Day two of the Cheltenham Festival, known as Style Wednesday, is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The highlight of this day is the Grade 1 BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, a premier two-mile steeplechase that demands both speed and precise jumping.
Traditionally referred to as Ladies Day, this occasion combines high fashion with top-tier racing. The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase has a rich history, with past winners including legends like Viking Flagship, Moscow Flyer, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre, and Altior.
On this second day, Irish-trained horses often feature prominently, potentially giving Ireland an early lead in the Prestbury Cup – the annual competition between the UK and Ireland for the most wins during the festival. ​
For comprehensive tips, the latest news, and historical insights from Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival, continue exploring our in-depth guide.
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Cheltenham Festival Day Two Racecards
Here are the following races on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday 12th March 2026:
13:20 Turners Novices’ Hurdle Race
The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (for sponsorship reasons known as the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle) is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race open to horses aged four and above.
It is held over a distance of approximately 2 miles and 5 furlongs, with ten hurdles to be jumped.
- Cheltenham 13.20 NAP –
- Cheltenham 13.20 NB –
- Cheltenham 13.20 Longshot –
Check out other professional horse racing tipsters who have picked out to win the 13:20 Cheltenham Tips Baring Novices Hurdle race.
14:00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase and is run over a distance of approximately 3 miles on the Old Course at Cheltenham, with twenty obstacles to be jumped.
- Cheltenham 14.00 NAP –
- Cheltenham 14.00 NB –
- Cheltenham 14.00 Longshot –
Check out who the other professional horse racing tipsters have picked out to win the 14:10 Cheltenham Tips Festival Novices Chase race, and their views on the Brown Advisory Novices Chase
14:40 Coral Cup
The Coral Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race for horses aged four and higher.
It is run over a distance of approximately 2 miles and 5 furlongs, and the race includes ten hurdles to be jumped.
- Cheltenham 14.40 NAP –
- Cheltenham 14.40 NB –
- Cheltenham 14.40 Longshot –
Check out what other Cheltenham festival tipsters have picked out to win the 14:40 Cheltenham Tips Coral Cup race.
15:20 Cross Country Chase
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is a steeplechase for horses aged five and up.
It is run a distance of around 3 miles and 6 furlongs on the Cheltenham Cross Country course, and there are thirty-two obstacles to be overcome during the race.
It began as a handicap race before being modified to a conditions race for the 2016 edition. The Cross Country Chase is a great and exciting race to behold.
- Cheltenham 15.20 NAP –
- Cheltenham 15.20 NB –
- Cheltenham 15.20 Long Shot –
Check out what other Cheltenham festival tipsters have picked out to win the 16:00 Cheltenham Tips Cross Country Chase race.
16:00 Queen Mother Champion Chase – Feature Race
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase held for horses aged five and up.
The race is now titled the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, thanks to a sponsorship agreement with the internet betting company Betway.
It is run over a distance of approximately 2 miles, with 13 fences to be jumped along the way. It is the feature race on Day 2.
For a complete guide on the Queen Mother Champion Chase, check out our page.
- Cheltenham 16.00 NAP –
- Cheltenham 16.00 NB –
- Cheltenham 16.00 Long Shot –
Check out what the Cheltenham festival tipster has picked out to win the 16:00 Cheltenham Tips Champion Chase race.
16:40 Grand Annual Chase
The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is the oldest race in the Cheltenham Festival, as well as the oldest in the National Hunt calendar.
It’s a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase for horses aged five and above.
It is a 2-mile run, and there are fourteen fences to jump during the race.
- Cheltenham 16.40 NAP –
- Cheltenham 16.40 NB –
- Cheltenham 16.40 Longshot –
Check out what the Cheltenham festival tipster has picked out to win the 16:40 Cheltenham Tips Cross Grand Annual Chase race.
17:20 Champion Bumper
The Weatherbys Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat event for horses between the ages of four and six.
It is run over a distance of approximately 2 miles and a half furlongs at Cheltenham.
It is the final race of the day, the Champion Bumper is one of the highlights of the week and a key Cheltenham Festival race.
- Cheltenham 17.20 NAP –
- Cheltenham 17.20 NB –
- Cheltenham 17.20 Long Shot –
Check out what the Cheltenham festival tipster has picked out to win the 17:20 Cheltenham Tips Champion Bumper race.
Day Two Cheltenham 2026 Tickets
With seven great races to watch and the famous Queen Mother Champion Chase taking place, we advise you to book your Cheltenham Festival Day Two tickets in advance to make sure you secure your place.
The best place to purchase tickets for Day Two is from here.
Cheltenham Favourites for Day 2 Racing
Many punters are looking for the runners and favourites at Cheltenham today and for the whole Festival week. If you are a favourite backer, you will want to check out our guide on the percentage of SP favourites to win at the Cheltenham Festival.
The first race at Cheltenham today is 1:20 pm, and the last race at Cheltenham today is 5:20 pm.
Betting on Cheltenham Festival Day 2
If you are looking to bet on the second day of Cheltenham, check out these great deals by some great bookies:
Many offer great deals for new customers at the moment. They all have a wide range of sportsbook betting options (not just racing), which can cater to all your sports betting needs, as well as offering excellent horse racing betting markets. Please always bet responsibly with your racing bets.
View the latest Cheltenham Festival free bets and sign-up offers.
Popular Questions
What time is first race in Cheltenham next Wednesday?
The time of the first race in Cheltenham on Wednesday is 1:30pm.
Each day of the Cheltenham Festival starts at 1.30pm.
What is the main race for Cheltenham Day Two?
The main race on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival is the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The main event race starts at 3:30pm.
How many races are there on day two of Cheltenham Festival?
There are a total of seven races on day 2 at the Cheltenham festival.
Summary of Day 2 Racing
The highlight event of Day 2 of the2026 Cheltenham Festival is the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase – a fantastic sporting event, which is run over two miles and has been won by some legendary horses in the past, such as Altoir, Viking Flagship and Sprinter Sacre.
Day 2 is also the official Ladies’ Day, held at the stunning Cheltenham racetrack in Gloucestershire, so fashion and style are high, as is the quality of the racing.
With the Queen Mother Champion Chase being the most prestigious race on Day Two, numerous members of the Royal Family have been known to attend the event, especially since The Queen Mother herself was a massive horse racing fan, and the race is named after her.
Day two of the festival is one of our favourites and is certainly one to add to your bucket list.
