting Cheltenham without a serving of it to start your day.

Here, Dominic takes in successful owner Sir Alex Ferguson’s Wednesday tests, and reviews some of the bigger storylines from an eventful opening day.

The jockey – whose face has seen better days after he was kicked by a foal in the build-up to the Festival – weighs in on a Champion Hurdle like no other on ITV Racing:

I don’t think a lot of us have seen anything quite like it. It was just unbelieable.

First and foremost, like Jeremy Scott said, happy that Constitution Hill and State Man and the two jockeys are absolutely fine, but what a day. I think you prepare for everything, and can expect nothing sometimes.

Someone had to win that race, and yesterday it was Jeremy Scott and Lorcan Williams.

(Scott) is a fantastic man, and well done to him and Lorcan.

Grade One and Cheltenham Festival winning jockey Lizzie Kelly and Mail Sport’s Dominic King are back to take you through the seven races with both taking on Jonbon in the Champion Chase – but who else have they tipped for glory?

You’d be a fool not to give their picks a peruse, below.

Much like Constitution Hill’s return after missing 2024’s iteration of the Festival, Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon will return for the day’s showpiece race, the Queen Mother Champion Chase – and the yard will hope for a better result than yesterday’s Champion Hurdle misstep…

But beyond the 4pm standout, there’s a raft of other action today, kicking off at 1.20pm.

• Turner’s Novices’ Hurdle – 1.20pm
• Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – 2.00pm
• Coral Cup Hurdle – 2.40pm
• Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase – 3.20pm
• Champion Chase – 4pm
• Grand Annual Chase – 4.40pm
• Champion Bumper – 5.20pm

Hello and welcome to day two of Mail Sport’s live coverage of Cheltenham Festival – where the gates were opened today to a very different scene than yesterday.

After snow fell overnight, the view at Prestbury Park was a far more wintry one than last week’s brief glimpse of good weather might have had us expecting. But as the morning has progressed, the ice has melted away and – fingers crossed – the inclement weather shouldn’t pause proceedings.

What a shame that would have been – after yesterday’s Majborough shock and drama in the Champion Hurdle, I’m sure you’re champing at the bit (sorry) for ‘Style Day’ to get underway in the West Country.

So, without further ado…