Cheltenham Festival: See the declared runners for day one
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Honeysuckle will face nine rivals as she defends her Unibet Champion Hurdle crown on the opening day of this year's Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.
Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore after last year
Henry de Bromhead’s mare bids to extend her remarkable record to 15 wins from 15 starts under rules, with her 10 Grade One victories including three Irish Champion Hurdles and last year’s success in the Cheltenham feature.
The eight-year-old is an odds-on shot to retain her title with Willie Mullins’ Appreciate It the next best in the betting at 7-2.
He will be having his first start since winning last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at this fixture and will be joined by stablemate Saint Roi.
Zanahiyr represents Gordon Elliott and has six-and-a-half lengths to find with Honeysuckle on their Irish Champion Hurdle form, while fellow stable contender Teahupoo is taking a leap in class having won his last three starts at Grade Two and Three level.
Epatante won the Champion Hurdle in 2020 for Nicky Henderson and she is firing on all cylinders again this term, having dead-heated in the Fighting Fifth on her seasonal bow before landing the Christmas Hurdle last time out. She finished third in the Champion Hurdle last season.
Adagio represents David Pipe while Not So Sleepy, who shared Fighting Fifth glory with Epatante, runs for Hughie Morrison.
Tommy’s Oscar bids to complete his dramatic rise through the ranks for Ann Hamilton with the field completed by Tom Lacey’s Glory And Fortune, who finished second to Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle.
1.
Adagio (GER) ts 5 11 10 Bryan Drew and Friends / Prof. C.Tisdall David Pipe Tom Scudamore
2.
Appreciate It (IRE) 8 11 10 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins P. Townend
3.
Glory And Fortune (IRE) ts 7 11 10 Mrg J. Hinds Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard
4.
Not So Sleepy 10 11 10 Lady Blyth Hughie Morrison Jonathan Burke
5.
Saint Roi (FR) ts 7 11 10 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Mark Walsh
6.
Teahupoo (FR) 5 11 10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Robbie Power
7.
Tommy's Oscar (IRE) 7 11 10 Mr Ian Hamilton Ann Hamilton Danny McMenamin
8.
Zanahiyr (IRE) ts, p 5 11 10 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
9.
Epatante (FR) 8 11 3 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Aidan Coleman
10.
Honeysuckle 8 11 3 Mr K. Alexander Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Constitution Hill is set for a fascinating clash with stablemate Jonbon and Irish challenger Dysart Dynamo in Tuesday’s Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening contest of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
Constitution Hill and Jonbon at Seven Barrows last month (Photo: Focusonracing)
Trained by Nicky Henderson, Constitution Hill has won each of his two hurdles outings, coming home a comfortable winner of the Grade One Tolworth at Sandown on his most recent start in January.
Fellow Henderson inmate Jonbon is also unbeaten over hurdles, winning three times so far this season, including Grade Twos at Ascot and Haydock on his last two runs.
The Willie Mullins-trained Dysart Dynamo is another with a 100 per cent record to defend, having hacked up by 19 lengths in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle last time out.
Mullins also runs Kilcruit, who was a Grade One bumper winner and got off the mark over hurdles at the third time of asking last time, plus Bring On The Night, winner of a Naas maiden last month.
Mighty Potter, JPR One, Shallwehaveonemore and Silent Revolution complete the nine-strong field.
1:30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
1.
Bring On The Night ts 5 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins B. J. Cooper
2.
Constitution Hill 5 Mr Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
3.
Dysart Dynamo (IRE) ts 6 Ms Eleanor Manning W. P. Mullins P. Townend
4.
Jonbon (FR) 6 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Aidan Coleman
5.
JPR One (IRE) 5 Mr J. P. Romans Colin Tizzard Brendan Powell
6.
Kilcruit (IRE) ts 7 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins Mr P. W. Mullins
7.
Mighty Potter (FR) 5 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
8.
Shallwehaveonemore (FR) 5 Mr Steven Packham Gary Moore Joshua Moore
9.
Silent Revolution (IRE) 6 Mr Colm Donlon Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy
Edwardstone highlights 11 contenders for the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.
Edwardstone is the Arkle favourite for trainer Alan King and jockey Tom Cannon (Photo: Focusonracing)
Winner of his last four starts for Alan King, he won the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase back in December and he will clash with another top level victor in Mullins’ Blue Lord here.
Mullins also has Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam while Gordon Elliott’s Riviere D’etel, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Gabynako and Henry de Bromhead’s pair of Magic Daze and Coeur Sublime comprise a strong Irish challenge.
Brave Seasca, Red Rookie and War Lord round out the list.
2:10 pm Sporting Life Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
1.
Blue Lord (FR) ts 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins P. Townend
2.
Brave Seasca (FR) 7 Brooks & Taylor Families Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch
3.
Coeur Sublime (IRE) ts 7 11 4 C. Jones Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
4.
Edwardstone 8 Robert Abrey & Ian Thurtle Alan King Tom Cannon
5.
Gabynako (FR) ts 7 Mick & Molly Syndicate Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue
6.
Haut En Couleurs (FR) 5 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins B. J. Cooper
7.
Red Rookie 7 The Hawk Inn Syndicate 3 Emma Lavelle Tom Bellamy
8.
Saint Sam (FR) h 5 Mr Edward J. Ware W. P. Mullins Sean O'Keeffe
9.
War Lord (GER) 7 11 4 The Wychwood Partnership Colin Tizzard Brendan Powell
10.
Magic Daze (IRE) 6 Robcour Henry de Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe
11.
Riviere d'Etel (FR) 5 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle is also a Grade One contest and 12 have been declared for that, with Mullins’ trio of Burning Victory, Echoes In Rain and Stormy Ireland among the leading contenders.
De Bromhead’s Telmesomethinggirl, Queens Brook, Heaven Help Us and Marie’s Rock are other key names.
4:10pm Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
1.
Burning Victory (FR) p 6 11 5 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins Sean O'Keeffe
2.
Echoes In Rain (FR) h,ts 6 11 5 Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins Mr P. W. Mullins
3.
Heaven Help Us (IRE) 8 11 5 Mr J. Turner P. Hennessy Daniel Mullins
4.
Indefatigable (IRE) 9 11 5 Mr Philip Rocher Paul Wgebber Rex Dingle
5.
Marie's Rock (IRE) ts 7 11 5 Middleham Park Racing Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
6.
Martello Sky 6 11 5 The Sky Partnership Lucy Wadham Bryony Frost
7.
Mrs Milner (IRE) ts 7 11 5 SoftCo Paul Nolan B. J. Cooper
8.
Nada To Prada p 7 11 5 Mrs Lynne Maclennan Michael Scudamore Richard Patrick
9.
Queens Brook (IRE) 7 11 5 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
10.
Stormy Ireland (FR) 8 11 5 FB Racing Club W. P. Mullins P. Townend
11.
Telmesomethinggirl (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr K. Alexander Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
12.
Western Victory (IRE) 9 11 5 Swanbridge Bloodstock Limited Emma Lavelle Tom Bellamy
Ultima Handicap Chase
Former Ryanair Chase winner Frodon heads 24 for the Ultima Handicap Chase, with Gericault Roque the last to make the cut and Pontresina waiting in the wings as reserve.
Frodon heads the weights for the Ultima and will once again be partnered by Bryony Frost (Photo: Focusonracing)
2:50pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
1.
Frodon (FR) ts 10 11 12 Mr P. J. Vogt Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost
2.
Lostintranslation (IRE) ts, p 10 11 3 Taylor & O'Dwyer Colin Tizzard Brendan Powell
3.
Does He Know 7 11 0 Yes He Does Syndicate Kim Bailey David Bass
4.
Ben Dundee (IRE) 10 10 9 C. Jones Andrew Lynch Daniel Mullins
5.
Noble Yeats (IRE) 7 10 9 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Emmet Mullins Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
6.
Floueur (FR) ts 7 10 8 Mr Claudio Michael Grech Gordon Elliott Jordan Gainford (3)
7.
Foxy Jacks (IRE) p 8 10 7 Mr D. F. Desmond M. F. Morris Jonathan Moore
8.
Doctor Duffy (IRE) p 9 10 7 Relic Pride Partnership Charles Byrnes Liam Quinlan (5)
9.
Tea Clipper (IRE) p 7 10 7 Mr Jerry Hinds & Mr Ashley Head Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard
10.
Death Duty (IRE) 11 10 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
11.
Fantastikas (FR) 7 10 6 Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
12.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) p 12 10 6 Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith Sean Quinlan
13.
Rapper 8 10 5 The Home Farm Partnership Henry Daly Tom O'Brien
14.
Discordantly (IRE) p 8 10 5 (5lb ex) The Odd Fellows Partnership Mrs J. Harrington Robbie Power
15.
Grumpy Charley 7 10 4 Mr G. Thompson Chris Honour Bryan Carver (3)
16.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) ts, p 8 10 3 McNeill Family Jamie Snowden A. P. Heskin
17.
Full Back (FR) 7 10 2 Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore Joshua Moore
18.
Corach Rambler (IRE) ts 8 10 2 The Ramblers Lucinda Russell Derek Fox
19.
Run To Milan (IRE) 10 10 0 Barber, Birchenhough, De Wilde Victor Dartnall Alan Johns
20.
Our Power (IRE) p 7 9 12 Walters Plant Hire & Potter Group Sam Thomas Charlie Deutsch
21.
One More Fleurie (IRE) 8 9 11 Mr K. McKenna Ian Williams
22.
Belargus (FR) 7 9 11 Mr John P. McManus Nick Gifford Niall Houlihan (3)
23.
Oscar Elite (IRE) ts 7 9 10 Mrs Mary-Ann Middleton Colin Tizzard Harry Cobden
24.
Gericault Roque (FR) ts 6 9 9 Prof. Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew David Pipe Tom Scudamore
RESERVE
R25 Pontresina (IRE) 9 9 6 Ben Lund Racing Club Ben Lund Ben Godfrey (3)
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle has also drawn a full field of 22, with Mullins’ Gaelic Warrior well touted ahead of his debut for the yard having previously been trained in France.
4:50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y
1.
Petit Tonnerre (FR) 11 6 Mr John P. McManus Jonjo O'Neill
2.
The Tide Turns ts 11 5 Let's Go Partnership Gordon Elliott
3.
Brazil (IRE) 11 5 Mr John P. McManus Padraig Roche Mark Walsh
4.
Doctor Churchill (IRE) 11 1 Mr Pierce Gerard Molony Gordon Elliott
5.
Ebasari (IRE) ts, p 10 13 Royals & Blue Syndicate Gordon Elliott
6.
Britzka (IRE) bl,ts 10 12 Mr Ray Stokes Gordon Elliott
7.
Bell Ex One (IRE) bl 10 12 Mr Alexander McGregor Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
8.
Gaelic Warrior (GER) 10 11 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins P. Townend
9.
White Pepper (IRE) ts, p 10 10 Mrs Maria McCullen Harvey Gavin Cromwell Luke Dempsey
10.
Hms Seahorse (IRE) 10 10 Sonja Buckley/Anne Coffey Partnership Paul Nolan B. J. Cooper
11.
Prairie Dancer (IRE) bl 10 8 Sean Sweeney/Kieran O'Hare Joseph Patrick O'Brien J. J. Slevin
12.
Feigh (IRE) 10 8 Dr S. P. Fitzgerald W. P. Mullins Daniel Mullins
13.
Iberique du Seuil (FR) 10 8 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott
14.
Saint Segal (FR) ts 10 8 Culverhill Racing Club V Mrs Jane Williams Chester Williams (3)
15.
Champion Green (IRE) h,t 10 7 Mr John P. McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien
16.
Sea Sessions 10 7 Stuart John Robinson Ross O'Sullivan Jonathan Burke
17.
Milldam (FR) 10 7 Neil Goulden, Kevin & Sue Hopgood Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan
18.
Doctor Brown Bear (IRE) ts 10 7 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil Darragh O'Keeffe
19.
Too Friendly 10 7 The Gredley Family Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
20.
Forever William v 10 7 The Barbury Lions 6 Alan King Tom Cannon
21.
Swinging London (IRE) ts 10 6 Mr Adrian Butler Olly Murphy Aidan Coleman
22.
Skycutter (FR) h 10 4 The French Connection Philip Kirby Thomas Dowson
RESERVES
•
R23 Dr T J Eckleburg (IRE) 4 10 3 Dominic Burke & Tim Syder Olly Murphy Brendan Powell
•
R24 Tanganyika (FR) 4 10 3 Mrs C. S. Wilson Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch
Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Chase
Just seven have been declared for the Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase.
Mullins has a leading chance with Stattler in this contest, with Vanillier, Run Wild Fred and Pats Fancy also holding strong claims.
5:30pm Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Chase (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y
1.
Beatthebullet (IRE) bl 8 11 6 Conyers, O'Reilly, Roddis, Zeffman Rebecca Curtis Mr James King
2.
Braeside (IRE) p 8 11 6 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott Mr Robert James
3.
Ontheropes (IRE) ts, p 8 11 6 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Mr T. Hamilton
4.
Pats Fancy (IRE) 7 11 6 Hydes,McDermott,Spencer,Frobisher & Lee Rebecca Curtis Mr Barry O'Neill
5.
Run Wild Fred (IRE) bl 8 11 6 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Mr J. J. Codd
6.
Stattler (IRE) 7 11 6 Mr R. A. Bartlett W. P. Mullins Mr P. W. Mullins
7.
Vanillier (FR) ts 7 11 6 Mrs H. M. Keaveney Gavin Cromwell Mr Derek O'Connor
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