Constitution Hill stole the headlines as the biggest week in the horse racing calendar arrived -2023 Cheltenham Festival.
With celebrities and punters alike descending to Gloucestershire the sport's most prominent owners, trainers, jockeys and horses were there to put on a show and they didn't disappoint. The undoubted star was Constitution Hill who showed he belonged in a league of his own yet again with an incredible victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
On what was his sixth run over obstacles, Constitution Hill won the admiration of everyone once more as the hottest priced favourite of the week coasted clear of Irish Champion Hurdle winner State Man to win by nine lengths.
Quite simply he made brilliant horses look very ordinary as Ruby Walsh, working for ITV Racing, exclaimed: “This could be the greatest horse of all time.”
But that wasn't the only brilliant story of the day as Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore completed the fairy-tale ending by winning the Mares' Hurdle. Blackmore told ITV after Honeysuckle's victorious swansong: "She was unbelievable. The way Henry has produced her every day is phenomenal. As a jockey I'm so grateful."
There was plenty more action throughout the day with electric crowds throughout the day, and it looks set to be the same tomorrow for Day Two. You can find the full results from the first day of the Cheltenham Festival below:
1.30pm Supreme Novices Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
Marine Nationale 9-2- (IRE), M. J. M. O'Sullivan
Facile Vega 9-4 F - (IRE), P. Townend
Diverge 25-1 - Mr P. W. Mullins
2:10pm Arkle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) 1m 7f 99y
El Fabiolo 11-10 F - (FR), Paul Townend
Jonbon 2-1 (FR), Aidan Coleman
Saint Roi 11-1 (FR) Tongue Strap, Mark Walsh
2:50pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
Corach Rambler 6-1 JF - (IRE), Derek Fox
Fastorslow 7-1 - (FR), J. J. Slevin
Monbeg Genius 6-1 JF - (IRE), Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
3:30pm Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
- Constitution Hill 4-11, Nico de Boinville
State Man 7-2 (FR), Paul Townend
Zanahiyr 66-1 (IRE), Davy Russell
4:10pm David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
1. Honeysuckle 9/4, Rachael Blackmore
2. Love Envoi 11/1, Jonathan Burke
3. Queens Brook 16/1, Davy Russell
4:50pm Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 87y
1. Jazzy Matty (FR) 18-1, Michael O'Sullivan
2. Byker (IRE) 6-1, Philip Byrnes
3. Risk Belle (FR) 10-1, Luke Dempsey
5:30pm National Hunt Chase (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y
1. Gaillard du Mesnil (FR) 10-11, Patrick Mullins
2. Chemical Energy (IRE) 8-1, Jamie Codd
3. Mister Coffey (FR 11-1), Derek O'Connor