Majborough to be crowned Cheltenham champion

Majborough can gain Cheltenham Festival redemption in justifying his odds-on favourite status in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday.

Willie Mullins' star tasted success at Prestbury Park when claiming the JCB Triumph Hurdle in 2024, but jumping issues saw him come up just short 12 months ago in the Arkle.

Those fencing frailties had been a cause for concern at the start of the season too, with the six-year-old lacking fluency when finishing second in the Hilly Way Chase and third in the Paddy's Reward Club Chase - both in December.

However, it all came together when he produced a statement 18-length victory over 2025 Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.

Marine Nationale's trainer Barry Connell was vocal about his charge's chances of successfully gaining revenge on better ground in Gloucestershire, but the nine-year-old has since been ruled out for the campaign due to injury and should Majborough get over the 13 fences without mishap, it will be hard to look elsewhere.

No Drama This End should come out on top in the opening Turners Novices' Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls' star has yet to taste defeat in three starts over obstacles, winning three Graded races in the process.

The six-year-old has the advantage of course and distance experience as he started his hurdling career with victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle last November.

He was last seen claiming Grade One glory by 1.75-lengths in the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury in December, with Nicholls prepping for this race ever since.

Willie Mullins can get his first win of the second day of the Festival with Kaid d'Authie in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

Kaid d'Authie caught the eye when beating stablemate Final Demand, who leads the market in the Grade One contest, in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase last month.

The return of cheekpieces clearly had the desired impact as he claimed a 4.25-length success, with Final Demand a further 8 lengths adrift in third.

Two of the last three Irish winners of the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase had won the Leopardstown Grade One on their last start - Monkfish in 2021 and Fact To File three years later - and the six-year-old will be a serious threat.

On what should be another fruitful Festival afternoon for the Mullins team, Storm Heart is taken to extend his unbeaten seasonal record to three in the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle, while Love Sign d'Aunou can prove the best of his five contenders in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

The Dan Skelton-trained Be Aware will put his second-placed finish over course and distance in November to good use in the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase, with Stumptown set to defend his Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase having been kept fresh since his famous Velka Pardubicka win in October. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Wednesday. Here are the tips.

CHELTENHAM: Race 1: 15.20 No Drama This End, Race 2: 16.00 Kaid d'Authie, Race 3: 16.40 Storm Heart, Race 4: 17.20 Stumptown, Race 5: 18.00 MAJBOROUGH (NAP), Race 6: 18.40 Be Aware, Race 7: 19.20 Love Sign d'Aunou.

HUNTINGDON: Race 1: 15.38 Pottersmattyeeehaa, Race 2: 16.18 Cloudy Wednesday, Race 3: 16.58 Eternity Rose, Race 4: 17.38 Risk It All, Race 5: 18.18 Innisfree Pearl, Race 6: 18.55 Mixedwave, Race 7: 19.35 Eustace Grenier.

NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 19.00 Maple, Race 2: 19.30 Lillistar, Race 3: 20.00 Merlier, Race 4: 20.30 Party Bear, Race 5: 21.00 Ganthorpe, Race 6: 21.30 Master Dandy, Race 7: 22.00 The Gay Blade.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 19.05 Mickey Mongoose, Race 2: 19.40 Artanis, Race 3: 20.15 Into The Light, Race 4: 20.45 Rockin' The Boat, Race 5: 21.15 Faster Bee, Race 6: 21.45 Velvet Red, Race 7: 22.15 Packetofbiscuits.

ALL TO COME: No Drama This End and Majborough (Cheltenham, Races 1 and 5).