The Stayers’ Hurdle went the way of Home By The Lee on day three of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Joseph O’Brien’s charge won the race at his fifth attempt, while Heart Wood went one better in the Ryanair Chase.
We recap Cheltenham’s Thursday winners and more in our round-up of the racing news today.
Cheltenham Festival: Home By The Lee & Heart Wood shine
Home By The Lee’s owner paid tribute to his “horse of a lifetime” at Cheltenham. The glowing praise was given after the 11-year-old won the Stayers’ Hurdle, the day three feature. Joseph O’Brien’s charge was running in the race for the fifth time, dourly outstaying his rivals. He had been disregarded by the betting despite arriving off the back of a victory, winning at 33/1. Ballyburn was second ahead of defending champion Bob Olinger. (Racing Post)
In a Ryanair Chase ultimately decimated by Fact To File’s late absence, Heart Wood took advantage. He was Henry De Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe’s first winner of this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Heart Wood had been second in the Ryanair 12 months ago behind Fact To File, but with the Irish Gold Cup hero pulled out of the race at the 11th hour, the winner took advantage in some style. He condemned Jonbon to a fourth runner-up finish at the Cheltenham Festival in the process. (Independent)
De Boinville & Queally shake hands, but ground and starts cause further drama
Declan Queally and Nico De Boinville shook hands on Thursday to bury a hatchet that arose on Wednesday. Irish amateur Queally accused De Boinville of racist abuse at the beginning of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle. However, the pair were pictured on ITV Racing shaking hands just outside the weighing room. De Boinville credited Davy Russell for stepping in to aid their dispute, with both jockeys wishing each other the best. (Guardian)
However, Cheltenham racecourse came under fire from no less than Willie Mullins on Thursday. Mullins criticised the track for failing to water the turf adequately before racing. As a result, the going rode quicker than ideal for Fact To File, who was withdrawn from the Ryanair Chase an hour before the off. “We were promised watering, and I’m not sure that’s been done,” Mullins said, though clerk of the course Jon Pullin said “selective watering took place” on Wednesday evening. (BBC)
The BHA also released a statement after repeated false starts have blighted the Festival this week. Several false starts also occurred at the 2025 meeting. Repeated issues at the start have drawn criticism from owner Max McNeill, as well as plenty on social media. The BHA said in their statement that “a full review will take place” and that it “will be specific to the Cheltenham Festival.” Their statistics suggest only three out of every 100 races result in false starts throughout the jumps season. (BHA)