All Cheltenham Festival day 1 winners
Here, you can see all the fast results and Cheltenham Festival day 1 winners right here on Horsebetting.com. Champion Hurdle day was a great way to kick off this prestigious National Hunt horse racing meeting in style!
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Result
- Appreciate It 8/11F (Paul Townend, Willie Mullins)
- Ballyadam 6/1 (Jack Kennedy, Henry De Bromhead)
- For Pleasure 40/1 (Harry Bannister, Alex Hales)
The first favourite obliged punters at the Cheltenham Festival as Appreciate It completely justified being odds-on with a 24-length romp. He demolished the smallest Supreme field in history with Willie Mullins stable companion falling at the final flight when second. Ballyadam ran on to be second, as he did when the pair met at the Dublin Racing Festival. The 40/1 outsider For Pleasure, who set a strong pace early on, held on to a place in third.
Arkle Challenge Trophy Result
- Shishkin 4/9F (Nico De Boinville, Nicky Henderson
- Eldorado Allen 33/1 (Harry Cobden, Colin Tizzard)
- Captain Guinness 10/1 (Rachael Blackmore, Henry De Bromhead)
Also among the Cheltenham Festival day 1 winners was Shishkin, who sparkled in the Arkle. His task made easier by the absence of Irish raider Energumene, he let main market rivals Allmankind and Captain Guinness take each other on up front and then cruised past the pair on the turn for home. Shishkin put a dozen lengths between himself and the staying on 33/1 shot Eldorado Allen at the line as Nicky Henderson had yet another Arkle success.
Ultima Handicap Chase Result
- Vintage Clouds 28/1 (Ryan Mania, Sue Smith)
- Happygolucky 100/30F (David Bass, Kim Bailey)
- Aye Right 11/2 (Richard Johnson, Harriet Graham)
- Cepage 14/1 (Charlie Deutsch, Venetia Williams)
- One For The Team 17/2 (Tom Scudamore, Nick Williams)
Vintage Clouds had run in the Ultima four times before and placed twice. It was fifth time lucky for trainer Sue Smith and owner Trevor Hemmings. Thoroughly exposed as an 11-year-old, he was prominent throughout and held off the favourite Happygolucky, who made a costly mistake jumping the last. Aye Right ran well again without winning in third and Cepage kept on for minor money.
Champion Hurdle Result
- Honeysuckle 11/10F (Rachael Blackmore, Henry De Bromhead)
- Sharjah 11/1 (Paul Townend, Willie Mullins)
- Epatante 4/1 (Aidan Coleman, Nicky Henderson)
Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to ride a Champion Hurdle winner as Honeysuckle landed the spoils and maintained her unbeaten record. It was also a breakthrough success in the race for trainer Henry De Bromhead. Honeysuckle stole a march on her rivals round the home turn and put 6 1/2 lengths between herself and Sharjah, who finished runner-up again, at the line. Defending champ Epatante was only third.
Mares’ Hurdle Result
- Black Tears 11/1 (Jack Kennedy, Denise Foster)
- Concertista 10/11F (Paul Townend, Willie Mullins)
- Roksana 3/1 (Harry Skelton, Dan Skelton)
Black Tears reeled in favourite Concertista and got among the Cheltenham Festival day 1 winners, going one better than last year when she was runner-up in the Coral Cup. There was just a head between them at the line with Roksana, who opted for this rather than the Stayers’ Hurdle, about three lengths behind in third.
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Result
- Jeff Kidder 80/1 (Sean Flanagan, Noel Meade)
- Saint Sam 9/2F (Paul Townend, Willie Mullins)
- Elham Valley 66/1 (Paddy Brennan, Fergal O’Brien)
- Houx Gris 11/2 (Harry Cobden, Paul Nicholls)
- Caltor 12/1 (Jonjo O’Neill Jr, Dermot Weld)
Upsets are common in the race registered as the Fred Winter, and there was certainly one this. Jeff Kidder defied odds of 80/1 to get up and beat favourite Saint Sam. Elham Valley also belied a big price for third, ahead of 11/2 Paul Nicholls fancy Houx Gris.
National Hunt Chase Result
- Galvin 7/2 (Jack Kennedy, Ian Ferguson)
- Next Destination 3/1 (Harry Cobden, Paul Nicholls)
- Escaria Ten 11/4F (Adrian Heskin, Denise Foster)
Galvin had been laid out for Cheltenham Festival glory after finishing runner-up last year and winning at the course in the autumn. Sent back to the man who broke him in, Ian Ferguson, he delivered despite weakness in the market on the day, prevailing over Next Destination from the Nicholls yard and erstwhile stable companion Escaria Ten in third. Tough mare Snow Leopardess was an unlucky fourth after finding no way through on the inner approaching the home turn.