Cheltenham Festival 2023 LIVE results: Day 1 tips, racecards, and Champion Hurdle betting
The iconic Cheltenham Festival is back for 2023 this week, and you can follow all the action live as it is from day one in Gloucestershire right here with Mirror Sport
The biggest week on the racing calendar is back, as the 2023 Cheltenham Festival kicks off this afternoon. Some of the world's best horses, jockeys and trainers will descend on the Gloucestershire town for four days of action-packed racing.
And things are off to a big start today, with some of the week's big races and runners in action. The Festival kicked off with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with victory for Marine Nationale. .
Race four sees the marquee run of the day as the Champion Hurdle kicks off in its usual spot at 15:30. Heavy favourite Constitution Hill leads the betting and it is hard to look past the Nicky Henderson-trained horse.
Discussing his star runner heading into the festival, Henderson told Racing TV: "He’s doing freakish things, but he’s only had five runs in his life and you have to remember that it’s very early days in his career. Normally when you’re coming to a Champion Hurdle you’re doing so on the back of between 10-12 races or something, so it’s hard to gauge really apart from the fact he’s done nothing wrong.
“His racing brain is brilliant. You could go three miles with him because you’d just switch him off and put him to sleep and then wait until you get the right moment and press the button. It really is as simple as that.”
Three races then follow, with the Mares' Hurdle running at 16:10 where back-to-back Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle will run under Rachael Blackmore.
Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle kicks off at 16:50 with a wide open field, before day one comes to a close with theNational Hunt Chase.
To follow all the action make sure to stay with us here at Mirror Sport ad follow the blog below.
Pick up your Daily Mirror every day of the festival for racing specials, day by day updates and free bet EVERY DAY.
Celebrate the biggest racing week of the year- the Cheltenham Festival. One of the most prestigious National Hunt Meetings of the calendar is not to be missed…and we’ve got a bumper week of amazing content and great reader offers. Find out more HERE.
Derek Fox reacts to the win
"I was told by Peter Scudamore to ride him with plenty of confidence and don't change anything from last year. He's a nerveless horse, he's the horse of a lifetime really.
"It needed a lot of things to go right when you commit to dropping back early. It suits his run style. I am over the moon."
Corach Rambler wins the Ultima Handicap Chase
It's back-to-back Ultimas for Corach Rambler for jockey Derek Fox!
Harper's Brook started well and led the field early on ahead of Top Ville Ben, Fantastikas and Happygolucky.
But Corach Rambler began to make its move on the inside with three to go, although Fastorslow and Monberg Genius remained in contention down the final stretch.
It proved to be a dramatic finale too as the favourite just held off Fastorslow to claim the win.
A new favourite for the Grand National?
- Corach Rambler (Derek Fox) 6-1 Jt Fav
- Fastorslow (J J Slevin) 7-1
- Monbeg Genius (Jonjo O'Neill Jr.) 6-1 Jt Fav
They're off!
Who will win the Ultima Handicap Chase?
It is two from two so far on the opening day for Ireland but they don't have a good record in this one with 23 horses in the field.
Grand National contender Corach Rambler goes off at 5-1 as he bids for consecutive wins in this race.
Ultima Handicap Chase up next!
Corach Rambler has strong claims of becoming the fourth winner of the Festival’s three-mile, one-furlong handicap chase.
Corach Rambler didn’t shine at Carlisle in October but his fourth in Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup the following month - Remastered was two places ahead in second – showed the fire still burns.
A first attempt beyond three miles is likely to tease out more from Nassalam, while Into Overdrive, Monbeg Genius and The Big Breakaway are others with claims of a minor medal.
Update on Dysart Dynamo
Good news after the Arkle! The faller Dysart Dynamo is up on his feet and receiving applause from the crowd as he is led back.
Reaction from Paul Townend
"He has a huge engine and was improving the whole time. You can trust him and he came alive at the right time.
"I have liked him a lot, the engine has always been there.
"I think as he matures and settles better, he could be a Champions' Chase runner."
El Fabiolo wins The Arkle
The favourite El Fabiolo secures victory ahead of Jonbon in another fascinating race.
The big three in the market held down the first three places for most of the race with Dysart Dynamo out in the lead.
But in a dramatic finale, El Fabiolo raced clear on the inside to claim victory ahead of Jonbon. Victory for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins.
Dysart Dynamo suffered a tired fall on the last hurdle and we will have updates on his condition.
- El Fabiolo - 11-10 F
- Jonbon - 2-1
- Saint Roi 11-1
We are underway!
They are off in The Arkle in the second race of the day.
All eyes on Jonbon and El Fabiolo in this one.
Trainer Nicky Henderson insists there are a number of horses in the mix though.
The Arkle up next at 2:10
El Fabiolo was thunderously impressive in landing the Irish Arkle Novice Chase last month – and will take some beating in the Cheltenham version.
On the back of a 19-length winning debut over fences at Fairyhouse four days before Christmas, Willie Mullins stepped the six-year-old up to the top level at the Dublin Racing Festival.
And Daryl Jacobs’ mount passed the test with flying colours at Leopardstown, shrugging off an error at the four-last fence to hold Banbridge by 10 lengths.
Jonbon is a very impressive jumper too - will it be a two-horse race?
Barry Connell delighted with the win
"I put my neck on the line a few months ago and said this was an absolute weapon. I knew going in we had the best horse and the best rider in the race.
"Michael is unreal, he is a future star. We are coming back tomorrow for another win."
O'Sullivan reacts
"Unbelievable. I am so lucky to get on this horse. Barry Connell put his faith in me and I am so glad I repaid him. I don't think this can be topped. He won easy!
"I have been dreaming of this moment since I was riding ponies at four-years-old. All my family have been so supportive.
"To get a day like this, I couldn't ask for anything more!"
Marine Nationale wins Supreme Novices' Hurdle
What a start to the 2023 Festival.
Marine Nationale has pipped favourite Facile Vega to win the Novices' Hurdle.
The 9-2 shot was in second going into the final hurdle after High Definition and Rare Edition had led the pack early on. But leader Facile Vega landed awkwardly and Michael O'Sullivan rode clear at the final stretch.
It is the jockey's first ever Cheltenham win and he was understandably emotional afterwards.
- Marine Nationale
- Facile Vega
- Diverge
And they're off!
The 2023 Cheltenham Festival is underway.
A huge roar greets the starting pistol in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Who will emerge victorious?
O'Leary criticises Russell decision
Michael O’Leary has criticised veteran jump jockey Davy Russell’s decision to come out of retirement to ride at another Cheltenham Festival.
The outspoken racehorse owner and boss of Ryanair said Russell, 43, should have put his family first when returning to the sport in February just four weeks after quitting the sport.
Russell agreed to come to the aid of trainer Gordon Elliott after stable jockey Jack Kennedy broke his leg. He rode the O’Leary-owned Tiger Roll to win two Grand Nationals and he is set to Conflated for the owner in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"He’d retired and, personally, I wish he’d stayed retired. He has a young family with young children and at a certain point in time you should put your family first and not your riding career
"When you get out at that age in your early 40s you don’t bounce, you don’t mend the way you did before. Particularly if you’re married and you have children you put your family first.
"He’s had a glorious career and he has nothing to achieve by coming back and I don’t think he should’ve come out of retirement."
1:30pm - Supreme Novices' Hurdle
We are just 20 minutes away from the first race of the Cheltenham Festival.
The traditional curtain raiser is the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, which was won by Constitution Hill a year ago.
Facile Vega is the big favourite for this one with Paul Townend riding for Willie Mullins.
ITV extend racing deal
ITV announced on Tuesday that it will be broadcasting the Cheltenham Festival for at least another three years after extending its exclusive deal with horse racing.
The network has signed a new three-year agreement to show exclusive, free to air coverage of UK horse racing until the end of 2026.
The deal covers over 100 days of live coverage across ITV1 and ITV4 each year - all simulcast on ITVX - along with morning racing programme The Opening Show.
Racing crown jewel events, the Grand National, the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot and the Derby will continue to be featured.
Betting ring tales from legendary bookie
One billion pounds. At least.
That is the amount expected to be wagered on races at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, a fair portion of it online.
But there was a time when the real action was in the ring, legendary punters armed with “bricks of £50 notes as ammunition” doing battle with legendary bookmakers.
There is no more legendary punter than JP McManus - the Irish owner who will have a host of runners over the next four days - and no more legendary bookie than Victor Chandler.
In the authorised biography, Victor Chandler: Put Your Life On It - released in paperback last Thursday - author Jamie Reid details some of the infamous skirmishes between McManus and Chandler and recounts the days when the Festival betting ring was no place for the faint-hearted.
Guinness Village hotting up
The Guinness Village remains one of the hotbeds of the Festival.
It is estimated around 220,000 pints will be served over the four days, although prices have been hiked up.
Connell eyeing upsets
Barry Connell is making training look easy.
In only his third season since setting up his own jumps yard he has three graded victories to his name, two at Grade 1 level courtesy of Marine Nationale and Good Land.
He is taking on and beating the training juggernauts of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott and he hopes to do it again at the Cheltenham Festival.
Until he changed profession Connell’s day job was in finance as a Dublin hedge fund manager.
Meet Megan Nicholls
Megan Nicholls combined a career in the saddle with work as a model, bloodstock agent, jockey agent and ITV and Racing TV pundit.
How does the 25-year-old, daughter of 13-time champion National Hunt trainer Paul, fit it all in?
The punters are in the house
The racing doesn't get underway for two more hours but fans are already in place at Cheltenham.
Some were even seen running through to ensure they got the best position for today's action.
There will likely be some famous faces in the stands too, and we will be keeping an eye on any celebrity spectators.
Newsboy's day one tips
Constitution Hill should once again prove in a league of his own to stretch Nicky Henderson’s record of Champion Hurdle triumphs to nine.
It’s a measure of what he has achieved in just five attempts over hurdles that the six-year-old is already being spoken of as one of the all-time greats.
If you fancy a flutter, my full tips for Tuesday are...
1.30 IL ETAIT TEMPS
2.10 EL FABIOLO
2.50 CORACH RAMBLER (NB)
3.30 CONSTITUTION HILL
4.10 MARIE’S ROCK (NAP)
4.50 METAMORPHEUS
5.30 GAILLARD DU MESNIL
Record figures in 2022
Last year saw a record attendance at Cheltenham of over 280,000 across the four days.
It remains to be seen if that will be broken this time around, with 73,875 present on Friday in 2022.
Catering teams will be prepared once again though, with a reported 45,000 bread rolls and 8,000 gallons of tea and coffee prepared.
One would suggest the amount of Guinness sold would be even bigger!
McCoist explains love for racing
Ally McCoist scored 251 goals in 418 appearances for Glasgow Rangers between 1983 and 1998, before making a seamless transition into TV and radio.
But despite his exploits in football, the Scot is also a huge racing fan and displays the same sort of passion that has made him such a fan's favourite in his media work.
McCoist, a member of talkSPORT’s Sports Breakfast (6am-10am) team broadcasting from Cheltenham during the Festival, spoke to Mirror Sport's David Yates about his life — and his love of racing.
Soft ground for day one
Cheltenham's clerk of the course Jon Pullin has opened up on the conditions faced in today's races. to ITV Racing.
"It has been a tricky period. The forecast is to remain dry for the rest of the day but the temperatures will drop overnight," he said.
"We are soft ground and it will be testing today. We have had 7ml of rain in the last 24 hours."
Full line-up on day one
- 1:30pm - Supreme Novices' Hurdle
- 2:10pm - Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase
- 2:50pm - Handicap Chase
- 3:30pm - Champion Hurdle
- 4:10pm - Mares' Hurdle
- 4:50pm - Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
- 5:30pm - National Hunt Challenge Cup
Welcome to Cheltenham
The day we have all been waiting for is here, the start of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival!
Thousands will again descend on the famous course over the next four days for what promises to be a fascinating week of racing.
The weather forecast is not looking great and that could of course have a huge bearing on who emerges victorious on a huge day in the racing calendar.
All eyes are on the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday as superstar Constitution Hill goes in search of another victory to add to a burgeoning CV.
Elsewhere, it promises to be an emotional day as Rachael Blackmore bids to ride Honeysuckle to a fourth Festival success, in its last ever race in the Mares' Hurdle.
Mirror Sport will be bringing updates from the opening day and across the Festival so buckle up, it is going to be a hell of a week!
