Champion Day Day One 12March
Waking up on Champion Day is like waking up on Christmas morning, with the horses waiting under the tree. The Festival is finally here, the Home of Jump Racing centre stage once again. As the crowds gather for one of sport’s greatest pilgrimages, the horses, trainers and jockeys to follow are noted, scrutinised, dismissed. Who will prevail? Who will falter? It’s hard not to be tempted by the Irish contingent as they reveal their hidden-gems, ready to dash dreams in their relentless pursuit of victory. And then the tension builds and finally we hear it… let the Cheltenham Roar begin. 2018 Festival flashback – Betbright Prestbury Cup standings: GB 4 IRE 3 Nicky Henderson stole the headlines on Day One with a record seventh Unibet Champion Hurdle win. Buveur D’Air, ridden by Barry Geraghty for owner J P McManus, took the Grade One Two-mile Championship for the second year running in a nail-biting finish with Willie Mullins’ trained Melon. “It was a brilliant race – two very brave horses with two brave jockeys,” said Henderson, for whom it was a 59th Festival success.
Despite being beaten to the line, three victories came Mullins’ way on Day One. The treble was sparked by Footpad’s scintillating 14-length win in the Grade One Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy under Ruby Walsh, who was also in the saddle for Benie Des Dieux’s victory in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle. Mullins’ son Patrick provided the day’s third win, driving Rathvinden home in the National Hunt Challenge Cup. And the gifts kept coming: Summerville Boy’s narrow victory in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was Gloucestershire trainer Tom George’s second at The Festival, while Lizzie Kelly became the 12th woman to ride a winner at the event when she scored on 5 –1 favourite on Coo De Sivola in the Ultima Handicap Chase. There was a very popular winner in the Close Brothers’ Novices’ Handicap Chase: Mister Whitaker ridden by Brian Hughes as it was a first Festival victory for Mick Channon, better known as a flat trainer. Owner Tim Radford exclaimed: “This is what it’s all about! My first winner at The Festival – I’ve had five winners at Cheltenham’s other meetings and four previous seconds at The Festival. To see this horse coming up the hill, and to come in here to the number one spot is the best.”
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