Puturhandstogether produced a fantastic performance as he took the lead on the final hurdle to claim the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Stencil ridden by James Reveley was considered the bookies’ favourite.
Solar Drive took an early lead, however Stencil was hot on its tail with four hurdles to go. Hot Fuss continued an end-to-end race, as they took the lead.
Mark Walsh secured the win for Puturhandstogether to claim the £45,016 prize money, ahead of Robbie Rock in 2nd, and Liam Swagger in 3rd.
Embed from Getty ImagesGolden Ace took a dramatic Unibet Champions Hurdle as big favourite Constitution Hill and reigning champion State Man both tumbled in the final four hurdles.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a hotly anticipated Champions’ Hurdle, as Constitution Hill was looking to regain the crown they won in 2023. In its absence last year, State Man ridden by Paul Townend took the victory.
King of Kingsfield took an early lead, closely followed by Brighter Days Ahead and Constitution Hill.
With four hurdles to go, Constitution Hill fell with quite a rough landing. That wasn’t the last of the shocks as approaching the final hurdle State Man broke away from favourite in running Brighterdaysahead.
But Paul Townend was to be denied a third winner of the day, after State Man misjudged the final jump, with a tumble which shook up the order, as Golden Ace pulled away the unlikely winner.
Golden Ace’s jockey Lorcan Williams was surprised with the shock win, stating, “I’m lost for words, you dream of these moments as a kid, but first and foremost I hope Nico (De Boinville) and Consitition Hill and Paul (Townend) and Stateman are ok.”
Cheltenham Festival 2025 got up and running after Kopek Des Bordes won the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to open the week of events.
Kopek Des Bordes (1-4), ridden by Paul Townend, was pushed hard all the the way by William Munny (8-1) but jockey Shaun Flanagan could only push him to second whilst Romeo Coolio (9-2) made up the top three.
Trainer, Mullins, who boasted six of the 11 horses in the opening event, picked up his first win of the day with horses to run in four more this afternoon.
Kopek Des Bordes and Paul Townend ran an impressive 5:52:04 to be crowned the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle champion and earned £84,405.
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An emotional Townend couldn’t be prouder with his young horse who began to meet all expectations put on him prior to the festival.
“It’s the perfect start. Got into a lovely position early on, good gallop early, was in front sooner than I wanted to be, had a good jump at the second to last hurdle to bring up the gap further.
“I think he can [Kopek Des Bordes]. He has so little racing done and everyday is a school day with him because he’s growing up all the time,” Townend said.
Jango Baie came from the back to win the Arkle Novices’ Chase on the final straight during the second race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Majborough (1-2), favourite on the day, stumbled on the final hurdle allowing Jango Baie (5-1) and jockey Nico de Boinville to come from the back of the pack to take victory.
Jango Baie denied trainer, Willie Mullins a second successive victory of the day following his victory with Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as de Boinville earned £112,540 in winnings.
Only By Night (25-1) took second place whilst Majborough had to settle for a third placed finish.
De Boinville felt his chances of winning were all but over until the last hurdle and capitalising on Majborough’s mistake was the difference.
“I had to almost except defeat but it kind of fell into my lap really after jumping the last (hurdle) and though ‘we could be in for a squeak here’,” de Boinville said.
Myretown roared to victory in the Handicap Chase as horses fell early during the third race at Cheltenham Festival.
The favourite on the day (13-2) opened up an extensive lead on the final straight to win by 11 lengths as The Changing Man (7-1) took second and Malina Girl (14-1) completed the top three.
It became the third time in four years that a Scottish trainer (Lucinda Russell) triumphed after success with Corach Rambler in 2022 and 2023.
Guard Your Dreams fell at the first hurdle whilst Zanahiyr fell next bringing an end to their races early on.
The Handicap Chase was delayed due to a false start at the beginning of the race resulting in a standing start.
Lossiemouth broke away to win the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, becoming Paul Townend’s second winner on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Embed from Getty ImagesJade De Grugy took an early lead two hurdles in, with Lossiemouth on its tail for most of the race, and the likes of Rachael Blackmore and July Flower flirting with challenging with a few hurdles to go.
But it was Lossiemouth who reigned supreme, as she stormed away on the last hurdle to claim the win for Townend.
Townend was delighted to get his second winner, stating, “I know Jade De Grugy is decent, wasn’t going to give her a free rein, (Lossiemouth) is a high class mare, so she was fine doing half speed everywhere.”
There was a late faller with only two hurdles to go, as Gala Marceau dropped out of the running. Fortunately she is reported to be up and well.
Lossiemouth (4-6) was the odds-on favourite ahead of the fourth race of the day, the Mares’ Hurdle.
