The Greatest Show on Turf is finally underway and we couldn’t be happier here in Paddy Power Tower!
A magic Day 1 kicked off with Summerville Boy lowering Getabird’s colours in the opening race – and who’ll forget Buveur D’Air’s tremendous run to see off Melon and claim the day’s main attraction the Champion Hurdle.
Oh, and how good was our own Ruby Walsh landing a double on the day?
Anyway, you’re here for the results, so let’s jump into them!
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Summerville Boy took the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for trainer Tom George, just in front of a brave effort from Kalashnikov. The race will be remembered, though, for an amazing save from Noel Fehily after he belted the second-last.
It looked for all the world that the horse was going down, but Fehily somehow kept him upright and launched him up the straight for an amazing come-from-behind victory.
Summerville Boy gets up close home to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle @CheltenhamRaces and gains his second Grade One success. #TheFestival
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— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 13, 2018
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Result 13:30
1st Summerville Boy (9/1)
2nd Kalashnikov (5/1)
3rd Mengli Khan (14/1)
An early scare wasn’t enough to keep Ruby Walsh from grabbing his first win of Cheltenham 2018, as heavy favourite Footpad delivered on all of that pre-Festival promise for Willie Mullins.
Petit Mouchoir valiantly tried to push the pace from the off and even managed to see off the fancied Saint Calvados, but was easily reeled in by Footpad, who took the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase with utmost authority.
What a performance! Footpad bolts up to justify favouritism in the Arkle @CheltenhamRaces and remains unbeaten over fences (4-4). #TheFestival
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— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 13, 2018
Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase 14:10
1st Footpad (5/6F)
2nd Brain Power (14/1)
Coo Star Sivola made it two wins on the bounce for the favourites as Lizzie Kelly held off a ferocious challenge from Shantou Flyer to claim the Ultima Handicap Chase.
She was made to sweat for it as Shantou Flyer kept up the pressure all the way to the winning post, but it was a mature ride by one of racing’s brightest young stars.
Coo Star Sivola justifies favouritism in the Ultima Handicap Chase @CheltenhamRaces and provides Lizzie Kelly with her first Festival winner. #TheFestival
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— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 13, 2018
Ultima Handicap Chase 14:50
1st Coo Star Sivola (5/1F)
2nd Shantou Flyer (14/1)
3rd Vintage Clouds (7/1)
4th Beware The Bear (14/1)
5th Singlefarmpayment (8/1)
The big race of the day delivered drama galore as Buveur D’Air got up by a head to just beat a tenacious Melon by a head.
Having been tipped by nearly everyone supposedly in the know before the Festival, the relief was clear for Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson as he held on for a narrow victory.
Buveur D’Air just clings on to become the first horse since Hardy Eustace in 2004 and 2005 to win back-to-back renewals of the Champion Hurdle @CheltenhamRaces. #TheFestival
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— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 13, 2018
Champion Hurdle 15:30
1st Buveur D’Air (4/6F)
2nd Melon (7/1)
3rd Mick Jazz (25/1)
Ruby is back baby! And he – along with Benie Des Dieux – left the heavily backed Apple’s Jade in his wake, as the bookies let out a sigh of relief.
It was a wonderful ride by Mr Walsh – his second winner on the day – as it looked for all the world that Midnight Tour had it in the bag after the last. However, Benie Des Dieux was having none of it and charged up the far side of track to win the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle.
Benie Des Dieux completes a double for Ruby Walsh and provides Willie Mullins with his ninth success in the Mares’ Hurdle @CheltenhamRaces. #TheFestival
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— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 13, 2018
OLBG Mares’ Hurdle 16:10
1st Benie Des Dieux
2nd Midnight Tour
3rd Apple’s Jade
Despite the long slog of the four-mile National Hunt Chase, Rathvinden and Ms Parfois produced a fantastic finish, where they both looked likely winners going up the final straight.
It was Patrick Mullins on Rathvinden who came out on top for father Willie in the end though – and it’s one we will watch over and over again!
Unbelievable finish! It’s a treble on the day for Willie Mullins as Rathvinden digs deep to win the National Hunt Chase @CheltenhamRaces. #TheFestival
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— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 13, 2018
National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase 16:50
1st Rathvinden (9/2)
2nd Ms Parfois (11/2)
3rd Sizing Tennessee (8/1)
4th Impulsive Star (25/1)
Mister Whitaker gets his head in front on the
line to win the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase @CheltenhamRaces and gains his third win over fences. #TheFestivalNew Betfair customers get up to £100 in free bets: https://t.co/M5sVHe3vhU (T&Cs apply ?) pic.twitter.com/N9T0HnHLXO
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 13, 2018
What a way to end Day One! Rather Be and Mister Whitaker had a battle that would put David Haye and Tony Bellew II to shame in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase.
In the end, it was the Mick Channon-trained Mister Whitaker that took the victory to round out Day One on a photo finish. You can’t ask for any better than that!
Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase 17:30
1st Mister Whitaker (13/2)
2nd Rather Be (12/1)
3rd Rocklander (25/1)
4th Barney Dawn (15/2)