The 2025 Cheltenham Festival began with a bang and Style Wednesday brought even more drama as the UK’s biggest week of racing continues.
Marine Nationale claimed a surprise victory in the headline race, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, after favourite Jonbon hit a fence on the way round and could only recover to finish second. Earlier the highly rated Ballyburn was stunningly beaten in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase as Lecky Watson triumphed in the all-Irish renewal.
The Coral Cup Hurdle and Cross Country Steeple Chase also proved to be fascinating races on Day 2 as outsider Jimmy Du Seuil won the former and favourite Stumptown showed his class to come through and take the latter, which is often a good warm-up for the Grand National. All eyes were on the weather initially, after a snow flurry landed on the course this morning, but that cleared in time to not affect the racing.
The “greatest show on turf” will also include Friday’s Gold Cup, where Galopin Des Champs, who is the favourite on betting sites, hopes to land a famous hat-trick this. The full race card and Festival schedule is here, and we’ll be bringing you all the action as Day 2 unfolds.
Follow all the news, including previews, expert tips, free bet offers and the latest Cheltenham odds from Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival with our live blog below:
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Cheltenham Festival latest updates
- Cheltenham Festival results and full list of winners from Day 2
- Heavy favourite Jonbon hits a fence and loses Queen Mother Champion Chase to Marine Nationale
- The New Lion takes Turners Novices Hurdle for Skelton brothers as Jimmy Du Seuil wins Coral Cup
- Favourite Stumptown takes Cross Country Steeple Chase after Lecky Watson wins all-Irish Brown Advisory Chase
- Best bets, tips and horses to watch for Day 2
Jazzy Matty owner speaking to ITV Racing:
17:07
,
Mike Jones
Jazzy Matty part-owner Mervin Gray said: "That was some performance from Jazzy Matty.
“We knew he had more in the tank. Should we mention Michael O'Sullivan as well? What a legend. We're all overcome.
"Somebody is watching over us today and it's only one man, credit to him."
Jazzy Matty jockey Danny Gilligan speaking to ITV Racing:
17:00
,
Mike Jones
"I think we all know there is someone very special looking down on this, especially with Marine Nationale earlier and now this. Someone very special is looking down at us today.
"He never missed a beat, it's all down to the lads who do the work every day. I'm just thrilled to get the result."
4.40pm - Grand Annual Handicap Chase results
16:56
,
Mike Jones
1 Jazzy Matty (D J Gilligan) 15-2
2 Unexpected Party (Harry Skelton) 11-2 Fav
3 Midnight It Is (S W Flanagan) 25-1
4.40pm - Grand Annual Handicap Chase
16:48
,
Mike Jones
Jazzy Matty takes the win!
An extraordinary drive down the final stretch sends him ahead of Unexpected Party and he claims the victory!
4.40pm - Grand Annual Handicap Chase
16:47
,
Mike Jones
Jazzy Matty forces his way to the the front and challenges Unexpected Party for the lead as they turn to home.
They’re distancing themselves from the rest.
4.40pm - Grand Annual Handicap Chase
16:45
,
Mike Jones
Western Zephyr leads the way with Traprain Law and Dancing On My Own nicely settled in behind.
Blackmore eases up on her charge allowing Fringill Dike and Unexpected Party to nudge ahead.
4.40pm - Grand Annual Handicap Chase
16:44
,
Mike Jones
Rachael Blackmore’s Dancing On My Own is close to the front of the field, trailing behind Western Zephyr and Traprain Law.
Pushing him along, Blackmore squeezes up to second before Unexpected Party unexpectedly puts on a burst and nicks the position.
4.40pm - Grand Annual Handicap Chase
16:43
,
Mike Jones
And they’re off!
The penultimate race of day two gets going with a huge field challenging in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase.
Marine Nationale's trainer Barry Connell speaking to ITV Racing:
16:37
,
Mike Jones
"The fact that the horse hasn't got its credits since it won the Supremes, people forget it only had two runs last year. We were gradually planning a campaign, he's essentially a novice this year. He had three hurdles runs. He loves this place, he comes alive. We were confident today.
"That's what he's been showing us at home. He travels jumps, he's everything you want. I've been coming here since I was a student int he 1980s. This was the one race I wanted to win more than any. It won't sink in for a long time.
"The last three or four weeks have been horrendous. Michael and I went on a journey with this horse. I've asked racing historians, they haven't done what this horse has. It's devastating Michael is not with us, I'd like to dedicate this one to his and his girlfirend Charlotte.
"My heart goes out to his family, Charlotte and his friends. Racing has a great community."
4.40pm - Grand Annual Handicap Chase
16:34
,
Mike Jones
Latest odds via Oddschecker:
Jazzy Matty 13/2
Unexpected Party 13/2
Primoz 13/2
My Mate Mozzie 15/2
JPR One 8/1
American Mike 12/1
So Scottish 14/1
General Medrano 14/1
Traprain Law 16/1
Third Time Lucki 18/1
Marine Nationale wins the Queen Mother Champion Chase
16:33
,
Mike Jones
Sean Flanagan reacts to Marine Nationale's win
16:21
,
Mike Jones
Jockey Sean Flanagan told ITV Racing: "Hugely emotional for a lot of reasons. His family find it very hard, jockeys in Ireland, England and around the world have been under a cloud in the last couple of weeks. I'm just the man on him today, Michael [O’Sullivan] made him what he is.
"Every race is a race by race ride. I'm just lucky I can come here. I'm only drafted in late on, the work was already done."
"Michael. This is for you"
16:20
,
Luke Baker
Jockey Sean Flanagan dedicated that victory to Michael O’Sullivan after his tragic death last month.
O’Sullivan had won this very race on Marine Nationale two years ago to burst to stardom
"Michael. This is for you"
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2025
Sean Flanagan pays his respects to Michael O'Sullivan, who won this race on Marine Nationale two years ago #ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @swflanagan7 | @AlicePlunkett pic.twitter.com/JeXNZbEF4L
Marine Nationale brilliantly wins Queen Mother Champion Chase
16:17
,
Luke Baker
A brilliant win for Marine Nationale - here’s how he did it. Jonbon the master of his own downfall by hitting that fence but you can’t take anything away from the winner
The most poignant of winners!
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2025
Marine Nationale wins the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase #ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @swflanagan7 pic.twitter.com/dn2KQlSjj5
Queen Mother Champion Chase result
16:14
,
Luke Baker
This has been an emotional Cheltenham Festival and that was another race that fit the bill. Brilliant effort by Marine Nationale.
Winner: Marine Nationale (5/1); 2) Jonbon (5/6F); 3) Captain Guinness (25/1)
Emotional win for Marine Nationale in the Champion Chase
16:11
,
Luke Baker
An emotional win for Sean Flanagan on Marine Nationale. This was the horse that brought Michael O’Sullivan on to the main stage and of course, he tragically died at the age of 24 last month after a fall.
A deserving winner under the guidance of Flanagan and trainer Barry Connell as emotions run high
4.00: Queen Mother Champion Chase result
16:09
,
Luke Baker
It’s such drama! Quilixios’s fall leaves Marine Nationale to cruise to the victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase - pulling away down the home straight.
Kept his head while others faltered. Remarkably, Jonbon, after clattering the fifth-last fence comes through for second place but he was miles back. Captain Guinness in third
4.00: Queen Mother Champion Chase
16:07
,
Luke Baker
It’s Quilixios and Marine Nationale neck and neck at the front. And now Quilixios is a faller at the last!
4.00: Queen Mother Champion Chase
16:07
,
Luke Baker
Jonbon off the back now. His hopes look over.
Solness still leads from Energumene and down goes Libberty Hunter! He’s out. Two to go
4.00: Queen Mother Champion Chase
16:06
,
Luke Baker
Jonbon absolutely clatters the fifth-last fence! He stays on his feet but he’s back to last. Drama! Would be a hell of an effort to win from here
4.00: Queen Mother Champion Chase
16:04
,
Luke Baker
And now they’re off! A terrible start by Solness, immediately falling back, and Libberty Hunter is off the back.
Energumene leading the way and it’s a good early pace!
4.00: Queen Mother Champion Chase
16:03
,
Luke Baker
This should be an absolute cracker. Can Jonbon finally break his Cheltenham hoodoo?
It’s the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Two miles and 13 fences in this one. A nervy first attempt at the start and they’re having to wait
4.00: Queen Mother Champion Chase latest odds
15:54
,
Luke Baker
Here’s how the odds (via Oddschecker) are looking ahead of this one. No one is looking past Jonbon:
- Jonbon 5/6
- Marine Nationale 5/1
- Energumene 6/1
- Solness 12/1
- Found A Fifty 12/1
- Captain Guinness 33/1
- Libberty Hunter 40/1
- Quilixios 40/1
4.00: Queen Mother Champion Chase
15:50
,
Luke Baker
Ok, it’s time for the big one today - the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Could this be the coronation of much-fancied Jonbon who has finished second in his two previous Cheltenham Festival appearances?
He’s the favourite for this one at 4/5
Style Wednesday - full list of winners
15:48
,
Luke Baker
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Winner: The New Lion (3/1); 2) The Yellow Clay (5/2); 3) Final Demand (6/4F)
2.00: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Winner: Lecky Watson (20/1); 2) Stellar Story (22/1); 3) Better Days Ahead (13/2)
2.40: Coral Cup (Grade 3)
Winner: Jimmy Du Seuil (16/1); 2) Impose Toi (13/2); 3) Ballyadam (16/1)
3.20: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Listed)
Winner: Stumptown (5/2F); 2) Latenightpass (11/1); 3) Vanillier (15/2)
