Latest news with #ArkleNovices'Chase
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Dramatic Champion Hurdle provides thrilling twist on opening day at Cheltenham
The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival provided thrills and excitement aplenty with the biggest twist coming in the headline Champion Hurdle race. Golden Ace took the trophy for jockey Lorcan Williams and trainer Jeremy Scott after the pre-race favourite, Constitution Hill, and last year's champion, State Man, both fell. Williams held his charge in the middle of the field, kept up the pace, and took advantage of great fortune to shock bookmakers and punters alike. Earlier in the day last year's champion jockey and trainer duo, Paul Townend and Willie Mullins kicked off the festival with a comfortable win for Kopek Des Bordes while Jango Baie ran an astounding race to triumph in the Arkle Novices' Chase. The lead up to Champion Day's showpiece was a predictable affair with favourites triumphing in three of the first four races yet the Champion Hurdle itself was anything but. King of Kingsfield took the early lead with Brighterdaysahead and Constitution Hill well placed in second and third. Those two dominated much of the pre-festival chatter and spectators were eager to see how their battle would play out. The field were all jumping smoothly at the halfway mark before the turn down the hill changed everything. Last year's champion, State Man, pushed further forward and there was a huddle of horses leaping over the fifth hurdle. Something had to give. Unfortunately, it was the legs of Constitution Hill. The 1-2 favourite and 2023 champion was crowded as they approached the jump. He clipped the newly padded hurdle, landed awkwardly and dismounted jockey Nico de Boinville. Huge gasps of shock, with the occasional shout of joy, emanated from the watching crowd but there was no time to process that the favourite was out. Instead, State Man took control as the two early leaders, King of Kingsfield and Brighterdaysahead, dropped back. Townend was cheered as he marshalled State Man towards the final hurdle but there was one twist left to come. His charge, on course to win consecutive Champion Hurdle titles, hit the fence and tumbled. Townend was thrown off, the crowd shocked in disbelief. A guaranteed victory thrown away at the final obstacle. Golden Ace, held safely in the middle of the field for most of the race, leapt clear of the same hurdle in the lead. She swept up the hill and took the title at huge odds of 25-1 becoming the seventh mare to take the title. The win was also a first ever Grade 1 triumph for Williams. Earlier, the festivities had begun with a sombre but fitting tribute to Irish jockey Michael O'Sullivan who passed away last month after a fall at Thurles. The opening race, which he famously won in 2023 atop Marine Nationale, was renamed in his honour and spectators, jockeys and trainers alike observed a minute's applause as a tribute to him. The Cheltenham roar thundered around the grandstand as the horses took off in the first race of the festival. Romeo Coolio, ridden by Jack Kennedy and backed to potentially win, took to the front early on before conceding the place to Rachael Blackmore 's Workahead with Kopek Des Bordes well positioned. The race looked set to be a shootout between the three only for Workahead to surprisingly drop back into the pack leaving the way clear for Romeo Coolio as they headed back towards the stands. Kopek Des Bordes then made his move. He went on the outside and kicked past his rival, but the race wasn't yet won. Sean Flanagan, riding in the same colours Michael O'Sullivan wore when he won this race, took off after the leader with his charge William Munny. The 8-1 outsider threatened to pull off the most poetic of upsets, especially when Kopek Des Bordes hit the final hurdle hard. His momentum stalled and with the grandstand loudly cheering, William Munny almost took his chance. A clip of the hurdle slowed him down as well but he caught the favourite… for a moment. Not to be undone, Kopek Des Bordes accelerated up the Cheltenham Hill, a feat few can do, opened distance on his opponents and crossed the line in first place. The favourite lived up to his tag and set the stage for what was to come. Lucinda Russell's Myretown took the win as the favourite in the Ultima Handicap Chase making it the third time in four years that the Scottish trainer has triumphed in the race after the success of Corach Rambler in 2022 and 2023. Lossiemouth secured a second winner of the festival for Townend and Mullins with the simplest of wins in the Mares' Hurdle. Stablemate Jade de Grugy set the early and Rachael Blackmore's July Flower threatened to challenge but Lossiemouth was well ahead as a raucous roar of 'yes!' and jubilant cries cheered the 4/6 favourite over the finish line. Perhaps the highlight of the day went to Jango Baie despite all the drama of the Champion Hurdle. He surprised everyone in the Arkle Novices chase including jockey Nico de Boinville. Trailing in fourth, in a five-horse race, he came from far back during the final straight, picked a gap in the line and nudged into the lead before winning by a head. De Boinville said: 'They went hard and I thought I was riding for a place but at the last I thought we could be in with a squeak. 'He pinged the last but we knew we had a chance. He saw it out well.' There were also wins for Puturhandstogether in the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase to cap off a thrilling day and set the stage for what is yet to come.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cheltenham Festival LIVE: Day 1 results as Constitution Hill falls in Champion Hurdle; Day 2 tips and odds
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival delivered a huge shock on the opening day as the showpiece Champion Hurdle was won by 25/1 shot Golden Ace, with horse racing superstar and heavy favourite Constitution Hill stunningly falling halfway through the race. Constitution Hill was heavily backed at 8/13 regain the crown he won in 2023 but crashed out, while 2024 winner and third favourite State Man also fell at a later hurdle and highly-regarded second favourite Brighterdaysahead faded to allow Golden Ace to come from nowhere to triumph, with Burdett Road (66/1) taking second and 150/1 shot Winter Fog in third for an all-time Cheltenham shock. The 'greatest show on turf' will also include Friday's Gold Cup, where Galopin Des Champs, who is the favourite on betting sites, hopes to land a famous hat-trick this. The full race card and Festival schedule is here, and we'll be bringing you all the action as Day 1 Festival 2025 Day 1 results: Full list of winners Golden Ace wins Champion Hurdle after Constitution Hill and State Man fall Willie Mullins off to a flyer as favourite Kopek Des Bordes wins emotional Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle Jango Baie storms from back of the pack to win Arkle Novices' Chase Myretown wins Ultima Handicap Chase with commanding run Latest tips for Day 1 at Cheltenham Festival 16:10 , Jack Rathborn 1.20: Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1 )Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f| 8 hurdles | Old Course Winner: Kopek Des Bordes (4/6F); 2) William Munny (8/1); 3) Romeo Coolio (9/2) 2.00: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1)Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course Winner: Jango Baie (5/1); 2) Only By Night (25/1); 3) Majborough (1/2F) 2.40: Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)Race conditions: £150,000 | 3m1f | 20 fences | Old Course Winner: Myretown (13/2); 2) The Changing Man (7/1F); 3) Malina Girl (14/1) 3.20: Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1)Race conditions: £120,000 | 2m4f | 10 hurdles | Old Course Winner: Lossiemouth (4/6F); 2) Jade De Grugy (5/1); 3) Take No Chances (22/1) 4.00: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)Race conditions: £450,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course Winner: Golden Ace (25/1); 2) Burdett Road (66/1); 3) Winter Fog (150/1) 4.40: Boodles Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) Race conditions: £80,000 | 2m½f | 8 hurdles | Old Course Winner: Puturhandstogether (17/2); 2) Robbies Rock 50/1; 3) Liam Swagger (12/1 ) 17:01 , Alex Ross at Cheltenham Festival Fashions change, betting stakes increase and the weather in late winter fluctuates - but at Cheltenham Festival, many things remain largely unchanged. Amid the sea of flat caps and tweed jackets in the Grand Stand, racing on Tuesday got off to the famous Cheltenham roar, sounding as exuberant and impassioned as ever. More than 55,000 racegoers piled into the terraces that line the course to excitedly cheer as the favourite Kopek Des Bordes came first amid the heavy thud of hoofs on the soft turf. £7.80 pints not enough to deter punters as Cheltenham Festival gets underway 16:59 , Mike Jones Willie Mullins is the only trainer so far with two winners so far today. He's also come close and had a second and third finish while State Man threw away a chance at victory in the Champion Hurdle. 16:56 , Mike Jones "They went a good gallop which suits him. He jumped and travelled brilliant. I didn't want to get to the front too early. "I thought he ran great the last day at Fairyhouse on heavy ground and this ground suited him." 16:47 , Mike Jones Constitution Hill walked away from a scary fall in a shocking Champion Hurdle on day one at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. The previously unbeaten hurdler, who was the odds-on favourite for the race of the day, looked poised to win, only to suffer a hard fall under jockey Nico de Boinville. The dramatic race then looked set for a repeat of 2024 when State Man claimed the win, but Paul Townend was unable to successfully negotiate the last hurdle and also crashed out, leaving Golden Ace to pick up the shock win. BHA provides Constitution Hill update after scary fall at Cheltenham Festival 16:45 , Mike Jones The field spreads out over the final stretch with Mark Walsh and Puturhandstogether drifting out wide. They fly down the right side of the straight and charge up the hill to win! 16:43 , Mike Jones Hot Fuss and Holy See sit third and fourth respectively as they look to keep the two leaders within touching distance. Stencil is happy to let Solar Drive lead before a surge from Static moves him into the top four. 16:41 , Mike Jones Solar Drive leads the way out front with Stencil safely on his shoulder handling the pace at the head of the chasing pack. 16:40 , Mike Jones And they're off! Stencil is the favourite to triumph in this one but with a big field it's any body's race to win. 16:37 , Mike Jones Latest odds from Oddschecker: Stencil 10/3 Puturhandstogether 8/1 Beyond Your Dreams 8/1 Sony Bill 9/1 Hot Fuss 10/1 Total Look 11/1 Liam Swagger 12/1 Murcia 16/1 Quantock Hills 16/1 Holy See 25/1 BAR 25/1 – 22 Runners 16:36 , Mike Jones The two horses that fell in the Champion Hurdle, Constitution Hill and State Man, are both up. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have told ITV Racing that the two horses are "absolutely fine". 16:30 , Mike Jones Golden Ace trainer Jeremy Scott told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "I couldn't even dream. I just said to someone for god's sake thump me, I thought I was sleeping. It's marred by the two horses who came down, but I'm just delighted the gods favoured us. "Our owner was very keen to have a runner here, it's extraordinary how things work out. "That's her unbeaten here. It's interesting Willie doesn't normally run his mares until after Christmas, maybe next year we will hang fire for a bit. "It's just amazing." 16:22 , Mike Jones State Man trainer Willie Mullins spoke to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "I don't. There we are. It's what happens. It is [the ups and downs of racing]. "At least we made the right decision. "We don't need any chat. I'm just delighted he's [jockey Paul Townend] okay." 16:20 , Mike Jones Williams told ITV racing: "I'm lost for words. This is the best day of my life by far. You dream of these moments as a kid. I hope the others are ok – Constitution Hill and State Man are iconic horses "But she is fantastic. She always turns up and fair play to (owner) Ian Gosden for picking this race rather than the Mares' Hurdle. I am not complaining now "I'm just a small part of the team and delighted to be on board "All I was thinking was my agent said watch Constitution Hill. When he was out of the race I thought I would stay on for second. We were just there to pick up the pieces." 16:15 , Jack Rathborn 'He absolutely steps onto the hurdle with Nico [de Boinville], on the front of the hurdle, he steps clean into the middle of it, he can't stand up when you do that,' Ruby Walsh tells ITV Racing. 'Paul Townend [aboard State Man], he commits to the land, I don't think you're always wrong, make a decision, commit to it, but over he goes, that'll live with him forever, trust me!' 16:08 , Jack Rathborn 'I was thinking, my agent said, 'watch Constitution Hill,' when he was out of the race I thought, 'I'll hold on to second,' we were there to pick up the pieces,' Lorcan Williams adds. Best day of your life, Lorcan? 'By far!' 16:07 , Jack Rathborn Golden Ace rolled the dice and was in the perfect spot to capitalise just as State Man looked poised to defend. Constitution Hill failed to live up to the expectations, going off at 1/2. 'I'm lost for words, you dream of these moments as a kid,' says jockey Lorcan Williams after riding to victory. 16:05 , Jack Rathborn INSANE! There goes State Man... After the last, it collapses, Golden Ace WINS! Constitution Hill and State Man galloping in the background, we think they're OK. Drama at the end, can you believe it? Golden Ace wins the Champion Hurdle! 16:03 , Jack Rathborn Constitution Hill is GONE! Gasps from the fans, a shocker, it's there for Brighterdaysahead leads! State Man is second, Golden Ace third... 16:02 , Jack Rathborn King Of Kingsfield leads early, Brighterdaysahead tucked in behind in second... Constitution Hill third, the roar from the grandstand comes. Six hurdles to go and an even pace. Some smart jumping here, but they're all close together, a cagey race so far. 16:02 , Jack Rathborn King Of Kingsfield leads early, Brighterdaysahead tucked in behind in second... Constitution Hill third, the roar from the grandstand comes. Six hurdles to go and an even pace. 15:56 , Jack Rathborn Here we go then, State Man a third favourite, bidding to be the 12th horse to win the Champion Hurdle twice. Willie Mullins is confident, it's a big ask to get up to Constitution Hill. Constitution Hill would become the third horse to regain the Champion Hurdle. We're just a few minutes away... 15:42 , Luke Baker We've reached today's main event, the Champion Hurdle, where superstar horse Constitution Hill will try to regain the title he won in 2023, with 2024 winner State Man among the challengers. Here are the latest odds and fair to say it looks a three-horse race: Constitution Hill 8/13 Brighterdaysahead 2/1 State Man 7/1 Golden Ace 40/1 Burdett Road 66/1 King of Kingsfield 150/1 Winter Fog 150/1 15:41 , Luke Baker Just to put a final bow on the Mares' Hurdle before we turn our attention to today's main event, the Champion Hurdle, Willie Mullins gave a fascinating interview defending the decision to run Lossiemouth in the Mares' rather than the Champion. "First time I've ever been early in my life" Willie Mullins reflects on the decision not to run Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle 🩷💚#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @WillieMullinsNH | @MCYeeehaaa — ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025 15:35 , Luke Baker 1.20: Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1 ) - Winner: Kopek Des Bordes (4/6); 2) William Munny (8/1); 3) Romeo Coolio (9/2) 2.00: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1) - Winner: Jango Baie (5/1); 2) Only By Night (25/1); 3) Majborough (1/2) 2.40: Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) - Winner: Myretown (13/2); 2) The Changing Man (7/1F); 3) Malina Girl (14/1) 3.20: Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) - Winner: Lossiemouth (4/6F); 2) Jade De Grugy (5/1); 3) Take No Chances (22/1) 15:27 , Luke Baker Winner: Lossiemouth (4/6F); 2) Jade De Grugy (5/1); 3) Take No Chances (22/1) 15:20 , Luke Baker And we're off in the Mares' Hurdle. A cleaner start than we had for the Ultima Handicap Chase it's fair to say... Ten hurdles, 2 miles 4 furlongs, £120,000 on the line. The betting markets are basically a one-horse show with Lossiemouth. 15:18 , Luke Baker If you want a non-Lossiemouth horse to have a dabble at in this one, then Ed Chamberlin has a pick for you.'In the Mares Hurdle Lossiemouth should win, but I'm happy to take her on,' Chamberlin told Sky Bet. 'I'm going to back Joyeuse each way I think she's pretty good and on the up.' 15:00 , Mike Jones Here's how Myretown swept to victory. It's another winner for Lucinda Russell: Lucinda Russell does it again!Myretown runs away with the Ultima Handicap Chase in convincing fashion 👏#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @PatrickWadge | @lucindavrussell — ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025 14:56 , Mike Jones Myretown jockey, Patrick Wadge, spoke to ITV after the race. Here's what he had to say: "It's a dream come true" 💭A first #CheltenhamFestival winner for Patrick Wadge, and what a way to do it 🏆#ITVRacing |@olibellracing | @PatrickWadge — ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025 14:54 , Mike Jones 1.20: Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1 ) Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f| 8 hurdles | Old Course Winner: Kopek Des Bordes (4/6); 2) William Munny (8/1); 3) Romeo Coolio (9/2) 2.00: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1) Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course Winner: Jango Baie (5/1); 2) Only By Night (25/1); 3) Majborough (1/2) 2.40: Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Race conditions: £150,000 | 3m1f | 20 fences | Old Course Winner: Myretown (13/2); 2) The Changing Man (7/1F); 3) Malina Girl (14/1) 14:53 , Mike Jones Winner: Myretown (13/2F); 2) The Changing Man (7/1); 3) Malina Girl (14/1) 14:51 , Mike Jones Happygolucky and Henry's Friend are late stormers but they aren't going to catch the leader. Myretown is running a superb race. Down the final stretch his pace is too good, and his jumping ability is even better. Having lead from the start of the race, he sweeps past the grandstand and wins in style! 14:49 , Mike Jones A heavy hit on a fence from Katate Dori penalises his previous work as Famous Bridge makes a move. Myretown has opened a gap at the front and is looking to get clear but the rest aren't having it. Then Changing Man is holding steady and looks comfortable heading into the closing stages of this race. 14:47 , Mike Jones They're all jumping well with Katate Dori making a move through the field. He's up to third and challenging the leading pair with The Changing Man down to fourth. 14:46 , Mike Jones The speed of the race is up to 29mph after the first six furlongs with no change to the order of the leaders. Myretown is setting a sharp gallop but can't distance the rest of the runners who are haning onto his outside. 14:44 , Mike Jones Faller! One horse unseats their rider at the first fence before Myretown and Frero Banbou take to the front of the field. Just behind is The Changing Man, one of the favourites, who is well placed in these early stages. 14:43 , Mike Jones And they're off! After a false start with this 24-runner field coverging too quickly on the tape the three mile- one furlong Ultima Chase is away. 14:36 , Mike Jones Latest odds provided by Oddschecker: The Changing Man 15/2 Katate Dori 8/1 Myretown 9/1 Crebilly 9/1 Broadway Boy 11/1 The Short Go 12/1 Whistle Stop Tour 12/1 Henry's Friend 12/1 Sequestered 16/1 Malina Girl 16/1 BAR 20/1 14:34 , Mike Jones Up next is the first big field of this year's Festival with 24 runners. Katate Dori looks like one to keep an eye out for with the seven-year-old winning three times since the turn of the year. The Changing Man, for Joe Tizzard - a Cheltenham-winning jockey turned trainer - and Broadway Boy are featuring strongly in the betting. 14:32 , Mike Jones 14:29 , Mike Jones Here's Nico de Boinville speaking about Jango Baie's late charge: "I had to accept defeat"Even Nico De Boinville wasn't expecting that late surge from Jango Baie 👀#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @NdeBoinville | @olibellracing — ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025 14:24 , Mike Jones Jango Baie's trainer Nicky Henderson told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "Incredible, what a finisher, what a great horse. "I'm lost for words at the moment. It's a big day, credit to Nico." 14:20 , Mike Jones Jango Baie's jockey Nico de Boinville spoke to ITV after his victory saying: 'They went hard and I couldn't go with it and I thought I was riding for a place. 'But at the last I thought we could be in with a squeak. 'He pinged the last but we knew we had a chance. He saw it out well." 14:12 , Mike Jones 1.20: Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1 )Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f| 8 hurdles | Old Course Winner: Kopek Des Bordes (4/6); 2) William Munny (8/1); 3) Romeo Coolio (9/2) 2.00: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1)Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course Winner: Jango Baie (5/1); 2) Only By Night (25/1); 3) Majborough (1/2) 14:11 , Mike Jones Winner: Jango Baie (5/1); 2) Only By Night (25/1); 3) Majborough (1/2) 14:09 , Mike Jones Feast your eyes on this: Majborough is beaten!Jango Baie comes from nowhere to win the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase 😳#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @NdeBoinville | @sevenbarrows — ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025 14:08 , Mike Jones It came from nowhere. That was a great run from Jango Baie, probably handed to him by Majborough's mistake on the penultimate fence but you can't fault the final sprint. The crowds were roaring him in but at 5-1 there wouldn't have been many punters backing him here at the racecourse. 14:06 , Mike Jones Jango Baie! Where did this come from? L'Eau Du Sud takes the last shakily and looks to be getting caught by Majborough with Only By Night pushing on as well. Up the final straight and, from way back, Jango Baie finds a new lease of life, he storms up the hill, threads a gap and nudges ahead to win by a head! 14:04 , Mike Jones Majborough loses the lead at the second last with L'Eau Du Sud going ahead. It looks like a two-horse race for the finish but the rest of the field are close behind.... 14:03 , Mike Jones Touch Me Not still holds onto a lead of a length or so at the halfway stage but Majborough is sat off his shoulder and looks poised to make his move. He eases out in front and they came down the hill with L'Eau Du Sud and Harry Skelton pushing up further back. 14:02 , Mike Jones Touch Me Not has the early lead ahead of favourite Majborough with Jango Baie and L'Eau De Sud neck-and-neck in third and fourth. 14:01 , Mike Jones And they're off! 13:58 , Mike Jones Sir Alex Ferguson spent a sporting career picking up trophies and it remains a trait he has maintained throughout his retirement. The most decorated manager British football has ever seen has also enjoyed a successful link with horse racing stretching back decades, although unlike his management career, it hasn't always been plain sailing. A much-publicised 2003 dispute with Coolmore supremo John Magnier over unpaid stud fees regarding 2,000 Guineas winner Rock Of Gibraltar, ended in an ugly public row with matters complicated still further by Magnier and business partner JP McManus holding a near quarter share in Manchester United at the time. Sir Alex Ferguson is a winner – but can his horses do the same at Cheltenham? 13:56 , Mike Jones 1.20: Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1 )Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f| 8 hurdles | Old Course Winner: Kopek Des Bordes (4/6); 2) William Munny (8/1); 3) Romeo Coolio (9/2) 13:51 , Mike Jones Looking ahead to the next race this could be anyone's game. Majborough is the favourite for Mark Walsh and Willie Mullins but L'Eau Du Sud has the ability to challenge. With only five runners it may be a two-horse race from the get-go. 13:46 , Mike Jones Jockey Paul Townend is looking to regain his Champion Jockey title from 2024 at the Cheltenhan Festival this week and already has his first winner. He told ITV Racing: "That's the perfect start to the week. I got in a lovely position but I was at the front sooner than I wanted to be. "He had a look at the stands, despite the hood and missed the last but picked up. He is a very good horse. I think he can go to the top because he has had so little racing. 'Every day is a school day and he is growing up all the time. He isn't the finished article yet." 13:42 , Luke Baker A cracking start to the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, with Kopek Des Bordes winning the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle 13:31 , Luke Baker Paul Townend clearly emotional after winning that opening race - Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle He tapped the red and white armband on his arm as he crossed the line and teared up in the post-race interview as he reflected on triumphing in a race dedicated to the late Michael O'Sullivan, who tragically died last month at the age of 24. Paul Townend pays tribute to Michael O'Sullivan after his #CheltenhamFestival victory ❤️#ITVRacing | @PTownend — ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025 13:29 , Jack Rathborn 13:28 , Luke Baker Supreme performance in the Supreme Novices' from the favourite Kopek Des Bordes. Owner Charlie McCarthy is delighted, and slightly emotional at the victory. Supreme Novices' Hurdle result: Kopek Des Bordes 4/6 fav William Munny 8/1 Romeo Coolio 9/2 Karniquet 33/1 13:25 , Luke Baker And Kopek Des Bordes holds off everyone else to win the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle! William Munny pushed him hard but only second place. Willie Mullins off to the perfect start at Cheltenham. Jockey Paul Townend found plenty down the final straight after a slight stumble at the last 13:23 , Luke Baker The pace lifts slightly but it's still Workahead from Romeo Coolio and then Kopek Des Bordes in third. Those three have a slight gap on the rest of the field. Tutti Quanti struggling badly - three hurdles to go 08:13 , Luke Baker The 2025 Cheltenham Festival has arrived and the opening day could see Constitution Hill deliver for punters in the Champion Hurdle, though Brighterdaysahead is also fancied by many. As ever, Willie Mullins has a number of live contenders in each race and has made the intriguing decision to run Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle instead of the Champion Hurdle. Here are tips and horses to watch from the experts ahead of day one: Cheltenham Festival 2025 tips, best bets and horses to watch on day one
Telegraph
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Cheltenham Festival day 1: Tips, odds, races and weather for Tuesday
The first day of the Cheltenham Festival is very nearly upon us, drawing back the curtain on four days of the very best jump racing has to offer. The undoubted highlight of day one is the Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.00), in which Constitution Hill is the red-hot favourite to regain the crown he first one back in 2023. Brighterdaysahead and last year's winner State Man will be those attempting to stop Nick Henderson's charge from making it a perfect 11 wins from 11 starts in his career. The first race of the meeting has been renamed the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle, in honour of the late jockey who died after a fall at Thurles last month. Click here to remnind yourself of some of Telegraph Sport's ante post Cheltenham selections. Cheltenham Festival day one tips 1.20: Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1 ) Marcus Armytage: The red hot favourite has an engine but pulls hard and Tripoli Flyer beat a good horse at Kempton and has a massive engine for a 25-1 shot. Charlie Brooks: Willie Mullins says Kopek des Bordes may be one of the best he has. He looks like a champion. 2.00: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1) Marcus Armytage: Again the favourite Majborough looks like his jumping might be flawed and L'Eau du Sud can kick off a good week for Dan Skelton. Charlie Brooks: I loved the way L'Eau de Sud quickened up at Cheltenham in November and was really clever when wrong at the last. 2.40: Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Marcus Armytage: A runaway winner at Kempton last time, Katate Dori is fast improving and jockey's 3lb claim comes in handy. Charlie Brooks: I like horses that come through the Kempton meeting before the Festival. Some people thinks its too close to Cheltenham, but I don't. Katate Dori has gone up 12lbs but he's got a nice racing weight. 3.20: Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) Marcus Armytage: Joyeuse won the Betfair Hurdle off a low weight but rapidly improving and the favourite Lossiemouth had the mother and father of falls last time. Charlie Brooks: Fancied Lossiemouth for the Champion hurdle, and this is much easier. Kempton at Christmas was too sharp for her, and her fall last time was a one off blip.
