Luccia boost for Nicky Henderson – but all five other runners pulled up on opening day of Cheltenham Festival

Luccia ran a blinder to finish third in the Champion Hurdle for Nicky Henderson – but there remain concerns about the trainer’s overall form after all five of his other runners were pulled up.

Since Constitution Hill was pulled out of the Champion Hurdle last month, the stable’s form has been under increased scrutiny and, leading into Cheltenham, eight runners in March had comprised a winner, a second, three fifths and three pulled-up runners.

There were five more runners pulled up at Cheltenham on Tuesday (Jeriko Du Reponet, Excello, Iberico Lord, Marie’s Rock and Theatre Glory), but Luccia did at least provide a bright spark as she posted a career-best to finish a three-and-a-half-length third behind State Man, having been sent off a 33-1 shot and the lowest-rated horse in the field.

Henderson said afterwards: “If I’d had any say in the matter at all, she’d have run in the County – but I’m not the boss! Actually, from two months ago we said we’d give it a go, and she’s a mare, and she’s been great all the way through.

Luccia (pick silks) chases home State Man and Irish Point in the Champion HurdleCredit: GROSSICK RACING

“She might be going to stud – I’ll try to persuade Paul [Sandy, owner] to have another go, in a handicap, which is where she normally lives, but she’s grown up today.”

Asked whether there is a chance that Constitution Hill might be ready to take on State Man before the end of the season, Henderson replied: “I don’t know. At least he was ridden out with the others this morning, which was nice to see. He came out with the other horses for the first time, but we’ve got a long, long way to go.”

In Constitution Hill’s absence, Henderson had also supplemented Iberico Lord into the race, but he failed to build on his impressive form in handicaps and fell away tamely, as did the quietly fancied Jeriko Du Reponet – reportedly not suited by the ground – in the Supreme.

While the market didn’t expect much from Excello or Theatre Glory, Marie’s Rock was another bitter disappointment, although the ground could also have been a legitimate excuse for her given she had been kept away from heavy ground on all but one of her previous 17 starts.

Henderson still has the likes of Jonbon, Chantry House, Sir Gino, Shishkin and No Ordinary Joe to come this week and it remains a conundrum for punters on how to approach his runners.

A big-staking Paddy Power punter was in line for a potential £200,000 payout heading to the last race on day one – but, despite cashing out part of the bet and then seeing their final selection beaten, still pocketed more than £50,000.

The Chelmsford-based online punter had a £20 each-way accumulator and a £240 (£1 a line each-way) Super Heinz on seven horses. The horses were Slade Steel, Gaelic Warrior, Chianti Classico, State Man, Lossiemouth, Lark In The Mornin and Embassy Gardens.

After the first six were successful, the punter stood to win more than £200,000 for an outlay of just £280 across the two bets, but then opted to cash out of the accumulator for £36,000 while letting the Super Heinz ride for a possible payout of £49,937. Embassy Gardens was a well-beaten runner-up, meaning the punter added more than £14,000 to their cashout winnings.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “It’s not been an ideal start to the week for the bookies and we’ve lost on the day. But it was nice to see one shrewd punter from Essex trouser £50,000 and we’re happy that our customers have full wallets for the rest of the action with everything to play for.”

Read these next:

‘He deserved his day in the sun’ – super State Man holds off plucky Irish Point for commanding Champion Hurdle success 

Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore off to the perfect start as Slade Steel comes good in festival opener  

Lossiemouth ‘is a Champion Hurdle mare’ says Willie Mullins after dominant trainer lands opening day treble 

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