Marine Nationale (5/1) brought home the Queen Mother Champion Chase in dramatic fashion as Quilixios (40/1) fell at the final hurdle during the featured event of the afternoon.
Following the victory, jockey Sean Flanagan dedicated the triumph to the late Michael O’Sullivan who won the race with Marine Nationale two years ago.
“It’s hugely emotional for a lot of reason obviously. This goes most and foremost to his [Michael’s] family and all the jockey’s who have been under a cloud for the past few weeks.
“I’m only the man who steered him [Marine Nationale] around today, Michael is who made him what he is,” Flanagan said.
"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
Jonbon, one of the favourites, stumbled at the hurdles midway through whilst Quilixios fell at the final hurdle during a head-to-head battle with Marine Nationale.
Marine Nationale does it for Michael 💛
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025
Your 2023 Supreme winner becomes your BetMGM Champion Chase winner for Barry Connell and Sean Flanagan pic.twitter.com/8clKdSC709
Day two of Cheltenham Festival, better known as Style Wednesday, was met by snowy and wintery conditions ahead of the first race at 1:20pm.
Course Clerk, Jon Pullin, issued an update on the course following unexpected wintery showers during the morning ahead of Style Wednesday at Cheltenham Festival.
Speaking to ITV Racing Pullin said: “We were forecast wintery showers and I suppose you could say this is a wintery shower, but it should in the next hour turn more sleety and then disappear.”
Cheltenham Festival – Style Wednesday 💃
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025
Going update from Jon Pullin, Clerk of the Course pic.twitter.com/YC8nqpIKKp
Frost covers were put in place at the course overnight due to the predicted forecast but Pullin confirmed that “they are in the process of pulling them off now.”
What a difference a day makes ❄️#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Kl7vV57mar
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025
Seven events are set to take place throughout the afternoon including the Turner’s Novices’ Hurdle, Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, Coral Cup Hurdle, Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Champion Chase and the Grand Annual Chase.
Favourites or the bookies go to’s heading into the races were Ballyburn (4/6) (14:00), Jipcot (12/1) (14:40), Stumptown (11/4) (15:20), Marine National (5/1) (16:00), My Mate Mozzie (15/2) (16:40) and Kalypso’chance (9/2) (17:20).
The New Lion edged out The Yellow Clay to win The Turners Novices’ Hurdle in the first event of day two at Cheltenham Festival.
It was fight down the straight and after almost colliding before the line jockey, Harry Skelton pushed The New Lion ahead of The Yellow Clay to win by a half length.
Skelton put the success all down to his horse, The New Lion.
“He’s a good one. You pray that you find one like him. I’m just delighted he’s come and done it here today.
“Since the first day I rode this horse when I was three-years old, I thought that he was something special,” Skelton said.
The New Lion roars home! 🦁
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025
A superb winner of the @TurnersLtd Novices' Hurdle pic.twitter.com/He9fS43Q0b
Trainer, Mullins saw horse Final Demand, the favourite coming into the race, finish third after leading for the majority of the run.
Mullins boasted six runners in the first event of Style Wednesday.
Lecky Watson (20/1) roamed to a surprise victory in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, the second event of the day.
Jockey Sean O’Keeffe couldn’t hide his happiness after earning his third Cheltenham Festival win.
“I’m over the moon, over the moon. I can’t believe it.
“It’s amazing to come over here a pick rides just like that, third, fourth, fifth string. It’s just an amazing chance to come over and do that,” O’Keeffe said.
Ballyburn beaten! 😲
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025
Lecky Watson produces an upset at 20/1 in the Brown Advisory 👏 pic.twitter.com/FtUS1gY1Pa
Trainer, Willie Mullins, earned his first victory of the day after falling short in the first event of the day with Final Demand
Ballyburn (4/6), the favourite, stumbled at the hurdles almost putting an end to his race but fought back bravely to complete the run.
Jimmy Du Seuil (16/1) won the Coral Cup after a dominant final straight fight with Impose Toi in the third event of the day.
After 313 days off the track, Jimmy Du Seuil produced an impeccable, patient performance to storm to a convincing victory on the final straight after tightly contested final hurdle.
Jockey Danny Mullins believed that the conditions this morning helped his and Jimmy Du Seuil’s performance.
“Credit goes to Willie Mullins, coming here, no run this season, preparing for a handicap like that, it’s a great experience to be a part of this team.
“The snow this morning is what I thought would help his chances as it was quite testing grounds here last year. That last furlong was always going to be the most difficult one but he hit the line very strong,” Danny Mullins said.
Mullins is at it again!
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025
Jimmy De Seuil gets it done in the @coral Cup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/jyhymSNpsb
This became Willie Mullins second victory of the day following his earlier shock win with Lecky Watson.
The favourite Stumptown (5-2) won the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase as jockey Keith Donoghue won it for a record fifth time.
“I was riding through the right people today and when you’re riding this calibre of horse, it makes it a whole lot easier.
“I grew watching people ride around this track and to do it myself, that makes it special,” Donoghue said.
Latenightpass (11/1), Vanillier (15/2), The Goffer (6/1) and Mister Coffey (11/2) made up the top five in an exhilarating Cross Country battle.
STUMPTOWN soars to Glenfarclas Cross Country victory even with an errant saddlecloth!
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025
Gavin Cromwell is on the board with course specialist jockey, Keith Donoghue 👏 pic.twitter.com/UkDCu8At0v
The Cheltenham Gold Cup runners were confirmed ahead of Friday afternoon’s meet to round of the Cheltenham Festival.
The Gold cup is deemed as the most prestigious race of the British and Irish jump racing season and is the main event at the festival.
The list of confirmed runners are: Galopin Des Champs (last year’s champion), Banbridge, Inothewayurthinkin, Monty’s Star, Corbett’s Cross, Gentlemansgame, The Real Whacker, Royal Pagaille and Ahoy Senor.
You can also follow a live feed through Park Life Sport’s live blog throughout the day.
