Jockey Thomas Bellamy piloted 40/1 outsider White Noise to a stunning upset victory in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival. White Noise secured first place in the Grade 2 event, defeating 15/2 shot Oldschool Outlaw in second and 28/1 Place De La Nation in third. The highly anticipated 1/1 pre-race favorite, Bambino Fever, failed to place.
The result was confirmed at 14:19 GMT on Day 3 of the festival at Cheltenham’s New Course. Trained by the team of K Bailey and M Nicholls, the winning mare navigated the 2-mile and 179-yard distance to secure the unexpected victory. Reacting to the shock win on Thursday, Bellamy stated, “I can’t believe I won!”
The Prestbury Cup – Cheltenham Festival 2026 https://t.co/1VYdByUgde via @RacingBetter – White Noise wins the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle. A 40-1 winner for Tom Bellamy, Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholl. pic.twitter.com/R4odvyxjau
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) March 12, 2026
The defeat of Bambino Fever extends a notable drought for bettors in this specific event, marking the eighth consecutive year that the favorite has been beaten in the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Furthermore, the outcome means the prize has now eluded the stable of trainer Willie Mullins for six consecutive festivals, following his initial run of winning the first five editions between 2016 and 2020. This shift highlights the unpredictable nature of elite sports competition at the annual national hunt gathering.