Cheltenham Festival Tipster Tips (Day 2)
Who are the experts betting on day two of the Cheltenham Festival 2026? Here's the tips sourced directly from the best betting sites' tipsters.
It's Ladies Day at Cheltenham, but don't worry, we've collected all the tips from the gentlemen, too. Here are what the experts are saying about today's feature race.
4:00 Cheltenham - Champion Chase
Jane Mangan (William Hill)
It’s no surprise to see Majborough odds-on for the Champion Chase (4:00pm) after his performance at the Dublin Racing Festival, but it’s worth noting that seven odds-on favourites have been beaten in the last 10 runnings of the race. However, he looks, on all known form, unopposable. It’s probably worth taking an each-way approach with Quilixios, who came down at the last when running so well in this race last year. Henry de Bromhead has a very strong record in the race, winning four of the last 15 renewals. Majborough to win, but my way of approaching the race is to have an each-way bet on Quilixios.
Barry Geraghty (William Hill)
MAJBOROUGH should be hard to beat. He put in a breathtaking performance on really soft ground at Leopardstown last time when wearing first-time cheekpieces. I know they may work again, but I do think he might need slower ground to reproduce that kind of form. He is the one to beat and I thought Il Etait Temps is his biggest danger as he has the strongest form of the rest of the field. He was well beaten when he fell last time behind Jonbon in the Clarence House, but he never travelled a yard in that race. Prior to that he had some really good form and if you forgive him that blot last time, then he looks the one that could chase home the favourite.
Nick Luck (William Hill)
IL ETAIT TEMPS now rates the bet in the Champion Chase (4.00). Of course Majborough looked absolutely brilliant at Leopardstown, but both his spectacular career wins have come on really deep ground, through which he can simply gallop much better than any other horse. That superiority – while likely – will not be as marked on this surface, and I’d be happy to forgive Il Etait Temps one poor run.
Bet £10 Get £40
Claim this offerOnline only. For new UK customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2) on sports. Get 4 x £10 in free bets for sports. Payment restrictions apply.Megan Nicholls (BetMGM)
Majborough is the one to beat in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase and I expect him to atone for his defeat in the Arkle. The application of cheekpieces last time worked wonders and, if his jumping holds up again, he looks a very solid favourite.
Ruby Walsh (Paddy Power)
This is MAJBOROUGH’s to lose. He’s the best horse in the race and the cheekpieces worked wonders for him at the Dublin Racing Festival. He really concentrated and attacked his fences, and a repeat of that should be enough. He’s my strongest fancy on day two.
Matt Chapman (Paddy Power)
The big one of the day in the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase over nearly 2m. MAJBOROUGH put up the best jumping performance of his life when scoring at the Dublin Racing Festival last time, and if he repeats that effort, most will expect him to win this with ease. Up until then he hadn’t always been the best jumper, but he had cheekpieces on and they seemed to really help him. Liberty Hunter is not the worst horse to have a few quid on eachway at a massive price, but I expect Majborough to make up for his Arkle defeat at the hands of Gold Cup hope Jango Baie. Mark Walsh rides for Willie Mullins.
Price Boosts, BOG & Offers
Visit TigerBetPrice boosts available on selected UK and Irish Horse Racing markets. Best odds guaranteed is available only on selected UK and Irish Horse Racing markets. Separate terms apply on match specials.Siobhan Mullins (TigerBet)
SAINT SEGAL makes plenty of appeal as an each way play in the Queen Mother Champion Chase given the outstanding consistency he has shown this season. Jane Williams’ eight year old has finished in the first two on all five starts this term and arrives on the back of a strong runner up effort in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury, a race that has often produced key Champion Chase clues. A tough, accurate jumper who travels strongly over two miles, he rarely runs a bad race and his current form figures of 1 2 1 2 2 underline how well he is holding his level. While he faces the elite of the division here, his reliability and sharp jumping could see him outrun his odds if the race becomes tactical, making SAINT SEGAL a very solid each way proposition in an open renewal.
Owen McMahon (Betfred)
I'll settle for Dan Skelton's L'EAU DU SUD.
The trainer told Betfred during a stable visit last week that he's expecting the eight-year-old to run as well, if not better than he did when winning the Shloer over course and distance by 15 lengths.
He's the solid option in a race that hasn't been the kindest to punters in recent years.
Max Liu (Betfair)
Sent off at 40/1 for last year's running, Quilixios won't be that price this time sadly, but he was still in there pitching at the final fence when falling for the first time in his chase career and I'm not convinced he was totally done with at that point either.
There is clearly an amount of faith needed to back him here first time out, but his trainer has won four of the last 15 renewals so wouldn't be committing Quilixios if he wasn't totally happy with the former Triumph Hurdle winner and, with his jumping usually very much his asset, he could spring a mini surprise.
Kate Midwinter (Betfair)
Unfortunate to fall late on in last year's Champion Chase, Quilixos hasn't been seen since and returns from a 364-day break in this renewal. He has a great record when fresh, winning on the back of 610 days and 225-day absences in the past.
A former Triumph Hurdle winner, he has proven form at the Festival and can make his presence felt for Henry de Bromhead with the fresh angle key to his chances.
Despite being present in big meetings for years, Quilixios is only a nine-year-old, therefore can still be capable of putting in a bold bid on his day as shown 12 months ago. He makes each-way appeal at the odds, and shouldn't be overlooked despite the favourite holding solid claims.
