Top pundit Gavin Lynch shares his three best bets for the second day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival! Gavin's tips are first emailed to subscribers at 5.00pm the day before. Watch every race live, exclusively on Racing TV.
1.20 Cheltenham: Sober (E/W)
There may be a few sore heads at the racecourse on Wednesday, but I'm hoping that Sober can get punters off to a flyer in the first. This is a high-class Flat horse who could go well at a reasonable price.
He won the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot last June by five lengths and has an official Flat rating of 111.
Before that, he won his maiden hurdle at Killarney. He was not impressive that day, but he was coming back from a break.
More recently, on his first start since June, he won the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. He made a mistake early on but then jumped well.
He won easily in what was not a strong Grade Two, but he can improve hugely from that. There have been a few positive vibes about this lad over the past couple of weeks on the preview circuit.
He has lots of speed and he stays well. He can run a big race and represents decent each-way value.
2.00 Cheltenham: Kaid d'Authie (E/W)
This is one of the most open and competitive editions of the Brown Advisory we have seen in a while.
I have looked at this race from many different angles, but I have come down on the side of this Willie Mullins-trained runner. I just don't think that he is getting enough credit for his recent impressive success at the DRF.
He went and eyeballed Final Demand from six fences out and he was the one that was up for the fight. He jumped the better of the two when the heat was on, and I reckon he can beat Final Demand again.
He beat Koktail Divin in his maiden hurdle and also won at the Punchestown Festival. His form over hurdles was not top class but he has filled into himself and chasing is more his game.
His second-place finish behind Kitzbuhel was a super start over fences. He won well at Fairyhouse on his next start but he jumped a little to his left. Going left handed suited him better last time. He is a horse on the up and has a solid each-way chance in what is a strong contest.
3.20 Cheltenham: Favori De Champdou
The Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham is usually quite punter friendly as very often there are not many in the race that can win it. It seems the same this year.
Stumptown did plenty of us punters a favour 12 months ago after not really travelling well during the race but this year but I am happy enough to take him on.
I have had something each-way on Desertmore House with four places, but my main bet is this 11-year-old trained by Gordon Elliott and who will be ridden by Jack Kennedy.
I would be quite ageist regarding this Festival, but there are two races where age is less important - namely this race and the Hunters’ Chase on Friday.
Favori De Champdou took a fall here in December, but that was his first spin over these unique fences.
The Paddy Power Handicap Chase is always a competitive race and he won it quite easily in the end off 140, which showed his wellbeing.
A month later he came to Cheltenham and he bolted up around this cross country track. His jumping was superb and marked him down as a natural at the discipline. He has gone up 8lb for that, but still receives 5lb from Stumptown.