Jonbon and Ballyburn lose on day full of shocks

Day 2 of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival was a day full of shocks and surprises as most of the favourites failed to show their class, which meant it was not a great day for punters at the horse racing event.

1:20pm – The New Lion gives the Skeltons a perfect start on Day 2

The Cheltenham Turners Novices’ Hurdle did not disappoint as The New Lion, The Yellow Clay and Final Demand battled it out throughout the race for first place. They were still all neck and neck by the final hurdle, but New Lion, jockeyed by Harry Skelton and trained by Dan Skelton, managed to find some new energy just when they needed it and finished in first place. The horse was an outside favourite at 3/1 on Ladbrokes.

2pm – It all goes wrong for Ballyburn

It was a day to forget for Ballyburn, who was the 8/13 favourite to win the Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase today. The 7 year old, trained by Willie Mullins, didn’t look good from the start and was nearly out of the race after one of the early hurdles due to a fall. They recovered, but never looked confident from that moment, with Ballyburn never really looking like a winner. In the end, 20/1 outsider Lecky Watson picked up the win after a great race.

2:40pm – Jimmy Du Seuil victory means poor day for favourites continues

Despite Be Aware being the favourite ahead of the race at 3/1, it was 16/1 outsider Jimmy Du Seuil who won the race. Bunting was the early leader and managed to hold onto their lead until the final few hurdles, where it looked like Impose Toi would come out on top; however, it was Jimmy Du Seuil who managed to find the stamina to pace past the other horses and finish in first.

3:20pm – Stumptown comes out on top

It was a confident display from Stumptown in the Cross Country Chase as they became the first favourite (5/2) to win on day 2. They managed to beat Latenightpass, who was in first for a lot of the race but who ran out of stamina just when it mattered. Vanillier finished in third, but they made a big mistake after they jumped over one of the early hurdles and started heading in the wrong direction, giving them a mountain to climb. Third was a good finish in the circumstances, but trainer Gavin Cromwell will be thinking about what could have been without the mistake.

4pm – Jonbon loss surprises many in Champion Chase

It was definitely a day full of shocks and surprises as heavy favourite Jonbon, who was 4/6 ahead of the Champion Chase, lost. It was a really entertaining race as Energumene took a commanding lead, which prevented Solness from leading the pack like they wanted to. In the end, Found A Fifty, Marine Nationale, Jonbon and Libberty Hunter were all in contention of winning. Favourite Jonbon fell halfway through the race, and although they finished in second, they were never in with a chance of winning after the fall. Libberty Hunter and their jockey fell, giving Marine Nationale a clear run-in, and they stormed into the lead and crossed the finish line in first.

4:40pm – Jazzy Matty picks up strong victory

Unexpected Party and Jazzy Matty were the two horses who entertained the punters in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase. The penultimate race in the end was won by Jazzy Matty, who jumped well and looked comfortable in the leading pack throughout. Jazzy Matty was one of the favourites and was 15/2 ahead of the race. They picked up the pace when they needed to and managed to brush off Unexpected Party before crossing the finish line.

5:20pm – Bambino Fever picks up another win for Willie Mullins

The final race of the day saw Bambino Fever, who was 7/2 before the race and one of the favourites, pick up another win for Willie Mullins. The horse always looked like they could win throughout the race and showed their class as they managed to get into the lead and win the Champion Bumper.