Cheltenham Festival LIVE results: Epatante seals bragging rights on day one as Honeysuckle beats Benie Des Dieux
Re-live the action on day one as Nicky Henderson took the bragging rights over rival Willie Mullins thanks to an upset in the Mares' Hurdle
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Your support makes all the difference.Nicky Henderson and Henry de Bromhead both picked up two wins a piece on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, but it was a day to forget for Willie Mullins as two or his horses worked together to cost themselves victory in the Mares' Hurdle.
Benie Des Dieux went into the Mares' Hurdle as the heavy favourite, but a last-minute drift reflected some uncertainty among the 60,000-plus crowd and so it transpired. In what was built-up as a showdown with the talented Honeysuckle, another Mullins-trained contender in Stormy Ireland managed to push Benie Des Dieux wide on the final turn and open the door for Rachael Blackmore to steer Honeysuckle through into the lead and away to victory by the slimmest of margins. The setback for Mullins came soon after rival Henderson moved clear in the overall wins race, with Epatante claiming the trainer's 66th Cheltenham victory by taking the Champion Hurdle.
Henderson had opened his account with victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle as Shishkin took the opening race of the day, while De Bromhead secured his first win in the Arkle as Put The Kettle On took the spoils. The Conditional clinched the Ultima after a late surge saw off joint-favourites Discorama and Vindication, and Imperial Aura took the Novices' Handicap Chase before the Gordon Elliott-trained Ravenhill took the National Hunt Chase.
Full racecard
Tuesday
1:30pm - The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: 1. Shishkin 6-1 2. Abacadabras 11-5 3. Chantry House 15-2
2:10pm - The Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase: 1. Put The Kettle On 16-1 2. Fakir D’Oudairies 3-1 3. Rouge Vif 9-1
2:50pm - The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase: 1. The Conditional 15-2 2. Kildisart 10-1 3. Discorama 11-2 Jt Fav 4. Vindication 11-2 Jt Fav
3:30pm - The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy: 1. Epatante 2/1 Fav 2. Sharjah 16/1 3. Darvar Star 17/2
4:10pm - The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race: 1. Honeysuckle 9/4 2. Benie Des Dieux 4-6 fav 3. Elfile 16/1
4:50pm - The Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase: 1. Imperial Aura 4-1 Jtfav 2. Galvin 4-1 Jtfav 3. Hold The Note 10-1
5:30pm - The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup: 1 Ravenhill 12-1 2 Lord Du Mesnil 11-2 3 Lamanver Pippin 33-1
Wednesday
1:30pm - The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race
2:10pm - The RSA Insurance Novices’ Steeple Chase
2:50pm - The Coral Cup Hurdle
3:30pm - The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase
4:10pm - The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase
4:50pm - The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race
5:30pm - The Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Thursday
1:30pm - The Marsh Novices’ Chase
2:10pm - The Pertemps Network Final
2:50pm - The Ryanair Steeple Chase
3:30pm - The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
4:10pm - The Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate
4:50pm - The Festival Mares Novices’ Hurdle
5:30pm - The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Friday
1:30pm - The JCB Triumph Hurdle
2:10pm - The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race
2:50pm - The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race
3:30pm - The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase
4:10pm - The St James’s Place Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
4:50pm - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase
5:30pm - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
Next up it's the mammoth 23-horse field that make up the Ultima Handicap Chase. However, there's a bit of news just coming through that Richard Johnson has been stood down for the rest of the day after suffering a blow to his hip in the fall in the last race, so Aidan Coleman will stand in for him on No Comment.
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
Two full loops of the course see this race stand at three miles and one furlong, and Vindication is currently out in front with the bookies with Discorama also fancied along with The Conditional. Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson will be looking for their second winner on Brave Eagles, although at 33/1 it'll take something special to match the feat of Shishkin in the opener.
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
Finally we get out first-time start and with 23 horses in the running, it's going to be a busy one.
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
Pre-race favourite went off at 6/1 in the end and settles into third place, with Cogry and Activial out in front.
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
Elwood and Quarenta don't make it over the third and that ends their race early.
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
Vintage Clouds has moved into contention as they go three-wide at the front, with Cogry and Activial still there. No Comment falls, and stand-in jockey Aidan Coleman has taken a blow there as he's slow to ride.
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
Cepage moves into the lead wth Vintage Clouds falling back slightly, as the grey pulls level with Vindication. Early leader Cogry is pulled up.
Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
Cepage and Vintage Clouds still lead the way as Activial drops out the back and looks to be pulled up.
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