Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Selections
Turners Novices Hurdle
Selection: King Rasko Grey
He was a very close third behind Ballyfad and Talk The Talk when they met at the Dublin Racing Festival earlier in the season, and for me that run was actually much better than it might look on paper at first glance. Although he was beaten into third place, the race itself looked strong and the performance suggested that King Rasko Grey is a horse with a lot more still to offer. The Dublin Racing Festival always produces high-quality novice races and this one looked particularly competitive, so finishing so close to two talented rivals was far from a disappointment in my view.
At the time Willie Mullins’ horses seemed to be running a little bit below their usual high standards and he himself hinted that things might not have been quite right across the yard during that period. Because of that, I’m willing to give King Rasko Grey plenty of leeway for that run and assume there is still improvement to come from him. Mullins is a master at preparing horses for the Cheltenham Festival and it would be no surprise at all if this horse turns up here a much sharper and more polished version of what we saw in Dublin.
Another factor that increases my confidence is the likely absence of Talk The Talk from this race, with that horse instead heading towards the Supreme. With that being the case, then one of the main rivals from that Dublin contest will not be in opposition here. That opens the door for King Rasko Grey to potentially reverse the form and step forward as the leading contender. Cheltenham can suit horses who travel strongly and jump well under pressure, and from what we have seen so far he looks like the type who could thrive in this sort of race. With improvement expected and the stable likely to have him primed for the big occasion, I’m happy to bank on King Rasko Grey turning the tables and winning here.
Brown Advisory Novices Chase.
Selection: Final Demand
I’m going to give Final Demand another chance here and forgive him for his most recent run, as I don’t think that performance truly reflects the horse we have seen earlier in the season. Before that disappointing effort he had done very little wrong and had looked like one of the more exciting novice chasers around. His previous two runs were very solid and suggested he was progressing nicely into a high-class staying chaser.
The last run clearly raised a few questions, but it’s worth remembering that even top horses can have an off day. Willie Mullins himself has already commented that he did not believe that performance represented the real Final Demand, which is an encouraging sign. When a trainer of Mullins’ calibre is prepared to come out and say something like that, it usually means they still have a lot of faith in the horse and believe there were reasons behind the below-par effort.
What also catches the eye here is the price he is currently available at. Because of that last run the market seems to have cooled on him slightly, which could present a bit of value if he bounces back to the level he showed earlier in the season. In races like the Brown Advisory, stamina and accurate jumping are absolutely crucial, and based on his earlier performances he certainly has the tools to handle both.
Another key point is that Paul Townend appears set to stick with him despite there being several Mullins runners to choose from. That decision can often be quite telling, as Townend knows these horses better than anyone and tends to make the right call in these situations. If Final Demand returns to the form of his first two chase runs then he has every chance of being a major player in this race. Given his potential and the trust from connections, I’m willing to take the chance that he can bounce back and redeem himself here.
BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle.
Selection: Forty Coats
Forty Coats is an interesting horse coming into this race and one who could be worth a chance now that he enters handicap company. He was a point-to-point and bumper winner earlier in his career, which shows that there has always been ability there, but things didn’t quite click for him consistently over hurdles last season. Despite that, he still managed to produce a notable run when finishing fourth at huge odds of 150-1 in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last March.
That run suggested that on his day he can mix it with very good horses, even if his overall record might not look overly convincing. So far this season he hasn’t exactly set the world alight either, but sometimes horses can take time to find their rhythm before a big target. What makes him particularly interesting now is that connections are applying cheekpieces for his handicap debut, which could bring about improvement.
Headgear can often make a significant difference, especially for horses who have shown flashes of ability but perhaps lacked focus or consistency. If the cheekpieces help him travel more strongly and concentrate better during the race, then he could easily take a step forward from what we have seen so far. Off a mark of 138 he looks fairly treated based on that big run in last season’s Grade 1.Handicap races at the Cheltenham Festival are always competitive and unpredictable, but they also provide opportunities for horses who suddenly improve when conditions fall right. Forty Coats could be one of those types. With the cheekpieces applied and running off what could prove to be a workable mark, he might just spark into life and become competitive in this field.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Selection: Majborough
I absolutely love Majborough and he’s a horse I’ve been firmly behind since the start of the season. For a while it didn’t look like things were going to fall into place for him in the way I had hoped, but everything changed at the Dublin Racing Festival. On that occasion the addition of cheekpieces, combined with a more prominent ride, seemed to transform him into the exceptional chaser I always believed he could be.
From the very start of that race he looked full of confidence and travelled strongly throughout. His jumping in particular was outstanding and really caught the eye. He attacked his fences with speed and accuracy, gaining ground at almost every obstacle, which is exactly what you want to see from a top-class two-mile chaser. Performances like that often mark a horse out as something special.If he can reproduce that same level of jumping and energy at the Cheltenham Festival then I think he will take a lot of beating. The Champion Chase often rewards horses who can maintain a high cruising speed while also jumping fluently under pressure, and Majborough showed he has both of those qualities in abundance.
The race itself has ended up looking slightly weaker than it might have earlier in the season, particularly with Marine Nationale now missing from the line-up. That removes one of the potential major contenders and further strengthens Majborough’s chances. With the cheekpieces clearly working and the new tactics bringing out the best in him, I’m very happy to stick with Majborough and believe he has a huge chance of winning this year’s Champion Chase.
Grand Annual
Selection: Vanderpoel
Vanderpoel is another horse who comes into the festival with an interesting profile and the potential to keep improving. His victories so far have come in relatively small fields, which some people might use as a reason to question the strength of the form. However, the manner in which he won those races was very impressive and suggested there could be plenty more to come.
In both of those wins he travelled strongly and showed a nice turn of foot when it mattered, which is always a good sign in competitive handicaps. Horses who can travel comfortably in their races often cope better with the hustle and bustle of big festival handicaps, where positioning and timing are everything.
Although this is clearly a much more competitive field than he has faced before, I think he deserves the chance to show what he can do at this level. Sometimes improving horses can make the step up in class successfully, especially if they are still progressing and haven’t yet reached their ceiling.Ben Jones taking the ride also adds a bit of confidence, as he is a jockey who rides Cheltenham well and tends to judge the pace of these handicaps nicely. The ground conditions look suitable and the trip appears to be exactly what Vanderpoel wants, which should give him the opportunity to produce his best performance.
If he continues along the upward curve he has shown so far then he could easily run a big race here. In handicaps like the Grand Annual it often pays to side with horses who are still improving rather than those who may already have shown their full hand. For that reason, I’m happy to take a chance on Vanderpoel and hope he can land the big one here.
Day 1 Selections
All prices with BetMGM
1:20 King Rasko Grey 11/2
2:00 Final Demand 5/1
2:40 Forty Coats 16/1
4:00 Majborough 4/5
4:40 Vanderpoel 15/2
Every day of the
2026 Cheltenham Festival
I will be analysing the
horse racing betting
and comparing the
latest betting odds
and finding us the best value horse racing tips for the day.
You can also redeem some
horse racing betting bonuses
throughout the National Hunt season.
