Cheltenham Results: Espoir D’Allen shocks the world on Day One

It was an incredible day of drama on the opening day of the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, but Espoir D'Allen was the star of the show…

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips / 5 years ago

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.

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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)

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.

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.

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!

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.

https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1105504307426848769

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.

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.

Result

1st: Le Breuil – 14/1
2nd: Discorama – 9/2
3rd: Jerrysback – 16/1
4th: Clondaw Cian – 125/1

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