Cheltenham Festival LIVE results: Epatante seals bragging rights on day one as Honeysuckle beats Benie Des Dieux

Re-live the action on day one as Nicky Henderson took the bragging rights over rival Willie Mullins thanks to an upset in the Mares' Hurdle

Drone shots of Cheltenham race course

Nicky Henderson and Henry de Bromhead both picked up two wins a piece on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, but it was a day to forget for Willie Mullins as two or his horses worked together to cost themselves victory in the Mares' Hurdle.

Benie Des Dieux went into the Mares' Hurdle as the heavy favourite, but a last-minute drift reflected some uncertainty among the 60,000-plus crowd and so it transpired. In what was built-up as a showdown with the talented Honeysuckle, another Mullins-trained contender in Stormy Ireland managed to push Benie Des Dieux wide on the final turn and open the door for Rachael Blackmore to steer Honeysuckle through into the lead and away to victory by the slimmest of margins. The setback for Mullins came soon after rival Henderson moved clear in the overall wins race, with Epatante claiming the trainer's 66th Cheltenham victory by taking the Champion Hurdle.

Henderson had opened his account with victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle as Shishkin took the opening race of the day, while De Bromhead secured his first win in the Arkle as Put The Kettle On took the spoils. The Conditional clinched the Ultima after a late surge saw off joint-favourites Discorama and Vindication, and Imperial Aura took the Novices' Handicap Chase before the Gordon Elliott-trained Ravenhill took the National Hunt Chase.

Full racecard

Tuesday

1:30pm - The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: 1. Shishkin 6-1 2. Abacadabras 11-5 3. Chantry House 15-2

2:10pm - The Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase: 1. Put The Kettle On 16-1 2. Fakir D’Oudairies 3-1 3. Rouge Vif 9-1

2:50pm - The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase: 1. The Conditional 15-2 2. Kildisart 10-1 3. Discorama 11-2 Jt Fav 4. Vindication 11-2 Jt Fav

3:30pm - The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy: 1. Epatante 2/1 Fav 2. Sharjah 16/1 3. Darvar Star 17/2

4:10pm - The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race: 1. Honeysuckle 9/4 2. Benie Des Dieux 4-6 fav 3. Elfile 16/1

4:50pm - The Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase: 1. Imperial Aura 4-1 Jtfav 2. Galvin 4-1 Jtfav 3. Hold The Note 10-1

5:30pm - The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup: 1 Ravenhill 12-1 2 Lord Du Mesnil 11-2 3 Lamanver Pippin 33-1

Wednesday

1:30pm - The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race

2:10pm - The RSA Insurance Novices’ Steeple Chase

2:50pm - The Coral Cup Hurdle

3:30pm - The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase

4:10pm - The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase

4:50pm - The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race

5:30pm - The Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Thursday

1:30pm - The Marsh Novices’ Chase

2:10pm - The Pertemps Network Final

2:50pm - The Ryanair Steeple Chase

3:30pm - The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

4:10pm - The Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate

4:50pm - The Festival Mares Novices’ Hurdle

5:30pm - The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup

Friday

1:30pm - The JCB Triumph Hurdle

2:10pm - The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race

2:50pm - The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race

3:30pm - The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase

4:10pm - The St James’s Place Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup

4:50pm - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase

5:30pm - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

 

Key Points

• 1:30pm: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - 1. Shishkin 6-1 2. Abacadabras 11-5 3. Chantry House 15-2
• 2:10pm: Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase - 1. Put The Kettle On 16-1 2. Fakir D’Oudairies 3-1 3. Rouge Vif 9-1
• 2:50pm: Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase - 1. The Conditional 15-2 2. Kildisart 10-1 3. Discorama 11-2 Jt Fav 4. Vindication 11-2 Jt Fav
• 3:30pm: Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy - 1. Epatante 2/1 Fav 2. Sharjah 16/1 3. Darvar Star 17/2
• 4:10pm: Mares’ Hurdle Race - 1. Honeysuckle 9/4 2. Benie Des Dieux 4-6 fav 3. Elfile 16/1
• 4:50pm: Novices’ Handicap Chase - 1. Imperial Aura 4-1 Jtfav 2. Galvin 4-1 Jtfav 3. Hold The Note 10-1
• 5:30pm: The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup - 1 Ravenhill 12-1 2 Lord Du Mesnil 11-2 3 Lamanver Pippin 33-1

[10 March 2020 13:36 · Jack de Menezes]

It's still Asterion Forlonge out in front but a messy jump three from home allows Elixir D'Ainay to pull level, but the latter falls two from home!

[10 March 2020 13:36 · Jack de Menezes]

Its Shishkin vs Abacadbras for the win...

[10 March 2020 13:36 · Jack de Menezes]

Shishkin wins the Supreme Novices' Hurdle by a nose!

It'll go to a photo finish...

[10 March 2020 13:39 · Jack de Menezes]

Supreme Novices' Hurdle

It was a messy finish to the race as poor jumping from Asterion Forlonge caused chaos, with a jump out right bringing down Captain Guinness two from home. That allowed Shishkin and Abacadabras to hit the front in a head-to-head run for the finish, and Nico de Boinville rallied Shishkin following the final hurdle to edge ahead and seal it on a photo finish. The victory is even more incredible given Shishkin nearly fell five hurdles from home! 

[10 March 2020 13:43 · Jack de Menezes]

Result: Supreme Novices' Hurdle

1. Shishkin 6-1

2. Abacadabras 11-5

3. Chantry House 15-2

[10 March 2020 13:48 · Jack de Menezes]

Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Confirmation through that both Elixir D'Ainay and Captain Guinness are ok after the fall, as well as jockeys Rachael Blackmore and Mark Walsh.

[10 March 2020 13:55 · Jack de Menezes]

 Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase

Next up it's the Arkle, which will get underway in about 15 minutes time, with the Festival getting off to a flier in two big-name races. Despite falling in the last race Mark Walsh will be looking for a strong performance from Fakir D'Oudairies, although with an 11-horse field to choose from, it won't be straightforward.

1. Al Dancer (S Twiston-Davies) - 20/1

2. Brewin’Upastorm (R Johnson) - 13/1

3. Cash Back (P Townend) - 7/1

4. Esprit Du Large (A Wedge) - 11/1

5. Fakir D’Oudairies (M Walsh) - 4/1

6. Global Citizen (D Bass) - 33/1

7. Notebook (R Blackmore) - 11/4

8. Our Merlin (S Sheppard) - 250/1

9. Rouge Vif (G Sheehan) - 12/1

10. Maire Banrigh (H Skelton) - 14/1

11. Put The Kettle On (A Coleman) - 20/1

[10 March 2020 14:02 · Jack de Menezes]

Arkle Challenge Trophy

Under 10 minutes to go until the second race of the day gets underway, with the horses emerging into the paddock and the jockeys due out any second. Here they come!

[10 March 2020 14:06 · Jack de Menezes]

Arkle Challenge Trophy

Off they go down to post ahead of the two-mile race, which really takes its toll on the stamina of the horses and jockeys. Notebook by the way has moved in to a 9/4 favourite position in a late move. 

[10 March 2020 14:10 · Jack de Menezes]

Arkle Challenge Trophy

And it's another false start! That's two from two.