Emotional farewells, timely reminders and nail-biting finishes. A dramatic first day of racing at the Cheltenham Festival is in the books. Here’s what you missed on day one of the ultimate ride. Odds cited are courtesy of Betfred.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle (13:30)
1st. Marine Nationale (9/2)
2nd. Facile Vega (2/1)
3rd. Diverge (22/1)
4th. Inthepocket (11/1)
Marine Nationale kicked off proceedings, edging out the well-backed Facile Vega to open the Festival. A first Cheltenham winner for jockey Michael O’Sullivan, the young Irishman rallied well for a three-and-a-quarter length victory.
Arkle Challenge Trophy (14:10)
1st. El Fabiolo (11/10)
2nd. Jonbon (2/1)
3rd. Saint Roi (10/1)
4th. Straw Fan Jack (50/1)
Trainer Willie Mullins welcomed El Fabiolo over the line as his fifth Arkle winner, but it could have played out very differently. Jonbon was a worthy adversary, and has form against today’s winner. Jonbon pipped El Fabiolo in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree. But today it was Fabiolo and jockey Paul Townend who emerged victorious in a thrilling spectacle.
Ultima Handicap Chase (14:50)
1st. Corach Rambler (6/1)
2nd. Fastorslow (7/1)
3rd. Monbeg Genius (6/1)
4th. The Goffer (7/1)
Corach Rambler, trained by Lucinda Russell, became the fourth back-to-back winner of the Handicap Chase. Derek Fox’s inside charge saw off stiff competition from Fastorlow to seal the victory. Russell revealed in the aftermath that Rambler will be competing in this year’s Grand National.
Champion Hurdle (15:30)
1st. Constitution Hill (4/11)
2nd. State Man (7/2)
3rd. Zanahiyr (66/1)
4th. Vauban (16/1)
Jockey Nico de Boinville rode Constitution Hill into the history books. The 33-year-old is one of a select few jockeys to have clinched the Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle. The victory also signified the first time in 52 years that a horse has won the Supreme Novice Hurdle before winning the Champion Hurdle a year later.
The mighty Constitution Hill, simply majestic in the Unibet Champion Hurdle!
#CheltenhamFestival
Mares’ Hurdle (16:10)
1) Honeysuckle (9/4)
2) Love Envoi (11/1)
3) Queens Brook (16/1)
4) Echoes In Rain (9/1)
All good things must come to an end, and the sight of Honeysuckle galloping around this course has been a very good thing over the years. Afforded the sort of fairytale ending seldom seen but always cherished in professional sport, Honeysuckle won her final Cheltenham outing. Rachael Blackmore rode brilliantly to deliver what was the most popular victory of the day.
Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (16:50)
1) Jazzy Matty (18/1)
2) Byker (6/1)
3) Risk Belle (10/1)
4) Sundial (18/1)
Michael O’Sullivan racked up a second Cheltenham winner on the same card as his first with this outsider. A dramatic ending saw Jazzy Matty just about edge out Byker and Risk Belle over a nail-biting final straight.
National Hunt Chase (17:30)
1) Gaillard Du Mesnil (10/11)
2) Chemical Energy (17/2)
3) Mister Coffey (8/1)
4) Tenzing (8/1)
Gaillard Du Mesnil closed out the day by making good on his promise as the pre-race favourite. The victory comes a year after the same horse came third in the Novice’s Chase on this course.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
