The 2022 Cheltenham Festival got underway on Tuesday. Here's the run-through day one's seven races:
Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Chase (5.30pm)
Willie Mullins got off the mark for the Cheltenham 2022 Festival when Stattler ran out a clear-cut winner of the Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase.
It was quick compensation after hot favourite Gaelic Warrior had been agonisingly beaten a short head in the penultimate race of the day, the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Mullins – the winning-most trainer at the showpiece fixture – had also seen the well-fancied Dysart Dynamo fall in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle plus defeats for Appreciate It and Stormy Ireland.
It took longer than usual, but @WillieMullinsNH gets his day one winner! pic.twitter.com/JB7tcetJOX
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2022
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Mullins’ amateur rider son Patrick bided his time on the seven-year-old, as Run Wild Fred set the pace in this three-and-three-quarter-mile test – in which all the runners sported saddle cloths in the colours of Ukrainian flag.
The jockey made his move from three out and Stattler (2-1) eased into he lead before pulling clear to score by eight lengths from the Gordon Elliott-trained 15-8 favourite. The first two were 22 lengths clear of Vanillier in third.
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.50pm)
Brazil edged out hot favourite Gaelic Warrior to give trainer Padraig Roche a first Festival winner in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
French import Gaelic Warrior looked like justifying his short price of 13-8 favourite on his debut for Willie Mullins, but he was collared close home by the former Aidan O’Brien-trained Brazil.
68,506 of you joined us today 😍
A record for Day One of #TheFestival pic.twitter.com/dVJYpclPBW— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2022
Both horses were up with the pace from the outset with Gaelic Warrior making virtually all until Brazil (10-1) got the upper hand close home in the hands of Mark Walsh.
“It’s fantastic, we’re lucky to have a horse like him. It’s great,” said Roche, who took over the licence from his father, Christy.
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (4.10pm)
Marie’s Rock gave Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville gave a big-race double by springing a surprise in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The 18-1 shot, owned by Middleham Park Racing, collared Queens Brook up the hill to win a dramatic renewal of the Grade One contest over two and a half miles.
There was all to play for when Indefatigable fell at the second-last flight, bringing down Telmesomethinggirl, for the Honeysuckle connections of owner Kenny Alexander, trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore.
MARIE'S ROCK wins the @CloseBrothers Mares' Hurdle in some style 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/IlrxohHa6b
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2022
Queens Brook was left in the lead but she was soon hard-pressed by Marie’s Rock, who proved the stronger to get the verdict by a length and three-quarters. Mrs Milner was the same distance away despite being hampered by the melee at the penultimate hurdle.
The victory was the second leg of a brace for Henderson and De Boinville after Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Unibet Champion Hurdle Trophy (3.30pm)
Honeysuckle brought the house down at Cheltenham as she took her unbeaten tally to 15 with another imperious performance in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Successful behind closed doors 12 months ago, the Henry de Bromhead-trained mare gave the huge crowd plenty to cheer about as she powered up the hill to join the elite hand of dual winners in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.
🍯🍯🍯 pic.twitter.com/MTYxKasDpy
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2022
Appreciate It, having his first race since winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on this day last year, made the running with Not So Sleepy for company until Honeysuckle made her move and jumped to the front at the second-last flight.
The 8-11 favourite set sail for home and though challenged by Nicky Henderson’s 2020 winner Epatante (16-1), she was too good and went on to score by three and a half lengths. Zanahiyr (28-1) was a length away in third place.
Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50pm)
Corach Rambler came from the rear of the field to score an unlikely victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Derek Fox produced the Lucinda Russell-trained eight-year-old with a incredible late run to land the spoils in cosy fashion, going away.
Fox was patient on the 10-1 shot after being slowly way due to the standing start. Corach Rambler only had one horse, Belargus, behind him in the early stages of the three-mile-one-furlong stamina test.
WHAT. A. FINISH! 🔥
CORACH RAMBLER comes from way back to win the Ultima Handicap Chase. pic.twitter.com/akjnOuUusP— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2022
He still had more horses in front than behind him at the top of the hill, but he made relentless progress on the downhill section of the course to challenge the two leaders, Gericault Roque and Oscar Elite, at the final fence.
That pair looked to have the race between them but Fox had other ideas and Corach Rambler came between them in the closing stages to win by two and a quarter lengths from Gericault Roque. Oscar Elite was a head away in third with Tea Clipper eight lengths back in fourth.
Sporting Life Arkle Novices' Chase (2.10pm)
Edwardstone completed a five-timer in running out an emphatic winner of the Sporting Life Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.
The eight-year-old, ridden by Tom Cannon, powered away from the opposition on the run to the line to give trainer Alan King a third success in the two-mile novice championship after Voy Por Ustedes in 2006 and My Way De Solzen in 2007.
Back-to-back British winners 🇬🇧
A first #TheFestival win for @TomCannon2 aboard EDWARDSTONE in the @Sportinglife Arkle 👏 pic.twitter.com/eb7wjEfoIF— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2022
However, it was not straightforward for the 5-2 favourite, as he was almost brought down at the fourth fence when Brave Seasca fell, taking out Saint Sam.
Then at the last, Edwardstone collided with the leader Riviere D’etel, but was soon on an even keel.
He showed his superiority from there by pulling clear to score by four and a quarter lengths from Gabynako.
Blue Lord was three and a half lengths away in third place.
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30pm)
Constitution Hill led home a one-two for Nicky Henderson with an extraordinary performance in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Sent off the 9-4 joint-favourite for the Festival opener, Nico de Boinville’s mount simply glided up the famous hill to account for stablemate Jonbon, with Willie Mullins’ Kilcruit well-beaten third.
The turning point of the Grade One was at the third-last flight, when the pace-setting Mullins-trained Dysart Dynamo crashed out, leaving the Henderson pair alone up front.
There was little between the duo going to two out – but Constitution Hill (9-4 joint-favourite) was going the better and soon took the lead.
The five-year-old, owned by Michael Buckley, quickly put daylight between himself and Jonbon to score by 22 lengths.
No other horse got into the race, with Kilcruit staying on to take minor honours another two and a half lengths away, as Henderson won the Supreme for a fifth time.
Demolition! 💥
CONSTITUTION HILL dominates the @SkyBet Supreme Novices Hurdle! pic.twitter.com/7IMgyBL8DQ— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2022
Henderson said: “That was awesome. I know what the second horse is and I would have been very surprised if anything could have done that to Jonbon, so he must be an extraordinary animal.
“The hype horse earlier on in the year was Jonbon, then this fella woke up from his slumbers at home and we suddenly realised that actually he was very good.
“He’s been very good but the big question was how much he actually knew, he’s run in two hurdle races with four runners in each. To suddenly go out there and go at that gallop, that’s the extraordinary thing.
“He can travel so easily at that pace and then pick it up, to find gears at the end of a headlong gallop like that was extraordinary.”
