The Cheltenham Festival kicks off today and even though punters will be watching from their couches, rather than track side or in the pub, they won't want to miss a moment of the action.
There were big wins for Jack Kennedy (2), Paul Townend, Nico De Boinville, Ryan Mania, Rachael Blackmore and Sean Flanagan.
Trainers Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson, Sue Smith, Henry DeBromhead, Denise Foster, Noel Meade and Ian Ferguson all had winners as well while there were five Irish winners and two British winners.
BreakingNews.ie will have live coverage of day two of the Cheltenham Festival tomorrow.
5.08pm: Galvin, formerly with Elliott before being transferred last week to Ian Ferguson’s yard in Northern Ireland, was a gritty but decisive winner of the closing Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Chase.
In a race usually confined to amateur riders but this year exclusively for professionals – while their counterparts remain subject to suspension under coronavirus restrictions – Kennedy doubled his tally for the meeting.
He had 7-2 shot Galvin in contention throughout, but behind the leaders in this marathon contest, until taking closer order into the straight and jumping to the front at the last to beat Next Destination by a length and a half.
Foster’s Escaria Ten was the same distance back in third.
4.29pm: Jeff Kidder delivered a huge shock, and a fourth victory on Tuesday’s card for Ireland, with an 80-1 success in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Sean Flanagan came through a packing field to lead at the last on Noel Meade’s outsider and hold on by two lengths from Mullins’ 9-2 favourite Saint Sam.
Flanagan was riding just his third British winner, and said: “I can’t believe it.
“Coming here, we knew he was in great form – and Noel was very adamant he had a very, very big chance.
“I was just worried he didn’t have enough experience … but he’s won quite well.”
Another big outsider Elham Valley was third, at 66-1.
3.58pm: Kennedy said: “It’s unbelievable – I’m absolutely delighted for the owners.
“It’s great for ‘Sneezy’ Foster as well – a massive team effort goes into getting the horses here every year, so it’s brilliant for the team.
“She jumped and travelled unbelievably well.
“She came out of my hands at the last – but luckily she was more tuned in than I was, and that was probably the difference between winning and losing.”
3.56pm: Black Tears’ Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle victory was a first of the Festival for Denise Foster – who took over Gordon Elliott’s yard just last week.
Black Tears, second in handicap company at last year’s meeting, challenged late to win by a head at 11-1 under Jack Kennedy from Mullins’ odds-on favourite Concertista – who had got the better of her argument with market rival Roksana.
Foster is running Elliott’s Cullentra operation while he serves his ban after a photograph of him sitting on a dead horse was circulated on Twitter
3.32pm: Blackmore was full of praise for Honeysuckle and her connections, as she struggled to come to terms with her own achievement.
“Absolutely incredible – I’m speechless to be honest,” she told ITV Racing.
“I really am. I can’t believe we just won a Champion Hurdle – it’s incredible.
“I hope (owner) Kenny Alexander is getting a kick out of this at home – I’m sure he is, and (racing manager) Peter Molony.
“It’s unbelievable for everyone at the yard – they all work so hard. Henry just produces her every day in that form – and I get to steer her round.
“She’s so straightforward to ride. When you know you’ve an engine under you it’s very easy to do things in a race.”
Top Irish trainer De Bromhead was also winning the race for the first time.
He said: “It sounds amazing – it’s the stuff you dream of. I never thought that would happen – it’s amazing.
“She’s an amazing mare. We’ve said it all – she’s just incredible.
“What a partnership she and Rachael have. Rachael was amazing – I thought she was so cool throughout the race.”
3.18pm: Rachael Blackmore made history with victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle aboard Honeysuckle at Cheltenham – becoming the first female jockey to win the great race.
Blackmore kept the 11-10 favourite in behind the pace set by a trio of front-runners, but then swept past after the second-last to win by six and a half lengths.
Henry de Bromhead’s brilliant mare, remaining unbeaten on her 11th career start under rules, was chased home by Sharjah – second in the race for the second time in succession – and last year’s winner Epatante, who stayed on late to take third.
2.53pm: After being told he is a ‘Cheltenham Festival winner’, Mania said: “I’ll be honest, I never ever thought I’d hear those words mentioned.
“It’s been a long road back. Everyone knows I took nearly five years out of the game – and to come back to Cheltenham, I was lucky to get rides, let alone winners.
“This horse has been a real stalwart on the yard. He needed a wind op, and the cheekpieces have helped. It’s unreal.
“He was loving it the whole way round. We missed at the last down the back, and I just gave him a squeeze and he came back underneath me. I knew then that I’d be on the bridle at the end – but never did I think he’d storm up the hill like he did.”
“About 18 months after the Grand National I was in a dark space and I saw no way out other than to walk away from the sport I love. I was enticed back with unfinished business being the main reason. Luckily it’s all gone really well.”
2.38pm: Vintage Cloud wins the Ultima Handicap Chase
Vintage Clouds provided the first shock of the Festival, with a 28-1 victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase.
Sue Smith’s grey, ridden by the Yorkshire yard’s Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania, was running in the opening handicap of the meeting for the fifth year in succession.
The 11-year-old’s best previous effort was second in 2019 – but this time, he took over on the final circuit and was never headed again.
Runner-up Happygolucky, the 100-30 favourite, and third-placed Aye Right both ran with great credit but never looked like pegging back the winner, beaten five and a half and a further two and a quarter lengths respectively.
2.20pm: The winning jockey said: “I’m absolutely over the moon – I’m just delighted to be on a horse such as Shishkin.
“His profile is just amazing, and he’s a fantastic horse.
“After that performance you’d have to say that he can be anything. It’s a massive shame that Energumene didn’t come over, and hopefully he’ll be allright for the season to come.
“It would have been some match-up – who knows what would have happened? He (Shishkin) would have taken a lot of beating. That was a very hard, fast-run race – no prisoners were taken.”
Shishkin is the latest in a line of brilliant two-milers for Henderson, who has trained both Altior and Sprinter Sacre to be dual Champion Chase winners at the Festival.
He said: “We’ve been very lucky with these two-mile chasers, especially recently.
“Altior followed Sprinter, and now here seems to be another one.
“I can’t really believe it. It’s extraordinary.
“It’s not the same – it’s never going to be the same without the people here, but it still does the same to you. When you’ve a short-priced favourite like he is, it’s still scary.”
2.11pm: Shishkin was a wide-margin winner of the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase.
Nicky Henderson’s brilliant novice stayed within touch of a strong pace set by both Allmankind and Captain Guinness, before pouncing to jump into the lead three out on the way to victory by 12 lengths under Nico de Boinville.
Posting a second successive impressive success for an odds-on shot at the start of the Festival, after Appreciate It’s romp in the opener, Shishkin (4-9) was also following up his victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago.
Colin Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen stayed on past Allmankind and Captain Guinness to grab second, at 33-1 and a very respectful distance.
1.33pm: Appreciate It was a hugely impressive winner of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins’ 8-11 favourite stormed clear to win by 24 lengths under Paul Townend, from Ballyadam.
Appreciate It was always closest to the pace set by For Pleasure, took over two out and was never in the remotest danger from that point.
Mullins was denied a one-two when his second-string Blue Lord fell at the last, as Ballyadam stayed on for minor honours after making a mistake of his own two out. For Pleasure held on for third.
1.09pm: Despite the eeriness on track, expectation was building for millions nationwide – and across the Irish Sea.
The odds continued to shorten on Appreciate It, Ireland’s favourite in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – traditional curtain-raiser for the four days.
Course conditions appeared to be in his favour too, after unexpected rain overnight on Sunday into Monday meant the Festival would start on soft ground.
