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Golden Ace is seventh mare to win Champion Hurdle

Golden Ace and Lorcan Williams are victorious in Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Golden Ace (25/1) caused a surprise when becoming the seventh mare to win the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

In an eventual race for the two-mile hurdling championship, the winners for the past two seasons, Constitution Hill (1/2f) and State Man both crashed out.

The Nicky Henderson-trained race favourite Constitution Hill fell at the fifth hurdle, while the Donnellys’ State Man, fell at the last, with the race at his mercy.

Golden Ace and Lorcan Williams were left to come home nine lengths clear of Burdett Road (66-1), with one and a half lengths further back to the 11-year-old Winter Fog, the mount of Brian Hayes.

It was a second Festival win for trainer Jeremy Scott, and his winner now joins African Sister (1939), Dawn Run (1984), Flakey Dove (1994), Annie Power (2016), Epatante (2020), Honeysuckle (2021 and 2022) and Golden Ace (2025) as Champion Hurdle-winning mares.

“I think my team at home will be as flabbergasted as I am – they’ll be watching it at home now and they’ll definitely be reaching for the drinks cabinet,” Scott admitted. “Amazing, absolutely amazing. I hope both Constitution Hill and poor old State Man are alright.

Willie Mullins’ reaction to State Man’s fall 

“He was just long at it and popped the top of it, but these things happen,” Willie Mullins stated.

“At least we made the right decision (as to which race to run the horses in), but the hurdles are there to be jumped. We don’t need any chat with Paul to see what happened. I’m just delighted he is okay.”

Nicky Henderson update on Constitution Hill

“He seems fine,” the Seven Barrows handler said. “He is very bright and breezy, but of course he hasn’t had a race. I don’t know what can you say. He ran two miles, even if he didn’t have Nico on at the end.

“He has been in terrific form I have got to say, but poor old State Man as well. You couldn’t believe those two old silly old fools have gone and done what they have done today.

“When you are jumping as fast as they jump you have got to get it deadly accurate. You would like to see the replay of it, but it doesn’t really matter what he did.”

Puturhandstogether gives J.P. McManus a 79th Festival success

Puturhandstogether won the Fred Winter for Mark Walsh, Joseph O'Brien and J.P.McMaus. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Puturhandstogether (17/2) was the third Irish-trained winner of the day as the J.P. McManus-owned gelding won the Hallgarten & Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle [Fred Winter].

It was a 79th Festival winner for McManus, the winning-most owner in Festival history.

Winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, for whom it was a 5th Festival victory, said of the Mark Walsh-ridden winner:

“This race is always won by ex flat horses, but I suppose that is where the improvement has come from having run on winter ground then getting a bit of spring ground today as he seemed to really thrive on it.

“He did surprise me to be honest with you as to how easy he got there as coming here I thought he was in with a chance, but we didn’t think he was that well handicapped

“Mark gave him a great ride as the pace was on, but he took a sit and let them all at it. I would say that was probably the difference today.”

Lossiemouth wins back-to-back Mares’ Hurdles

Lossiemouth claimed a third Cheltenham Festival success. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Lossiemouth (4/6f) won her second Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle this afternoon.

Ridden by Paul Townend, the classy mare was winning for the third time at the festival, having also win the JCB Triumph Hurdle in 2023.

The daughter of Great Pretender was a seven and a half length winner over stable companion Jade De Grugy (5/1) and Danny Mullins.

When asked about the decision to reroute Lossiemouth to the Mares’ Hurdle  instead of the initial plan, the Unibet Champion Hurdle, Willie Mullins explained:

“As a trainer, and a professional, I didn’t see the work to run her in a Champion Hurdle, which disappointed me on the day, but we had the alternative to come here and that has worked.

“You have to look at Rich Ricci’s team which hasn’t had a great season this season. We all gauge ourselves by Cheltenham. I wasn’t sure he had a live chance of a winner, but she was a live chance of a winner so made the decision to change races.

“I was disappointed to change our mind on a two year plan, but it was the correct decision for the connections.

 

 

Jango Baie comes late to win Grade 1 Arkle Trophy

Jango Baie and Nico de Boinville win the Arkle Perpetual Trophy. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Jango Baie (5-1) came with a fantastic late run to win the Grade 1 My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase.

The three-quarters of a length win over the Gavin Cromwell-trained Only By Night, was a 50th Grade 1 for jockey Nico de Boinville.

The race’s 1/2 favourite Majborough could only manage third, a further short-head behind the runner-up.

Commenting on his 74th Cheltenham Festival victory, Nicky Henderson admitted:

“We have said the whole way through that this is not a two mile horse. If the Turners would have been here like last year then I suspect I know what we would have been in and I suspect Ballyburn might have come into that as well.

“He wants two and a half miles. We thought we were going to make the running, but he had no chance because he couldn’t go fast enough it was as simple as that. He was flat to the boards the whole way.”

Trainer of the runner-up Gavin Cromwell was satisfied with his mare’s effort, stating:

“She ran a great race and I’m really happy with her. I don’t have an idea what we’ll do with her next – this was the plan.”

Kopek Des Bordes delivers in Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Kopek Des Bordes and Paul Townend win Grade 1 Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Kopek Des Bordes (4/6) got favourite backers off to a winning start by taking the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Running in the colours of Charlie McCarthy from Fermoy, five-year-old ran out a ready length and three-quarters winner under Paul Townend.

The runner-up William Munny, ridden by Seán Flanagan for Barry Connell, carried the same colours in which Michael O’Sullivan achieved his most notable victory, when winning this race with Marine Nationale two years ago.

Reacting to the win, successful handler Mullins said:

“It’s wonderful. We sent a good team to try and win it, so I’m delighted we did. He looks to be some sort of a horse; the team of horses I had there, any year I’d say they’d be good enough to try and go close in that race, and they were spread out like Brown’s cows behind the first two.

“I think a faster pace suits his jumping better. He is like a chaser, but should he do that or stay over hurdles? I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll probably have a go over fences at the end of the season and see what he’s like, and if Paul is happy to go chasing with him.”

For the Lisgoold rider it was a 35th Cheltenham Festival success, and the 104th for Willie Mullins.

Lucinda Russell and Rebecca Curtis have opening day wins

Win for Wales: Haiti Couleurs and Ben Jones return to the winner's enclosure after theie National Hunt Chase win. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Scotland and Wales both had a winner on the first day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival courtesy of trainers Lucinda Russell and Rebecca Curtis respectively.

Scot Russell saddled the winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase for the third time in four years when 13-2 Favourite Myretown made virtually all under jockey Patrick Wadge in the three miles and a furlong contest.

Lucinda Russell stated:

“We knew that if he jumped round, he was phenomenally well-handicapped; I just didn’t know if he was going to be man enough, and it’s very exciting that he is. I’m delighted for everyone at home – they work really hard, and Stephy Duff, who looks after this horse absolutely adores him and does all his massage as well, so she will be delighted. Her brother Jamie Duff is leading him up.”

Win for Wales

Haiti Couleurs gave Wales a win in the Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Trained in Wales by Rebecca Curtis, the winner powered to a four and a half-length success in the hands of Welsh rider Ben Jones, the first year the race has been run as a handicap and open to professional jockeys.

A delighted Rebecca Curtis stated post-race:

“I felt so nervous before this horse ran today, but watching him was almost like watching it all in slow motion. He’s done that well, he deserved that. These guys are great, all his owners. Thanks to everyone at the yard, we’ve got such a great team at home – thank you to them all for working so hard.”

Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to open Cheltenham 2025

Michael O'Sullivan, who won the Supreme Novices' Hurdles with Marine Nationale in 2023, has the firstrace of Cheltenham 2025 named in his honour. Credit: The Jockey Club.

At 1.20pm on Tuesday afternoon, the ‘Cheltenham roar’ will be heard in the Cotswolds, as the 2025 Cheltenham Festival gets underway.

The opening contest on day one is the Grade 1 Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over 2 miles 87 yards. Named this year in honour of the recently deceased Lombardstown, Co Cork, rider, the race will be poignant coming so shortly after the jockey’s death just a few weeks ago.

Champion handler Willie Mullins is responsible for half the 12-runner field, with main stable jockey Paul Townend unsurprisingly choosing the race favourite Kopek Des Bordes. Owned by Charles McCarthy in Fermoy, the French-bred son of No Risk At All jumped very poorly first time out over hurdles at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

He improved his hurdling significantly between then and the Dublin Racing Festival, where according to Race iQ he gained 10.72 lengths while jumping, and was the only horse over the two-day’s at Leopardstown to go sub 4 minutes over obstacles.

Romeo Coolio was runner-up in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024, and comes to Prestbury Park this season with wins at Down Royal last November and a Leopardstown Grade 1 at Christmas.

Salvador Mundi, the mount of Patrick Mullins, who previously finished second to Sir Gino in his native France, has a Tipperary maiden and a Punchestown Grade 2 to his name.

William Munny would be a fitting winner of this year’s renewal of the race. The listed novice winner at Punchestown will be ridden by Seán Flanagan, and will carry the colours of owner/trainer Barry Connell, the same colours worn by Michael O’Sullivan in 2023 when winning the ‘Supreme’ aboard Marine Nationale.

Despite Willie Mullins’ Closutton team being responsible for 50% of the field, the trainer has only won the race twice in the last six years (2021 Appreciate It and Klassical Dream 2019). He is, however, the race’s most successful current trainer with seven wins – Tourist Attraction (1995), Ebaziyan (2007), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019) and Appreciate It (2021).

The race, previously known as the Gloucestershire Hurdle, has been won by Irish-trained raiders on 44 occasions, and by the French once. Of the 16 divisions from 1952-59, Vincent O’Brien won 10 renewals. Ireland also kept a stranglehold on the race for seven years
from 1977-83 and has won 15 of the last 23 runnings

1:20pm Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

1 Funiculi Funicula (FR) 5 11 7 Michael A.O’Riordan/Séamus Hennessy W. P. Mullins Brian Hayes
2 Irancy (FR) 7 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Mark Walsh
3 Karbau (FR) 5 11 7 Barnane Stud,Partner & Temple Bloodstock W. P. Mullins Sean O’Keeffe
4 Karniquet (FR) h 5 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud W. P. Mullins Danny Mullins
5 Kopek des Bordes (FR) h 5 11 7 Monabeg Investments Limited W. P. Mullins P. Townend
6 Romeo Coolio 6 11 7 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
7 Salvator Mundi (FR) h,ts 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Mr P. W. Mullins
8 Sky Lord 6 11 7 Mr Basil Holian Henry de Bromhead Darragh O’Keeffe
9 Tripoli Flyer (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Ismail El Magdoub Fergal O’Brien Jonathan Burke
10 Tutti Quanti (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Colm Donlon Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
11 William Munny (IRE) h 7 11 7 Mr Barry Connell Barry Connell Seán Flanagan
12 Workahead (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore

Lossiemouth bids for consecutive Mares’ Hurdles

Lossiemouth and Paul Townend won the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier this season. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

The Grade One Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, registered as the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, sees Lossiemouth among the field instead of taking her place in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

This year is the 18th running of the race, which Irish trainers have dominated since its inception – 14 of the 17 previous winners were trained in Ireland.

A Grade 1 race since 2015, the Mares’ Hurdle was won an incredible six consecutive years by Quevega, bettering the previous Cheltenham Festival record of five consecutive wins held by Golden Miller (1932 to 1936).

Willie Mullins has won 10 of the 17 editions of the race to date and saddles the favourite and last season’s winner, Lossiemouth, and second favourite in the betting, Jade De Grugy.

While the early season plan had been to contest the opening day feature, the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle, with Lossiemouth, connections of the grey mare decided last weekend to stick to her won sex in the almost two and a half-mile contest.

Jade De Grugy and Gala Marceau will carry the colours of Scottish owner Kenny Alexander, who previously won this race twice with Honeysuckle (2020 and 2023).

3:20pm Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y

1 Casa No Mento 7 11 5 LRK Racing & Willy Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
2 Dysart Enos (IRE) 7 11 5 The Good Stock Syndicate Fergal O’Brien Jonathan Burke
3 Gala Marceau (FR) h 6 11 5 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Brian Hayes
4 Jade de Grugy (FR) 6 11 5 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Danny Mullins
5 Jetara (IRE) p 7 11 5 Mr G. McGrath Mrs J. Harrington Sam Ewing
6 Joyeuse (FR) 6 11 5 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
7 July Flower (FR) 6 11 5 Mr Duncan Angove Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
8 Kala Conti (FR) 5 11 5 Robcour Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
9 Lossiemouth (FR) 6 11 5 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins P. Townend
10 Queens Gamble (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr A Frost and Mr E Galvin Harry Derham Paul O’Brien
11 Take No Chances (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr Garry Wilson Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

Can Brighterdaysahead become 7th mare to win Champion Hurdle?

The Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle winner bids to become the seventh mare to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Nicky Henderson, the most successful trainer in the history of the Unibet Champion Hurdle with nine wins – See You Then (1985, 1986 and 1987), Punjabi (2009), Binocular (2010), Buveur D’Air (2017 & 2018), Epatante (2020) and Constitution Hill (2023) – will hope to claim another on Tuesday with stable star Constitution Hill.

There had been speculation for much of the past few months that Lossiemouth might challenge the 2023 winner in this year’s renewal – especially after her impressive win in the Grade 1 Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December. Her heavy fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle, however, muddied the waters somewhat, with the decision being made last weekend to aim her for a defence of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle instead.

Last year’s Unibet Champion Hurdler, the highly reliable State Man, won the Irish Champion Hurdle in which Lossiemouth fell, had been beaten in his two runs prior to the Dublin Racing Festival, in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown Christmas Festival, and the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

Six mares have taken Champion Hurdle honours on a total of seven occasions – African Sister (1939), Dawn Run (1984), Flakey Dove (1994), Annie Power (2016), Epatante (2020) and Honeysuckle (2021 and 2022) – and the impressive Brighterdaysahead could certainly add to that on Tuesday.

The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old daughter of Kapgarde, second to Golden Ace in the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024, has a Grade 3 and three Grade 1 wins on her resumé since. She beat State Man into second in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle, while the Donnellys’ multiple Grade 1 winner could only finish third to her at Leopardstown in December.

According to Race iQ, race favourite Constitution Hill has the highest Jump Index in the field at 8.8. Brighterdaysahead’s figure is 8.4, while State Man’s is only third of the seven horses in the race, at 7.6.

Though he is an 11-time Grade 1-winner, the son of Doctor Dino has never had the highest Lengths Gained Jumping value in any race in Race iQ’s database, meaning there have always been horses that gained an advantage on him through their jumping.

4:00pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

1 Burdett Road ts 5 11 10 The Gredley Family James Owen Sam Twiston-Davies
2 Constitution Hill 8 11 10 Mr Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
3 King of Kingsfield (IRE) 7 11 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Danny Gilligan
4 State Man (FR) p 8 11 10 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins P. Townend
5 Winter Fog (IRE) 11 11 10 The Triple Lock Partnership W. P. Mullins Brian Hayes
6 Brighterdaysahead (FR) 6 11 3 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
7 Golden Ace 7 11 3 Mr I. F. Gosden Jeremy Scott Lorcan Williams

Majborough faces 4 rivals in Grade 1 Arkle Novices’ Chase

Majborough, after winning the Grade 1 Goffs Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown last month. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.
Majborough’s task has been made much easier in the Arkle Novices’ Chase due to the absence through injury of Sir Gino.

The J.P. McManus-owned son of Capital Stud’s Martinborough won last season’s Triumph Hurdle, but returns this year as a novice chaser.

A win in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse was soon followed up with success in the Grade 1 Goffs Arkle Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Race iQ information shows that Majborough is a better chaser than hurdler. His Jump Index over the smaller obstacles last season was 7.7, while his overall Jump Index over fences to date is 9.0 out of 10.

Jockey Mark Walsh will hope to maintain the good recent record of trainer Willie Mullins in the My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase. The Closutton wins in the last two years, with Gaelic Warrior in 2024 and El Fabiolo in 2023, were both ridden by Paul Townend.

Touch Me Not, trained by Gordon Elliott for Gigginstown House Stud, was 9 lengths behind  Majborough at Leopardstown last month.

Irish-based handlers have tasted success in this race 7 of the last 10 years, with Henry de Bromhead (Put The Kettle On in 2020) adding to Mullins’ six victories.

2:00pm My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

1 Jango Baie (FR) 6 11 7 Countrywide Park Homes Ltd Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
2 L’Eau du Sud (FR) ts 7 11 7 GMasonJHalesLHalesPHogarthSirAFerguson Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
3 Majborough (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Mark Walsh
4 Touch Me Not (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
5 Only By Night (IRE) 7 11 0 Mrs J. M. Russell Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue

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