Turf Talk Newsletter – 11 March, 2026

Il Etait Temps on his way to Queen Mother Champion Chase glory (Picture: Sky Sports Racing)  

The BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles is one of the four premier Championship Gr 1 events at the Cheltenham Festival and in Wednesday’s renewal of this iconic event the winner was the Hollywood Racing and Barnane Stud-owned Willie Mullins-trained French-bred Il Etait Temps.

The Cheltenham Festival is considered by many to be the greatest horseracing event in the world such is the prestige attached to every one of the 28 races, especially to any of the four premier Gr 1 Championship Events.

It was therefore a milestone moment for the South African owners, the Heffer family of Hollywood Racing and the Kieswetter family of Barnane Stud.

The win gave Willie Mullins a 118th Cheltenham Festival victory, which is a record by a long way, and Paul Townend a 41st Chleltenham Festival win.

Il Etait Temps was eased back by Townend when it seemed the  furious pace being set up front by stablemate and odds-on favourite Majborough was just a tad too hot.

This proved to be a wise decision, because although it initially looked like he was not traveling well and had thus dropped back, the picture changed completely after Majborough had blundered coming down the hill towards the straight.

It soon became clear that those who had chased Majborough did not have nearly as much left in the tank as Il Etait Temps had and he actually took the lead with still two jumps ahead of them in the straight.

He just had to clear them to win as it became apparent that of the main protagonists he was the only one who had enough left to gallop up the fearsome Cheltenham hill at a winning speed.

There was a horrible moment for the connections when he landed awkwardly after jumping the last and went down onto a knee.

He recovered and the momentum it caused him to temporarily lose was not significant because he was well clear and no other horses were running on strongly enough to take advantage of it.

He had soon recovered his finishing speed too and galloped to a ten length victory from 50/1 outsider Libberty Hunter with L’eau Du Sud next best.

Il Etait Temps had thus completed a remarkable comeback from a heavy fall at Sandown in the Gr 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 17.

The yard had to do plenty of work on him to get him back to his peak.

Il Etait Temps is now a seven-time Gr 1 winner, one of them over hurdles and six chases.

He is not he biggest of horses, but makes up for it with immense courage and he invariably does his best work in the finish.

This was his fourth visit to Cheltenham. which was not considered his happy hunting ground as his first three visits had yielded two fifths and a third. In fact since his maiden win his two fifths and  his third at Cheltenham and his fall last time out at Ascot were the only times in 15 starts he had not finished in the first two.

Lesley Heffer received the trophy on behalf of all the owners from the patron of the event, Queen Camilla.

Owen and Devin Heffer as well as Wayne, Belinda and Craig Kieswetter and also the Barnane Stud team of Patrick and Topsy Wynn Jones were all there to witness the spectacular victory.

Craig Kieswetter was interviewed and admitted he was pretty speechless with emotion. The reality of owning a Cheltenham Festival Championship race winner was probably still sinking in!

Mullins was full of praise for the horse and for Townend.

He spoke about the latter’s “clock” in his head and said when he saw Townend dropping back he knew they were going too fast.

Townend’s pace judgement was the key to the victory.

Talk To The Master (Master Of My Fate) makes it two out of three since joining Dom Zaki’s Summerveld yard and he gave Craig Zackey a quick treble (Picture: Race Coast)

Craig Zackey began the Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting on Wednesday in devastating fashion, winning the first three races to extend his lead in the national championship.

It was also a memorable day for Divesh Ramkhalawon, who scored his first career double, and in fact this promising apprentice is going along at a career strike rate of 18.75% with three wins from just 16 rides.

Duncan Howells is known for bringing horses on with a run or two, which was probably why first-timer Kazenoyoni was ignored in the betting in the first, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m, because he looked the part and is out of the decent four time-winning Mambo In Seattle mare Bize. It has to be said that his Japanase-bred sire Danon Platina has been an overall disappointment, but he has been known to produce some precocious sorts and in fact just under three years ago Howells and Zackey combined to win over this same Hollywoodbets Scottsville course and distance with the Danon Platina first-timer Oriental Bouquet. In yesterday’s race Kazenoyoni looked a highly unlikely winner until the last 175m. However, he then suddenly began staying on strongly as the leader In The Red began paddling, while the favourite Better Never Ends was running around under pressure. Kazenoyoni got there easily in the end to win by 0,90 lengths from In The Red with the MIchael Roberts-trained first-timer Viking Leader (Erik The Red) in third. The first three were all 20/1 shots and the trifecta paid R2045.60.

In the next race, also a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m, Zackey bounced the 3/1 favourite Flamethrower out well and carved out a lead. He showed his professionalism by sitting on the Yogas Govender-trained Master Of My Fate colt until late in the race, so the horse had plenty in reserve when the challengers came and he won by 0,30 lengths from second favourite Quest Of Valor.

In the third over 1400m, a Progress Plate over 1400m. Zackey put the decent Dominic Zaki-trained four-year-old Talk To The Master (Master Of My Fate) in second place behind pacemaker Town Crier, who was a few lengths ahead, and he had judged it perfectly because the Justin Snaith-trained Randolph Hearst, having a Champions Season pipe opener, sat behind him but couldn’t go with him and was beaten 1,90 lengths.

The fourth race was an apprentice maiden over 1200m and the Frikkie Greyling-trained Last Winter gelding Frostbite was prominent throughout and driven out by Bavish Soodoo to win by 1,90 lengths in his second career starts at odds of 14/1.

In the fifth, a Maiden over 2400m, Keagan de Melo led from start to finish on the Adam Azzie-trained Futura filly Stampede Ahead and she won by 5,70 lengths at odds of 6/1. She relished the long trip, despite being out of the decent Australian-bred speedster San Fermin, who had produced two useful sprinters in Lead The Charge and Ready To Charge before this one.

The sixth, a Middle Stakes event, saw Ice Rain dictating with the Candice Bass-trained Rahhabba behind her and the latter outfought the former to win by 0,40 lengths under Sean Veale. The fancied pair Miss Twinkle and Ladyofdistinction couldn’t make up the ground off that steady pace.

The seventh was an apprentice handicap over 1200m and Divesh Ramkhalawon scored his second career win when extracting a strong finish on the outside on the Michael Roberts-trained Amafort (Mambo In Seattle).

In the eighth over 1200m Sean Veale clinched a double when extracting a powerful finish from the Dean Kannmeyer-trained Maphaka to pip the favourite Who Blinked.

In the last over 1200m Ramkhalawon scored his first career double when easily scoring on the Gary Rich-trained Yannakis (Erupt). Hollywood Racing thus won the last two races and are now on 117 wins for the season, just 11 short of their record with well over four months of the season still remaining.

Tintin is not only ahead of the handicapper but represents a yard which is very much in form and he is the banker of the day (JC Photos)

A MR96 Handicap over 1450m is the highest rated race at the Turffontein Inside ten race meeting today and it should see the smart Tintin from the flying Sean Tarry yard advancing his career by another step.

Tintin started his career late so has only had five races despite being a four-year-old and they include a defeat to subsequent Gr 1 winner Grand Empire, a defeat to subsequent Gr 2 winner Splittheeights and those runs were followed by two easy victories. He is likely way ahead of the handicapper off a mere 82 merit rating and is confidently tipped to beat Ringa Ringa Roses and Bristol Hercules.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, Porridge Boy is weighted to win easily as he ran a 5,10 length sixth in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m and was given a merit rating of 105. However, merit ratings from high class Hollywoodbets Greyville two-year-old races can be skewed as the horses tend to finish in a bunch and he failed to win a maiden last time over 1400m. He also has a wide draw to contend with here, but he should have come on from that last run and can beat Emerald Countess, One Of Those Days and Shoreybomba. However, there won’t be much between that quartet as they all look to have ability. Lookout Mountain can’t be ignored either.

In the fifth race over 1600m, one of the horses who beat Porridge Boy in the maidens, Fire Storm, turns out from a good draw and represents the in form Tarry yard. He is the one to beat, although Stokesy won well when stepped back up in trip last time and should be in the hunt off a nice merit rating of 81. Wayne looks to have a touch of class and is a contender too. Tenjiku has plenty of ability but might be a touch high in the handicap. Buddy Boy could place from a good draw.

In the sixth race over 1800m Galaxy Queen is a promising sort who can follow up on her maiden win. Falconfly looks to have scope for further improvement. Silver Flare can go close if repeating her last start. Kensal Green disappointed last time but can bounce back. Rosy Lemon is always thereabouts and has a fair draw.

In the seventh over 1200m  Perfect Miracle has some class and is knocking hard, so should go close from a plum draw. Bright And Brazen ran a cracker last time to easily beat a fair sort over this trip and should be in the shake up, despite being given a six point raise. Roaming Spirit is always thereabouts and can earn with a bit of luck from a wide draw.

In the eighth over 1000m His Lordship won well last time and looks capable of defying the handicapper. Rockaroundtheclock has gone a bit off form but had some good formlines before that and from a good draw might enjoy the slight step down in trip. Esquevelle is never far off and can never be ignored. Turbo Power should be in the shake up from a plum draw as he should enjoy the step down in trip. Hemisphere returns from a short layoff and has a wide draw, but with some luck has the ability to earn.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1450m Doesyourmotherknow made a fair debut and has a good opportunity in this uninspiring line up. Within Reach is by Malmoos out of an Oratorio half-sister to Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner Rivarine and won’t have to be a superstar to win this race.

In the first leg of the PA over 1450m Great Rift Valley is by Malmoos out of dual Listed-winning stayer Chitengo (Elusive Fort) and wouldn’t have to be a star to win on debut. Ehhfifteenkjoe has shown some ability and has a chance. Cover Charge made a fair debut and was slightly ahead of Ehhfifteenkjoe, but there is now a reversal in draw fortunes. Parachute Adams finished just ahead of Ehhfifteenkjoe and should also be thereabouts. What A Warrior can improve over this trip but does have a tricky draw.

In the first race over 1450m Gimmesumluv has run well against two promising sorts and should go close over a suitable trip from a good draw. Lolly Willowes improved in her second two starts and should be in the shake up. Savara’s Princess went close in her only recent run over this trip category.

In the last race over 1450m Sunset Warrior has run two decent races with blinkers on and off a three point lower mark has a chance. Bay Empire can go close if repeating his last start but now has a tough draw as opposed to a good draw in that race. Kotinos is capable of being in the shake up. Commander Of All has a plum draw and has the ability to be a contender. Sergeant Soqrat has come down to a nice merit rating and is well drawn over a trip he should get.

Fact To File is the hot favourite for the Gr 1 Ryanair Chase (Picture: Sky Sports Racing)

Jamie Codd’s blog

At The Race’s Cheltenham columnist reveals his fancies for every race on Thursday, including double-digit tips for the handicap contests.

1.20 – RYANAIR MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE
BAMBINO FEVER (evens) has been talked up as a bit of a Cheltenham banker this year, and I’d tend to agree. I love the mare and I’ve always been a fan of her, and I certainly didn’t lose the faith when she was beaten by the reopposing Oldscool Outlaw in December. Willie Mullins’s horses weren’t running as well as they can during that period, and while Gordon Elliott’s mare will keep her honest, I’m expecting that form to be reversed.

Everything she’s done stacks up. She had the likes of El Cairos, Idaho Sun and No Drama This End well behind her last year, and she came up the hill really strongly to win the bumper. She faces a big field here again, so it won’t be easy, but she’s coped with it before. Hopefully she can sit fairly prominently out of trouble and have a clean spin around.

This is a fantastic race full of nice mares for the future, and I’ll also give a small squeak to JACKIE HOBBS (66-1) each-way. She was a smart horse in bumpers and has been ticking over quietly since facing hurdles this year. This means she’s got quite a bit to find on the figures, but she looks like a strong-stayer at two miles, and this sort of horse can often run well in this race. I hope she’ll be keeping going at the finish, and she could go well at a price.

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