Cheltenham Festival Day Two | Nicky Henderson looks to make history in Champion Chase

“I haven’t had one who can do things like this one.”

“I’m so proud of him.”

That was the race of the festival so far with JP McManus’ The New Lion coming out on top after a brilliant finish between the top three in the betting.

They rounded the turn together but McManus’ horse found more than the rest, powering up the hill to pass his two rivals.

The New Lion, trained by Dan Skelton and rode by his brother Harry, came from behind to beat Gordon Elliott’s The Yellow Clay into second, with the favourite Final Demand in third.

It’s another win for the British trainers, and they move 5-3 clear in the Prestbury Cup.

1. The New Lion 3/1
2. The Yellow Clay 5/2 2 fav
3. Final Demand 6/4 fav

The Turners’ Novice’s hurdle gets us underway today where Willie Mullins again saddles a hot favourite, Final Demand (6/4). 

JP McManus’ The New Lion (9/4) is also strong in the market as is the Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy combo, The Yellow Clay (3/1).

Declan O’Connell is the co-owner of Bambino Fever who is running in the Champion Bumper, and he spoke to Michael Verney.

Read More: 

Read his column:

‘Patrick Mullins: Ballyburn looks ready to bounce back from Christmas humiliation in first run over three miles’

Watch as punters make their way into Cheltenham for day two of the festival, arriving in their droves and in style.

The atmosphere is electric, with live music playing and that sense of anticipation in the air.

The weather is colder today with some snow having fallen overnight, but the racegoers remain typically enthusiastic.

The weather conditions are completely different at the Cotswolds today with no sun shining, with snow having fallen overnight.

It’s day two of the Cheltenham festival with the Irish raiders looking to get back on top having fallen behind in the Prestbury Cup standings on Tuesday.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the star-turn where Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon looks set to go off odds-on.

But there are no certainties in horse-racing, certainly not in Cheltenham, as we learned yesterday.

We’ll take you through all the action with build-up, results, interviews and reports.

Stick with us here.

Just when you think you have seen it all, the 2025 Unibet Champion Hurdle threw the cruellest of spanners in the works, with the last two winners of the Cheltenham Festival’s opening day feature – Constitution Hill and State Man – suffering unexpected falls. 
The majority of those in attendance at Prestbury Park were willing on Nicky Henderson’s former champion Constitution Hill, who was the well-backed 1-2 favourite to become only the third horse to regain the crown and extend his unbeaten record to 11. 
However, having travelled with his customary enthusiasm and let fly at a couple of early obstacles, the eight-year-old ultimately paid the price at the fifth, with the packed grandstands letting out a collective gasp as he and Nico de Boinville crashed to the ground. 
Thankfully, Constitution Hill was soon back on his feet and continued before being caught and returned to the unsaddling enclosure. 
When asked how he could sum up what had happened, Henderson said: “You think of the first word that comes into your head and it would probably be the same as mine. I don’t know, what can you say? 
“He seems fine, he’s very bright and breezy. He hasn’t had a race, obviously, and we’ll just have to think of a plan. 
“We thought we had him right, he’s been in terrific form, but there you go – it happens. Poor old State Man as well, you couldn’t believe those two silly old fools have gone and done what they’ve done today.” 
Henderson has won the Champion Hurdle more than anyone, with nine previous victories, and knows there is no margin for error in the jumping department when the heat is on. 
He added: “When you’re jumping as fast as they jump, you’ve got to get it deadly accurate. You’d like to see the replay of it, but it doesn’t really matter what he did. I can’t take it out of his vocabulary, they will do these silly things. 
“Somebody said the hurdle swung back into him. He was having a lovely time and he’s run two miles even if he didn’t have Nico on his back and he’s come back in here very fresh. 
“It’s tough, but we have to live with it. We know what we’re playing with and that’s the game – you have to take these things. It’s just typical it’s on a day like this. 
“So now what do we do? I know what we’ll do, surely there’ll be a rather fun day in Punchestown now.” 
With Henderson’s ace gone and Gordon Elliott’s well-fancied mare Brighterdaysahead seemingly a spent force from the home turn, the stage looked set for last year’s winner State Man – no match for Constitution Hill in 2023 – to successfully defend his crown. 
The chestnut was home for all money under Paul Townend when he took off too far from the last hurdle. 
“State Man had the race in the bag and I can’t say we would have won, that would be stupid,” Henderson went on. 
“But everything was going great and it is cruel as we waited two years to get him back here.” 
Constitution Hill’s owner Michael Buckley was similarly despondent. After giving his pride and joy a consolatory carrot, he said: “It’s a crock of s***, that’s what it is. I’m sorry, I sound like Donald Trump, but I can’t think of a better way to describe it. 
“It is pretty painful to be honest. It makes you want to cry, but I’m trying not to.” 
State Man’s trainer Willie Mullins was magnanimous in defeat, after scenes reminiscent of Annie Power in the 2015 Mares’ Hurdle. 
He said: “He’s a little bit sore and got a bang on the head I think when he was getting up, but he cantered away and trotted up sound, so we’re happy enough with him. The vets have examined him and they’ve said he’s fine to travel home this evening – that’s good news. 
“It’s unfortunate, but it’s racing and that’s what makes winning over here so hard, you never know when something like that is going to happen. 
“You’ve really got to choose the right horse for any race here and you make plenty of plans, but you couldn’t have imagined that – two Champion Hurdle winners falling. 
“The only thing stranger would have been if Lossiemouth was in there, she would probably have been brought down! You never know what’s going to happen and that’s why bookmakers drive bigger cars than us.” 
Gordon Elliott was left struggling to explain the performance of Brighterdaysahead, who passed the post a tired fourth. 
“To be honest with you she was well beaten even with nearly getting brought down at the last,” said the Cullentra House handler. 
“Jack (Kennedy) said when he asked her she never picked up at all and she normally picks up. Jack said she whinnied crossing the line, so that would be a worry and we’ll have to get her checked out and see how she is. She was very distressed. 
“You couldn’t say they went too fast, but we’ll get her checked out and see how she is. 
“I’m not sure you could say it’s a Cheltenham thing, as she just didn’t finish her race. Last year she finished her race, but today she was walking going to the last and she didn’t run her race.”

Lossiemouth maintained her perfect Cheltenham record in successfully defending her Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle crown. 
The six-year-old claimed the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One contest by three lengths 12 months ago and more than justified 4-6 favouritism for another impressive victory under the guidance of Paul Townend. 
The Rich Ricci-owned grey sat in second for much of the race, sitting on the shoulder of her Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Jade De Grugy before making her move ahead of the final fence. 
Jade De Grugy tried to push the tempo, but Lossiemouth cruised past the leader before flying over the last and kicking on to seal a seven-and-a-half-length triumph and win at the Festival for the third time. Take No Chances was third for Dan Skelton. 
Plenty of the build-up to Cheltenham had surrounded whether Lossiemouth would go for the Champion Hurdle over the Mares’ Hurdle, and while two defeats this season had raised question marks, that still appeared it would be the case before a late change of heart. 
Mullins said: “As a trainer and as a professional I didn’t see the work (the other day) to run her in the Champion Hurdle, which disappointed me on the day, but we had the alternative to come here and that worked. 
“You have to look at Rich Ricci’s team – he hasn’t had a great year this year and we all sort of gauge ourselves by Cheltenham. I’m not sure he has another live chance of a winner this week and she was a live chance of a winner in this race. 
“It was disappointing to change our minds from a two-year plan, but it was the correct decision for the connections, I think. 
“For these owners that we have, it’s all about coming here and having a winner, and Paul wasn’t going to ride this mare in the Champion Hurdle. When Paul said he wasn’t going to ride her in the Champion Hurdle, that was enough of a pointer for most people. 
“I was happy with where our horses were placed in the race. Danny (Mullins) said he was going to make the running on Jade De Grugy, she ran a cracker as well and there’s more big days in her, too.” 
On whether Lossiemouth will be aimed at the Champion Hurdle next season, Mullins added: “I’m not going to open my mouth again! 
“This is her third win in Cheltenham, which puts her in a different league from a lot of other horses, and if we want to see that battle (with the geldings) they can come to Ireland and take her on, or we might go to Liverpool for the Aintree Hurdle. It doesn’t have to be all about one day here, there are other opportunities to meet those type of horses. 
“She is a mare with a nice pedigree. At the moment Rich probably has mares for racing rather than breeding. If a breeder owned her she’d probably be retired to stud, but I’d say the fact that she’s in the pink and green spots means she’ll probably race for another season at least.” 

Myretown produced a brilliant front-running performance at Cheltenham to earn trainer Lucinda Russell her third victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase from the last four runnings. 
The eight-year-old, wearing the same silks and by the same sire in former Arc hero Dylan Thomas as Russell’s stable stalwart Ahoy Senor, looked comfortable in the hands of Patrick Wadge in taking the early lead. 
It was an advantage Myretown did not relinquish and a fantastic jump at the final fence saw him burst clear of Joe Tizzard’s The Changing Man before streaking clear to romp home by 11 lengths as the 13-2 favourite. Malina Girl was third for Gavin Cromwell. 
Russell said: “I wasn’t keen on running him, but the owners said ‘come on, let’s have a go’ and he was well handicapped if he jumped round, I just didn’t know if he’d be man enough, but it looks like he is. 
“I’ve just remembered I own half of him so it’s just got even better. He’s phenomenal and I always thought he might be another Ahoy Senor – we bought him because he looks like Ahoy Senor. 
“He’s a bit different to Corach Rambler who jumps so exuberantly and Corach was a star, but just a different type of horse. 
“This is a brilliant horse and I’m delighted for Patrick, it wasn’t a bad ride for his first Festival winner was it! It was really brave.” 
Wadge added: “I couldn’t believe jumping three out I couldn’t hear anyone near me and I just hoped I hadn’t gone too quick. I gave him a squeeze on the bend and he took off – I think he could have gone round again. I can’t thank Lucinda, Scu (Petere Scudamore) and the owners for letting me to ride him, to get a sit on this lad was phenomenal. The faith they had in me was amazing. 
“I don’t know how good he could be, but he’s the best I’ve ever sat on and he could be the best I ever will sit on.” 
Puturhandstogether (17-2) timed his challenge to perfection to land the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for Joseph O’Brien and owner JP McManus. 
While Hot Fuss hit the front on the run for home, Puturhandstogether was stalking in behind under the guidance of Mark Walsh, who chose him over stablemate Beyond Your Dreams. 
That decision proved fruitful as the leading pair jumped over the final flight together before Puturhandstogether moved to the inside rail to power home by six lengths. 
Robbies Rock outran his 50-1 odds to finish second for Cromwell, with Liam Swagger third and Hot Fuss back in fourth. 
O’Brien said: “I thought Mark gave him a great ride and at halfway it didn’t look as if he was going that easily, but he came onto the bridle and he really enjoyed the spring ground today. 
We were hopeful he would be better when he got to the spring festivals. 
“It’s always a special week – it’s special to have runners here and to have a winner for JP makes it even better. 
“With our others we’ve run in this we’ve gone on to the Galway Hurdle, so that might be a route we take.” 

Jango Baie rose to the challenge to claim an astonishing renewal of the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. 
Nicky Henderson’s bay could not go with the early pace and found himself towards the back of the small field of five as the race developed. 
Up the hill the race looked to be between the fancied pair of Majborough and L’Eau Du Sud, but Jango Baie never surrendered at the back of the pack and strode into contention in the final strides to score at 5-1 under Nico de Boinville, with Only By Night the three-quarters of a length runner-up. 
Henderson had originally been set to field the favourite in Sir Gino, but saw his season cut short through injury. 
“Without Sir Gino, it was will this horse go up to three (miles) or down to two; we were going to make the running, but he couldn’t go fast enough,” Henderson said. “He really couldn’t go fast enough. 
“That was some ride! He let them go, and they did go hard, and it’s lovely ground – it’s proper fast jumping ground and they were hammering away. 
“I’ve seen it before when they are that outpaced, you have always got the hill still to come to your aid if you need it, I must admit I never dreamt he would need it, but he flew the last and just got running – I didn’t know he was that fast, I must admit. 
“From where I was, I thought it was too late. It was incredible, he was just nailing them. I had no idea of the result I must say, the gods did. I think you can take it from me that’s the last time you will see over two miles! 
“That was Nico’s 50th Grade One. It’s nice to get it on the board early and what a way to do it, it was a brilliant ride.” 
On what was already an emotional opening afternoon, owner Tony Barney said: “I bought the horse on the day my son was killed, his name was James Barney, the horse is Jango Baie, same initials. My son is looking down on me.” 
De Boinville said: “I always thought I could get there, coming down the hill I was just thinking about Barry (Geraghty) when he rode Champ and he did a similar kind of thing in the RSA (2020) when he dropped himself out. 
“I couldn’t go the gallop, but I knew he was going to stay so it was just a case of filling him up and seeing if I could get one crack up the hill. To be fair he winged the last and then he flew up the hill. 
“It’s a great feeling when you know you are going to get there, but it’s gut-wrenching when you go down by a neck or a head, which does happen a lot. Today the stars were aligned and he got his head in front.” 

Kopek Des Bordes did all that was asked of him to land the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. 
Sporting a hood for the first time, Willie Mullins’ gelding was fighting to retain his unbeaten record and started as the 4-6 favourite under Paul Townend for the opening race of the 2025 Festival. 
He neatly delivered, tracking long-time leader Workahead and then kicking clear up the hill to hold off a challenge from William Munny, despite a jumping error at the last hurdle. 
The length and three-quarters runner-up ran a huge race in defeat, and so nearly carried the colours famously sported by the late Michael O’Sullivan when the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale won the corresponding event in 2023. 
Kopek Des Bordes is owned by Charlie McCarthy along with his four sons through Monabeg Investments Ltd and it was a special win for him after undergoing surgery for cancer just 11 days ago. 
McCarthy said: “I had cancer of my right kidney and I had my kidney removed. I had the top people look after me, I’m disease free and I’m going to have one hell of a party. 
“I don’t want to cry but I can tell you one thing, I’m on cloud nine. Is there a bigger cloud to be on? 
“I just can’t get over it, to be here with my sons and win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle after everything I’ve been through. This is a dream come true and the dream is not finished yet. 
“That’s National Hunt racing, the small man can have a say in it and I’m no small man but I am the small man here. National Hunt racing is what I love.” 
McCarthy dedicated the victory to O’Sullivan, who died last month aged 24 due to injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles. 
He added: “It’s unreal. It’s a wonderful day for me because the race is named after Michael O’Sullivan, he lived about 20 kilometres from me and I’ll donate this to the O’Sullivan family, because he was a wonderful jockey. 
“I met his brother earlier and I said ‘I would love to win it for the O’Sullivan family’. We’ll enjoy it, we’re from County Cork, the O’Sullivans and myself, and it’s a wonderful occasion.” 
Mullins said: “Coming to the last Paul just said he was looking up at the stands, looking at the last and looking everywhere. He said he just lost concentration and missed it, but he picked up and galloped all the way to the Hunters Lodge. 
“I think going a faster pace helps his jumping. He is able to go faster, we didn’t know that before Leopardstown, but we saw it then and again today. 
“It’s nice to get the first one on the board, a huge relief. We have a good team today, we were hoping we would get one and hope for another one as well. To have it is a great relief.” 
Mullins said: “Coming to the last Paul just said he was looking up at the stands, looking at the last and looking everywhere. He said he just lost concentration and missed it, but he picked up and galloped all the way to the Hunters Lodge. 
“I think going a faster pace helps his jumping. He is able to go faster, we didn’t know that before Leopardstown, but we saw it then and again today. 
“It’s nice to get the first one on the board, a huge relief. We have a good team today, we were hoping we would get one and hope for another one as well. To have it is a great relief.” 
On future plans for the winner, he added: “Should we stay over hurdles? I don’t know. I think what we’ll do once Aintree and Punchestown are over is have a look and school him over fences and a lot will depend on what Paul thinks. 
“He’d be a hugely exciting horse over fences, too, it’s always easier to keep Champion Hurdle horses sound, but we’re always looking for Gold Cup horses, or is he a Champion Chaser?” 
Townend was quick to pay tribute to O’Sullivan: “Michael was a big part of our team and lived locally and he was a Cork man as well, so he’s in everyone’s thoughts every day still. I guess we can count ourselves lucky to have known him for the short time that we did and he was an incredible young man.” 
He said of the winner: “I think he’s a very good horse. He covers so much ground and I would say you never know how quick you are going on him throughout a race, he has a huge engine and it was a big performance.”

There was yet more drama with Duffle Coat, Hasthing and Now Is The Hour all falling in the closing stages. Thankfully, all horses and riders are up and okay.

Will do was the best of the Irish for Gordon Elliott, Gigginstown and Jack Kennedy, coming home in third place.

1. Haiti Couleurs 7/2jf
2. Rock My Way 16/1
3. Will do 12/1

Haiti Couleurs (5/1) has gone off as the favourite at odds of 100/30.