Cheltenham Festival 2024: State Man triumphs in Champion Hurdle – as it happened

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Cheltenham 2.50 result

1 Chianti Classico (David Bass) 6-1

2 Twig (Beau Morgan) 28-1

3 Meetingofthewaters (M P Walsh) 6-1

4 Famous Bridge (Sean Quinlan) 25-121 ranAlso: 9-2 Fav The Goffer

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David Bass, the winning jockey: “The rain come this morning and I thought I was on the wrong one. What a lovely horse. There’s a big race in Liverpool I’d like to ride in next year. The ground is bad but he’s done it well. He’s got a touch of class.”

Will be the Grand National next for Chianti Classico and David Bass? Photograph: Steve Davies/racingfotos.com/ShutterstockShare

Updated at 11.24 EDT

Chianti Classico wins the Ultima Handicap Chase!

Monbeg Genius still not recovered as they round the stands. Eldorado Allen is looking way off, as Bustleton is pulled up. The Goffer sat back in 13th. Highland Hunter leads five out. Victorrino is pulled up. Chianti Classico looking strong as he chases down Highland Hunter. He goes into the lead from Twig. He’s over the second last in a clear lead. It’s a great ride for the Kim Bailey horse. There’s one for the Brits. Twig chased him down and it looked as if he Chianti Classico might get caught after he knuckled down at the last. What a win!

Chianti Classico comes home to win the Ultima Handicap Chase. Photograph: Tom Maher/INPHO/ShutterstockShare

Updated at 11.16 EDT

2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase

It’s a big field – 22 runners – that takes to the course. Again, edgy at the start. They’re being asked to calm down. They go off first time. Trelawne goes at the first. And that looks nasty. It may mean the race is redirected. Monbeg Genius is among those making mistakes. Eklat de Rire is leading under Rachael Blackmore. The Goffer makes a mistake. Trelawne is up, good news, so they will be able to jump the last. Highland Hunter is to the fore with 11 to jump. Victorrino, the Venetia horse, is some way back as they go past the stands.

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There’s been a going change.

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2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase odds

Market movers from Oddspedia

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Updated at 10.47 EDT

CHELTENHAM 2.50 ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE

For the first time this week, let’s sound the Stat Klaxon for one of the more unlikely Festival Facts. Willie Mullins has won 95 races at this meeting, more than any other trainer in history, and that total also includes 11 handicaps. But not one of those victories was a handicap chase, leaving a weird gap on his Cheltenham Festival cv which Meetingofthewaters will attempt to close here. The seven-year-old was installed as favourite when the weights were published a fortnight ago, but is quite easy to back today, having drifted out to 7-1 in the face of money for Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer, who finished fourth in one of the strongest ever renewals of this handicap 12 months ago and is 2lb lower in the ratings this time around. Just ahead of him in third last year was Monbeg Genius, in the colours of Doug Barrowman and Baroness Michelle Mone, who was not included in the freezing order applied to £75m of his owners’ assets back in December and is therefore free to take a tilt at the £70k first prize today. Stumptown, a winner at the New Year’s Day meeting here, is another interesting runner, but this is a race that has proved highly resistant to Irish stables, even as they have steadily swamped their British counterparts in recent years. With that in mind, I’m quite keen on the chances of Kim Bailey’s two runners, Chianti Classico and Trelawne, and while David Bass, the stable’s main jockey, is aboard the former, it’s hard to argue with Harry Cobden as a deputy aboard the latter, whose progressive profile and prominent running style look well suited to this test.

SELECTION: TRELAWNE

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Some controversy over Quilixios and Rachael Blackmore, who clearly thought that was a false start. It wasn’t, and Matata, who ran a cracker for Sam Twiston-Davies, and Gaelic Warrior were long gone by the time she got her mount underway.

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Cheltenham 2.10 result

1 Gaelic Warrior (P Townend) 2-1 Fav

2 Found A Fifty (J W Kennedy) 13-2

3 Il Etait Temps (D E Mullins) 7-210 ranAlso: 22-1 Matata 4th

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A masterclass from Townend, who kept the horse out of trouble and then gunned the engine that Gaelic Warrior possesses. “He was keen but better, it’s as good a ride as I have got off him. Stamina came into play and we know he stays. Just point him the right way. It’s a pressure week, the monkey’s off the back.”

ShareGaelic Warrior wins the 2.10 Arkle Chase.

That’s the one they wanted. Mullins and Townend on the mark.

All the jockeys watching Gaelic Warrior as he is known to jump right. Chaos. It’s edgy out there, and they go, with Quilixios six lengths behind. Authorised Speed goes at the second, a faller the outsider. Matata leads them past the stands, and Gaelic Warrior sits in second. He’s jumped fine so far and looks settled. All is forgiven? He looks to want to go well clear. Il’ Etait Temps makes a mistake at the open ditch as Mutata and Gaelic Warrior lead. Il Etait Temps makes another mistake. Mutata making a brave move. Quilixios is way off and being pushed along with three to go. Found A Fifty is in the lead now, and Gaelic Warrior has work to do. But he gets to the last, and he jumps clear for his first Cheltenham win at the third attempt.

Paul Townend on Gaelic Warrior jumps clear of Found A Fifty at the last to win the Arkle Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/ReutersShare

Updated at 10.35 EDT

Bad news for Gaelic Warrior backers is the horse getting warm in the paddock. He didn’t like the hood, and suddenly the odds are lengthening. Paul Townend looks a bit worried as they mill around at the start.

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Henry de Bromhead, winning trainer of the Supreme with Slade Star, spoke to the BBC: “It’s amazing. It is the first time we have won this race. Rachael gave him a super ride and I am delighted. I thought he would be better on nicer ground but he has always been a pacey horse. It is great to get one on the board as he is one of our big hopes this week.”

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That Blackmore win raised money for a special cause, donated by Betfair for every one of her wins. She’s got a live on in the next with Quilixios.

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2.10 Arkle Chase odds

Gaelic Warrior 5/2

Il Etait Temps 4/1

Hunters Yarn 15/2

Quilixios 8/1

Found A Fifty 8/1

JPR One 14/1

My Mate Mozzie 16/1

Master Chewy 16/1

Matata 25/1

Authorised Speed 100/1

Odds via Oddspedia

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Updated at 09.57 EDT

CHELTENHAM 2.10 ARKLE CHASE PREVIEW

Another sizable posse from the Mullins stable here, including a warm 2-1 favourite in Gaelic Warrior who leaves me very cold. He has a decent record at this meeting, having finished second in both the Boodles in 2022 and the two-and-a-half mile novice hurdle last year, but his latest run behind his very useful stable companion Fact To File – he was miles adrift when unseating at the last – is hardly what you’d want to see in a Festival favourite. He is not quite top of the Timeform ratings, either – he is 1lb behind another Mullins runner, Hunters Yarn, while Il Etait Temps, the winner of the Irish equivalent of this race at Leopardstown in February, also arrives with better recent form. Quilixios, the Triumph Hurdle winner four years ago, is another with definite claims having looked to be reaching something close to his hurdles form over the biggest obstacles when successful at Naas in January, while Found A Fifty, who was only run out of it late by Il Etait Temps at Leopardstown, also deserves close consideration. The British challenge, meanwhile, is led by Joe Tizzard’s JPR One, who was only one unfortunate slip away from an impressive course-and-distance win in November, although he did finish only third when upped to Grade One company for the first time in December. My money, for what it’s worth, will be riding with Hunters Yarn, who bounced back from a fall on his chasing debut in December to record a highly impressive success at Fairyhouse in January, form that gives him a real chance to outrun his price of around 7-1 if he can overcome his relative inexperience.

SELECTION: HUNTERS YARN.

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What does that all mean? The Mullins quadpot is already sunk and those wondering about Seven Barrows form may be concerned about what happened to Jeriko Du Reponet. De Bromhead and Blackmore – a golden couple at Cheltenham.

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Cheltenham 1.30 result

1 Slade Steel (Rachael Blackmore) 7-2

2 Mystical Power (M P Walsh) 10-3

3 Firefox (J W Kennedy) 11-211 ranAlso: 11-4 Fav Tullyhill, 16-1 Asian Master 4th

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Rachael Blackmore speaks: “I didn’t want to be in front jumping the last but he took me there and battled hard. I love this place, it’s amazing to be coming here and riding these kinds of horses.”

It was won at the last, and Slade Steel was asked for a big one. Mystical Power lost his speed as they climbed to the finish, having jumped in front.

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Updated at 09.41 EDT

Slade Steel wins the Supreme!

It’s Rachael and Henry de Bromhead again!

The horses shunt around as they look for the best start possible. Will there be a false start? The Cheltenham roar goes up, but then halts. The track looks like a paddy field, it’s extremely moist. It’s an edgy start, and a false start. Back we go. The roar goes up on the second attempt. We are racing. Tullyhill takes an early lead. Jeriko Du Reponet tracks the leaders as they go past the main stands. Slade Steel, backed in, is up there too. Supersundae is the back marker. It’s not a rapid pace. Tullyhill continues to be up there, Tellherthename is up in the vanguard too, as they swing down to the business end. It’s a bunched field at the third last. Slade Steel in there. Tullyhill leads over the second last, and to the last. Slade Steel takes on Tullyhill and jumps the last, and Mystical Power looks to have it, only for Slade Steel to stay up, and win. Rachael Blackmore has done it again! Beating the Annie Power horse!

Rachael Blackmore celebrates a brilliant win on Slade Steel. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare

Updated at 10.36 EDT

1.30 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Tullyhill 3/1

Mystical Power 7/2

Slade Steel 9/2

Firefox 15/2

Jeriko Du Reponet 10/1

Mistergif 14/1

Asian Master 20/1

Tellherthename 25/1

Favour And Fortune 33/1

Supersundae 100/1

Kings Hill 200/1

Odds via Oddspedia

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Updated at 09.22 EDT

It’s all about Willie Mullins this week, though this is the first year he won’t have his mother, Maureen, around.

Today’s last race, the novice chase for amateur jockeys, has been renamed in her honour.

Everyone in our organisation has that ambition to be at the top,” he says. “If some area is not going well it’s hopped on immediately and put right. We’re always looking for new ways and we tinker and change and hold our breath. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It runs right through the yard, to the grooms and riders, and I love them buying into it.

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Preview: CHELTENHAM 1.30 SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE

A race that could well set the tone for the afternoon, as Willie Mullins sends out the first of an army of favourites this week in Tullyhill, with backup from the unbeaten Mystical Power, who is one the most impressively-bred horses ever to set foot on Prestbury Park. His sire was the late Galileo, who is generally agreed to have been the greatest Flat stallion of the last 50 years at least, while his dam, Annie Power, won the Champion Hurdle. Mystical Power is unbeaten in three starts, while Tullyhill has won twice since finishing second on his first start over timber, and either could end up going off as favourite (Tullyhill is currently shading it at 3-1, with Mystical Power at 7-2). They are, to some extent, the B team, however, as Mullins’s Ballyburn would have been a red-hot favourite for this had he not been re-routed to the opening race tomorrow, over an extra half-mile, and as it happens, Slade Steel, who was seven lengths behind Ballyburn in a Grade One at Leopardstown last month. That form puts Henry de Bromhead’s runner very close to the market leaders – he is 1lb clear at the top of Timeform’s ratings, in fact – and I reckon he could get Rachael Blackmore off to a perfect start at the meeting. Gordon Elliott’s Firefox, who actually beat Ballyburn in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, is the other leading member of an extremely strong Irish team, while anyone looking for a British-trained winner will probably start with Nicky Henderson’s Jeriko Du Reponet, who is unbeaten in three including a Grade Two at Doncaster last time. He has yet to post anything close to the level of form that the market leaders can boast, however, and there are also those nagging concerns about the overall wellbeing of the Henderson string – four of his last 10 runners have been pulled up.

SELECTION: SLADE STEEL.

Slade Steel is our pick for the Novice Hurdle. Photograph: Tom Maher/INPHO/ShutterstockShare

Updated at 09.22 EDT

Here’s today’s schedule of races.

13:30 – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2m 1/2f

14:10 – My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase, 2m

14:50 – Ultima Handicap Chase, 3m 1f

15:30 – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, 2m 1/2f

16:10 – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, 2m 4f

16:50 – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, 2m 1/2f

17:30 – Maureen Mullins National Hunt Chase (Novices’ Chase, amateur jockeys), 3m 6f

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A reminder of the first day last year, maybe some pointers to this year in there.

Marine Nationale, Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

El Fabiolo, Sporting Life Arkle

Corach Rambler, Ultima Handicap Chase

Constitution Hill, Unibet Champion Hurdle

Honeysuckle, Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

Jazzy Matty, Boodles Juvenile Hurdle

Gaillard Du Mesnil, Wellchild National Hunt Chase

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Breakfast is probably a no-go. For lunch, I try to have a sandwich then have something like a pasta-based dinner, nothing too heavy. I try to drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks. Chocolate and fizzy drinks are my guilty pleasures. It’s difficult not to, but I try not to snack as it doesn’t suit me at all.

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Sadly, the weather may not have helped the chances of a late show-up at the festival. Today, at least. The first year back after Covid was bedlam, the second far emptier. Usually go Champion Chase day, this year going to the Gold Cup, but you have to wonder whether Cheltenham’s dominance of the rest of the UK scene – Ireland has its Dublin Festival and also Punchestown – has eventually hurt the blue-riband event itself.

Of course, the post-Covid years have not been easy on the pocket, either, where in March 2022 there was a lot of saved-up cash and pent-up frustration to exert. There may, though as favs are usually beloved at Prestbury Park, be something of a Max Verstappen/Manchester City effect going on with the Mullins team.

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More on that heavy ground. Bottomless?

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John Brewin

John Brewin here, rather glad I am not at HQ today. The weather looks, well, unpromising. And could have a big say in what happens today.

Here’s Greg’s betting guide for the first day.

SharePreamble

Good morning from Cheltenham, where a damp and soggy start to the opening day of the Festival meeting has seen the going on the Old course deteriorate to soft, heavy in places and left Wednesday’s Cross-Country Chase hanging in the balance.

There was 6mm of rain overnight, significantly more than the 2mm-4mm that had been forecast, and it is still raining, with another 4mm-6mm expected in all today before the conditions (hopefully) start to brighten up around lunchtime. The Cross Country course, meanwhile, will be inspected at 6am GMT tomorrow, and if the race cannot be staged in its usual slot, the track will look into shifting it to Friday’s Gold Cup card.

Any mention of heavy in the going description on day one is a distinct rarity these days – it’s more common for the track to be putting water on in the fortnight before to ensure that it’s on the soft side of good. And it could make for a much more interesting race for the Champion Hurdle at 3.30pm, since it will play to the strengths of the stayers, like Irish Point, and potentially blunt the speed of the odds-on favourite, State Man.

State Man is just one among a whole host of market leaders from Willie Mullins’s stable on the opening card, and he will hope to make a significant dent in the half-dozen wins he needs to be the first trainer with 100 at the Festival. Tullyhill and Mystical Power – a son of the Champion Hurdle winner, Annie Power – are likely to set off as first- and second-favourites for the opening Supreme Novice Hurdle, and he also has three of the top four in the Arkle betting and another odds-on shot, Lossiemouth, in the Mares’ Hurdle.

That said, there are live runners from other yards in most of the races and quite a few of them appealed when I put my final selections together yesterday. That, of course, may or may not be good news for the man from County Carlow.

As ever, every market move, millimetre of rain and point of interest will be dissected here on the blog as it happens, today and every day at racing’s showpiece event, so let’s take a deep breath and get on with the giddy ride!

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