The first day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival is here, and we're ready to keep you up to date with all of the results as they come in from the historic racecourse.
Day one's highlight is the Champion Hurdle at 15:30 but there are big names in action throughout the day, as thousands of punters flock to Cheltenham.
The first of the day's seven races gets underway at 1:30pm Irish time, and we'll be keeping you abreast of all the results and main stories from the day at Cheltenham, as the famous roar is heard for the first time in 2024.
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Cheltenham Day 1 results
13:30 - Supreme Novices' Hurdle
1st - Slade Steel (7/2)
2nd - Mystical Power (10/3)
3rd - Firefox (11/2)
Rachael Blackmore came out on top in the first race of the weekend, having stayed in touch throughout the race.
Slade Steel remained in the front running three from the first, and took a charge to the front as they came to the final hurdle. M.P. Walsh on Mystical Power came off the final fence stronger, before Slade Steel powered on to take a dramatic victory for Henry de Bromhead.
Ireland off the mark in race one at Cheltenham.
💪 Slade Steel delivers in the G1 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle@HenrydeBromhead | @rachaelblackmor | @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/sgOimJrhCb
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2024
14:10 - Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase
1st - Gaelic Warrior (2/1)
2nd - Found A Fifty (13/2)
3rd - Il Etait Temps (7/2)
Paul Townend made it two Irish wins from two atop Gaelic Warrior, as Willie Mullins claimed his first win of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
The pre-race favourite, a strong finish from Gaelic Warrior was key to victory, as he finally triumphed on the third time of asking at Cheltenham.
🚀 WHAT A PERFORMANCE!
Third time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival for Gaelic Warrior who bolts up in the Arkle for Mullins & Townend pic.twitter.com/6ImZmt3gcI— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2024
14:50 - Handicap Steeple Chase
1st - Chianti Classico (6/1)
2nd - Twig (28/1)
3rd - Meetingofthewater (6/1)
The English contingent got their first victory of the day with Chianti Classico from trainer Kim Bailey, with David Bass providing a superb performance onboard.
It was a tightly run race, one that had quite a few horses in contention coming into the final couple of fences. However, Chianti Classic managed to outlast Twig and Meetingofthewater despite a scare going over the last fence.
The Irish have gone winless in this race since 2006.
🍷 Ping!
Some round of jumping from Chianti Classico pic.twitter.com/RBxD3QulmK— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2024
15:30 - Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
1st - State Man (2/5)
2nd - Irish Point (9/2)
3rd - Luccia (33/1)
After coming out second best in last year's event, State Man and Paul Townend took a memorable and decisive victory in the headline event, the Champion Hurdle, to continue a dream day one for Willie Mullins.
🟡⚫️ State Man - all class in the Champion Hurdle
🏇 14 runs
🥇 11 wins
🏆 G1 Champion Hurdle
🏆🏆 G1 Irish Champion Hurdle
🏆🏆 G1 Matheson Hurdle
🏆🏆 G1 Morgiana Hurdle
👑 Nine G1 victories
✅ Dual #CheltenhamFestival hero pic.twitter.com/JZreOKEaPh— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2024
16:10 - Mares' Hurdle
1st - Lossiemouth (8/13)
2nd - Telmesomethinggirl (22/1)
3rd - Hispanic Moon (40/1)
Paul Townend took a sensational third win from five races with Lossiemouth, with Ireland's Rachael Blackmore in second place with Telmesomethinggirl for Henry de Bromhead.
🚀 Lossiemouth - Mares' Hurdle heroine & in some style
🏇 Eight runs
🥇 Seven wins
🏆 G1 Mares' Hurdle
🏆 G1 Triumph Hurdle
🏆 G1 Punchestown 4-Y-O Hurdle
⭐️ Superstar pic.twitter.com/jbfpRgL94J— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2024
16:50 - Handicap Hurdle
1st - Lark in the Mornin (9/1)
2nd - Eagles Reign (80/1)
3rd - Ndaawi (12/1)
Joseph O'Brien took his first win of the festival with Lark in the Mornin in the 16:50 race, with long-shot Eagles Reign coming in from 80/1 in second place.
Gordon Elliott also came in with a top three finish, with Jack Kennedy riding Ndaawi to third place.
🚀 Lark In The Mornin wins the Boodles for JJ Slevin & @JosephOBrien2
They won the race in 2019 & they do it again at @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/P3DvDbC9JW— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2024
17:30 - Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup
1st - Corbetts Cross (15/8)
2nd - Embassy Gardens (7/4)
3rd - Mr Vango (14/1)
Victory in the final race of the day went to Corbetts Cross, riden by Derek O'Connor for Emmet Mullins.
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