The 2025 Cheltenham Festival delivered a huge shock on the opening day as the showpiece Champion Hurdle was won by 25/1 shot Golden Ace, with racing superstar and heavy favourite Constitution Hill stunningly falling halfway through the race.
Constitution Hill was heavily backed at 8/13 regain the crown he won in 2023 but crashed out, while 2024 winner and third favourite State Man also fell at a later hurdle and highly-regarded second favourite Brighterdaysahead faded to allow Golden Ace to come from nowhere to triumph, with Burdett Road at 66/1 taking second and 150/1 shot Winter Fog in third for an all-time Cheltenham shock.
The day got off to an emotional start when Willie Mullins-trained Kopek Des Bordes won the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The horse’s owner Charlie McCarthy, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer at the start of this year and had surgery last month, was left in tears after the win was confirmed, as was jockey Paul Townend as he reflected on a race dedicated to young jockey O’Sullivan – who tragically died aged 24 last month after a fall.
Heavy favourite Lossiemouth retained her Mares’ Hurdle crown for the Townend-Mullins duo, leading to speculation that she should have been going for the more prestigious Champion Hurdle instead and given what happened to the favourites, perhaps she would indeed have triumphed.
The “greatest show on turf” will also include Friday’s Gold Cup, where Galopin Des Champs, who is the favourite on betting sites, hopes to land a famous hat-trick this. The full race card and Festival schedule is here, and we’ll be bringing you all the action as Day 1 unfolds.
Follow all the news, including previews, expert tips, free bet offers and the latest Cheltenham odds from Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival with our live blog below:
Champion Day – Full list of winners so far
1.20: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1 )Race conditions: £150,000 | 2m½f| 8 hurdles | Old Course
Winner: Kopek Des Bordes (4/6F); 2) William Munny (8/1); 3) Romeo Coolio (9/2)
2.00: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)Race conditions: £200,000 | 2m | 13 fences | Old Course
Winner: Jango Baie (5/1); 2) Only By Night (25/1); 3) Majborough (1/2F)
2.40: Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)Race conditions: £150,000 | 3m1f | 20 fences | Old Course
Winner: Myretown (13/2); 2) The Changing Man (7/1F); 3) Malina Girl (14/1)
3.20: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)Race conditions: £120,000 | 2m4f | 10 hurdles | Old Course
Winner: Lossiemouth (4/6F); 2) Jade De Grugy (5/1); 3) Take No Chances (22/1)
Winner: Golden Ace (25/1); 2) Burdett Road (66/1); 3) Winter Fog (150/1)
Jack Rathborn11 March 2025 16:10
Winning jockey Lorcan Williams reacts
Williams told ITV racing: “I’m lost for words. This is the best day of my life by far. You dream of these moments as a kid. I hope the others are ok – Constitution Hill and State Man are iconic horses
“But she is fantastic. She always turns up and fair play to (owner) Ian Gosden for picking this race rather than the Mares’ Hurdle. I am not complaining now
“I’m just a small part of the team and delighted to be on board
“All I was thinking was my agent said watch Constitution Hill. When he was out of the race I thought I would stay on for second. We were just there to pick up the pieces.”
Mike Jones11 March 2025 16:20
Ruby Walsh analyses what went wrong for Constitution Hill and State Man
“He absolutely steps onto the hurdle with Nico [de Boinville], on the front of the hurdle, he steps clean into the middle of it, he can’t stand up when you do that,” Ruby Walsh tells ITV Racing.
“Paul Townend [aboard State Man], he commits to the land, I don’t think you’re always wrong, make a decision, commit to it, but over he goes, that’ll live with him forever, trust me!”
Jack Rathborn11 March 2025 16:15
Lorcan Williams reacts to ‘best day of my life’ after winning Champion Hurdle
“I was thinking, my agent said, ‘watch Constitution Hill,’ when he was out of the race I thought, ‘I’ll hold on to second,’ we were there to pick up the pieces,” Lorcan Williams adds.
Best day of your life, Lorcan? “By far!”
Jack Rathborn11 March 2025 16:08
Golden Ace wins a stunning Champion Hurdle
Golden Ace rolled the dice and was in the perfect spot to capitalise just as State Man looked poised to defend.
Constitution Hill failed to live up to the expectations, going off at 1/2.
“I’m lost for words, you dream of these moments as a kid,” says jockey Lorcan Williams after riding to victory.
Jack Rathborn11 March 2025 16:07
4pm: Champion Hurdle
INSANE! There goes State Man… After the last, it collapses, Golden Ace WINS!
Constitution Hill and State Man galloping in the background, we think they’re OK.
Drama at the end, can you believe it? Golden Ace wins the Champion Hurdle!
Jack Rathborn 11 March 2025 16:05
4pm: Champion Hurdle
Constitution Hill is GONE!
Gasps from the fans, a shocker, it’s there for Brighterdaysahead leads!
State Man is second, Golden Ace third…
Jack Rathborn11 March 2025 16:03
4pm: Champion Hurdle
King Of Kingsfield leads early, Brighterdaysahead tucked in behind in second…
Constitution Hill third, the roar from the grandstand comes.
Six hurdles to go and an even pace.
Some smart jumping here, but they’re all close together, a cagey race so far.
Jack Rathborn11 March 2025 16:02
4pm: Champion Hurdle
King Of Kingsfield leads early, Brighterdaysahead tucked in behind in second…
Constitution Hill third, the roar from the grandstand comes.
Six hurdles to go and an even pace.
Jack Rathborn11 March 2025 16:02
4pm: Champion Hurdle
Here we go then, State Man a third favourite, bidding to be the 12th horse to win the Champion Hurdle twice.
Willie Mullins is confident, it’s a big ask to get up to Constitution Hill.
Constitution Hill would become the third horse to regain the Champion Hurdle.
We’re just a few minutes away…
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Jack Rathborn11 March 2025 15:56