The first day of jumps racing at the Cheltenham Festival was full of excitement, surprising wins, and tragedy. Just another day in horse racing.
Willie Mullins, the biggest contender for the trainer’s trophy, only won two of his four races but one of those was record-breaking, so it’s not all bad.
Vautour, who was a top priced 3-1 at 
Bet365, raced home in a course-record time to give trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh back-to-back victories in the Cheltenham Festival opener following Champagne Fever’s exploits last year. The clock stopped at 3m 46.40s as Vautour hit the line, beating the previous best of 3m 48.10s achieved by the mighty Istabraq.
Vantour was followed by Josses Hill (14-1), who pipped his Nicky Henderson stablemate Vaniteux (11-1) for second, six lengths behind as Vautour became the first favourite to claim the Supreme Novices’ since Brave Inca in 2004. Fellow joint-favourite Irving was out the back a long way from home and never got involved, while Gilgamboa blew his chance with a mistake at the second-last.
Walsh said: “I was riding this horse like a stayer as I would have been kicking myself if I came back in and didn’t go fast enough. He was in my hands the whole way and he jumped super when I needed him. He’s a good horse.”
Jubilation quickly turned to shock in the Racing Post Arkle as Mullins’s 11-4 joint-favourite Champagne Fever was beaten in the final stride by 33-1 outsider Western Warhorse.
Sporting a first-time hood, Western Warhorse was always close to the pace-setting Champagne Fever, who jumped magnificently in front as he sought a third successive win at the festival.
A tremendous battle up the Cheltenham hill ensued with Champagne Fever valiantly fighting for everything and Western Warhorse inching him back. The line came too late for backers of the Willie Mullins-trained runner. Trifolium was third.
In sad news, Our Conor was unfortunately put down after sustaining back injuries after crashing into the turf in the Champion Hurdle. This fabulous horse will be sadly missed by all involved in horse racing.
Mullins’s Hurricane Fly came in fourth in the Hurdle, behind The New One who ended up in third place after being brought to a halt by Conor’s fatal fall, My Tent Or Yours, and winner Jezki.
Mullins’s Quevega made history on the opening day by taking home her sixth Mares’ Hurdle, eclipsing the mighty Golden Miller. The 4-5 favourite’s history-making success looked unlikely for much of the closing stages, but once she was in top gear she easily wore down stablemate Glens Melody.
Jumping the last Quevega was still second, but deep inside the final furlong she wore down her stablemate, four years her junior, to make history. Glens Melody took second at 14-1, with L’Unique running a fine race to claim third at 25-1.
Reflecting on the win, Walsh said: “That’s the quickest ground she’s run on and I was fairly panicking off the bend as I didn’t think I would get Glens Melody back. She has everything. It’s a super performance to keep bringing her here to win.”
Mullins added: “She’s an absolute superstar, I’m so pleased for her and her connections. She’s got her own place in history. ”
And so concludes the Day 1 action at Cheltenham, the following days will be hard-pressed to deliver as much action.
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