Ben Morgan’s 2026 Cheltenham Festival tips – Day 2 – L’Eau Du Sud can strike in the Champion Chase

Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan selects his best bets for Day 2 of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

On big Festival days like this, many punters will already be tracking prices and comparing markets across different betting sites before placing their wagers, especially with several competitive handicaps and novice races on the Day 2 card.

Turners Novices Hurdle – Ballyfad could be Fab now up in trip

I have been impressed with BALLYFAD in his starts over 2 miles so far this season, as he is almost certain to be better over further.

He now gets the opportunity to prove that assumption correct in what is the most open Turners Novices Hurdle that I can remember.

On the face of it, he would look to have a favourite’s chance as he has been mixing it with the best novices in Ireland over two miles and at around 6/1 I think he offers solid each way value as I can’t see him being out of the three.

With so many runners, however, I can see an outsider shaking a few of these up, and I will have a few quid each way on a couple.

Klimt Madrik is on that shortlist at the moment, but TAURUS BAY is probably shading the vote at the moment, as I think he could be quite smart.

I was at Stratford the day he won on hurdle debut, and he certainly looked the part that day.

Since then, he has gone to Aintree and won nicely there before just getting touched off here in a messy race.

Ben Pauling knows what it takes to win this race and I think he could be value at 25/1.

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Brown Advisory Novices Chase – JP runner could be underestimated in open Novice chase

Much like the Turners, this is a wide-open race, and it’s great to see so many runners in these races where previously there have been less than 10 consistently.

I quite like KAID D’AUTHIE here, and I don’t think he got the credit he deserves for his victory last time out.

Stablemate Final Demand obviously disappointed that day, and that seemed to steal the headlines, but this lad won really well, I thought, and jumped like a proper horse.

If he was favourite that day and he won in the manner he did, he would be a lot shorter than 11/2 here, and we would all be talking about him being one of the bankers of the week.

Due to not being top class over hurdles, I think he has been dismissed as a chaser, but I see plenty of upside to him and at current prices, he is probably one of my bets of the day.

Coral Cup – Henderson to paint the town Blue

As hurdlers, I always felt JINGKO BLUE was the better horse than Jango Baie, but their careers since have gone slightly different ways.

The form of the latter is there for everyone to see, but the former hasn’t quite had the same luck, albeit through no fault of his own.

I was quietly impressed with his run at Cheltenham on New Years Day as he finished second to an improving horse who has a good chance in the Stayers on Thursday.

He still finished ahead of some classy horses and now returned to handicap company.

I think he could be ready to get his head back in front.

I am slightly surprised Nico hasn’t chosen him, but James Bowen is a very apt replacement, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him win this, as he looks quite leniently weighted on his best form.

One at huge prices who I would advise not to dismiss is Buddy One, who has ran many a fine race here at Cheltenham and should be more at home now returning to hurdles.

Cross Country Chase – Inflated price about Conflated tempts me in

I am not a huge fan of this race and won’t be in too deep here.

Obviously, Stumptown and Favori De Champdou are going to be popular given recent course form, but it’s worth remembering this is a handicap now, and I think it might be quite difficult conceding good amounts of weight to classy horses such as CONFLATED.

This probably isn’t the Conflated that once was, but it appears he still retains a good amount of ability and therefore could be an each way angle at 20/1 plus here.

As I say, I won’t be down for too much here, but I would recommend readers to look for lower weights. 

Champion Chase – Sud to spring back to Shloer form in Champion Chase

I am not at all convinced with Majborough over two miles, especially on this forecast quicker ground – I think his jumping will be put to the test, and I wouldn’t want to be taking short prices about him.

I have been sucked into backing L’EAU DU SUD again this year despite the heartbreak of last year’s Arkle.

Dan Skelton has since admitted he got it wrong last season as this horse is a different beast when fresh, and he had ran him one too many times prior to the Arkle last year.

This year, he returned with a career-best performance, dismantling Jonbon and others in the Shloer Chase.

It was soft ground that day, but he was so visually impressive that I can’t help but feel that if he is in that sort of form again here, then he will have a serious chance of being a Champion Chaser.

I’m hopeful of late drift, which will allow us to back him each way to protect us from an Il Etait Temps revival, but if not, then I’m confident enough in his ability to go close here.

Grand Annual – Be Aware of shrewd Skelton in Grand Annual 

I’ve been quite keen on BE AWARE for this race for quite some time now, and although he has been supported into favourite, I do think the make-up of this race will suit him.

I always thought of him as a stayer, but he has proven to possess enough speed to compete with some of the best novices over two miles this season.

Although not quite good enough to have a go at the Arkle, I do think this opportunity will suit him better, as you do need a certain amount of staying ability to win a Grand Annual.

They will go hard, and I expect the selection to sit three or four deep, where he will hopefully take up the running turning in.

From there, I would like to think not many will finish stronger than him, but time will tell.

One at a slightly higher price is RELIEVED OF DUTIES, who I was pleased to see declared with Jack Kennedy aboard.

I think this horse is a different beast on good ground, and he has had a sighter around here in October, where he ran nicely without winning.

I expect this has been the plan, and he does get in off a low weight, so an each way saver is advised at 25/1.

Champion Bumper – Cobden and Bowen to lead the Irish home?

I’m going to have two darts in the concluding Bumper on Day 2.

First up is THE IRISH AVATAR, who really impressed me on debut when beating a good field with the minimum of fuss.

Those comments could be copied and pasted for any Willie Mullins horse in a Champion Bumper, mainly as all tend to be sharp on debut.

Finding the ones who progress from that into this race is the hard bit, but I did like the turn of foot he showed that day, and I think the calm head of Harry Cobden will really play to the strengths of this horse.

Good ground would be a big positive also.

At higher prices, I like the attitude of BROADWAY TED, who is only seemingly double the price of the first selection because he won a Bumper at Ayr on debut rather than Navan, but he did it in fine style and has since followed it up with victory at the DRF.

It always takes a good horse to win 2 bumpers, especially at that level, and I think he could be underestimated here at 16/1. 

READ MORE: Ben Morgan’s 2026 Cheltenham Festival tips – Day 1 – The New Lion to roar on the first day