Would you believe it The Greatest Show on Turf already has its first day done, dusted and in the history books.
We couldn’t be happier here in Paddy Tower to have Cheltenham 2019 on our screens for the week.
It was a mixed bag for Ruby Walsh as he took the opener on Klassical Dream, but tipped up at the last on Benie Des Dieux. Racing has a new star though in the form of Espoir D’Allen though, who is your 2019 Champion Hurdle winner.
Let’s get to those all-important results.
13:30 – Supreme Novices Hurdle
Ruby Walsh didn’t let a false start get to him and looked a winner all the way around Prestbury Park on Klassical Dream in the opener on Tuesday. The Willie Mullins-trained horse stormed up the hill unchallenged to give our man Ruby a perfect start to the 2019 Cheltenham Festival.
* Don’t forget we were money back as a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th on every race on Day One of Cheltenham. (T&Cs apply)
He came here without a massive reputation.
He may have one now.
Klassical Dream, easy to spot in the bright red silks, is a very taking winner of the Supreme#TheFestival #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/uRko9DQSQp
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2019
Result
1st: Klassical Dream – 6/1
2nd: Thomas Darby – 28/1
3rd: Itchy Feet – 25/1
4th: Fakir D’oudairies – 9/2JF
5th: Felix Desjy – 11/1
14:10 – Arkle Chase
Duc Des Genievres dodged all the fallers to absolutely rout the field in the second race of the day at Cheltenham. Irish eyes were smiling for Willie Mullins again as he knew from a long way out that he was going to make it two-from-two as Paul Townend steered Duc Des Genievres to an ultra-impressive victory.
Another one for Willie Mullins – Duc Des Genievres bolts up in the Arkle! #TheFestival #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/BMxBVvHXeh
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2019
Result
1st: Duc Des Genievres – 5/1
2nd: Us And Them – 14/1
3rd: Articulum – 25/1
14:50 – Festival Handicap Chase
Beware The Bear gave Nicky Henderson’s first winner of the 2019 Festival as he just about outlasted Vintage Clouds to claim victory in the Festival Handicap Chase. Jerry McGrath bided his time and made his move at the last to score a first win for the English at this year’s festival.
Nicky Henderson is off the mark – Beware The Bear lands the Ultima! #TheFestival #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/b6fLDKF7Mx
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2019
Result
1st: Beware The Bear – 10/1
2nd: Vintage Clouds – 16/1
3rd: Lake View Lad – 25/1
4th: Big River – 28/1
5th: Flying Angel – 25/1
6th: Activial – 40/1
15:30 – Champion Hurdle
There were stunned faces all around Cheltenham as the so-called ‘Big Three’ of Apple’s Jade, Buveur D’Air or Laurina all imploded in the Champion Hurdle. It was a huge day for Mark Walsh as he steered Espoir D’Allen to a shock victory for trainer Gavin Cromwell in the JP McManus colours and it was quite a turn-up for the books in the day’s feature race!
Who says five-year-olds can't win this race? Espoir D'Allen hoses up in the Champion Hurdle! #TheFestival #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/11wclITvay
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2019
Result
1st: Espoir D’Allen – 16/1
2nd: Melon – 20/1
3rd: Silver Streak – 80/1
16:10 – Mares Hurdle
It looked for all the world that Ruby Walsh had steered Benie Des Dieux to a comfortable victory in the Mares Hurdle, but the horse tipped the top of the last and just couldn’t stay up. Dan Skelton’s Roksana was the beneficiary of an enormous slice of luck as she picked up an unlikely victory in front of Stormy Ireland.
It's 2015 and Annie Power all over again! Roksana wins the Mares' Hurdle after Benie Des Dieux falls at the last with the race at her mercy. The Willie Mullins mare is on her feet #CheltenhamFestival #TheFestival pic.twitter.com/S14dZrRCcW
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2019
Result
1st: Roksana – 10/1
2nd: Stormy Ireland – 7/1
3rd: Good Thyne Tara – 25/1
16:50 – Novice’ Handicap Chase
Rachael Blackmore proved us right when we told you that ‘some jockeys have big balls, others are just great jockeys’ as she stormed to victory in the Novice’ Handicap Chase. She rode A Plus Tard to perfection and was all alone as she burned it up the hill to win well.
Rachael Blackmore and A Plus Tard land the Close Brothers in fine style! #TheFestival #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/tIESUr1BFl
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2019
Result
1st: A Plus Tard – 5/1F
2nd: Tower Bridge – 6/1
3rd: Ben Dundee – 33/1
4th: The Russian Doyen – 20/1
5th: Springtown Lake – 11/1
17:30 – National Hunt Chase
What a way to finish the day as Le Breuil and Discorama absolutely slugged it out up the hill in the last race. With horses unfortunately falling left, right and centre it was Le Breuil who just about got over the line first in a war of attrition that will live long in the memory in Jamie Codd.
What a finish – two warriors slug it out up the Cheltenham hill as Le Breuil and @CoddJJ deny Discorama in an eventful National Hunt Chase #TheFestival #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/LueOrKwOp5
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2019
Result
1st: Le Breuil – 14/1
2nd: Discorama – 9/2
3rd: Jerrysback – 16/1
4th: Clondaw Cian – 125/1
