Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It was never in doubt, wherever Mark Walsh wanted him he went.

He was happy sitting back, moved wide and was the only one still travelling as they went to the end.

Image source, Getty Images

Winning jockey Mark Walsh on ITV Racing: "They went a good gallop which suits him. He jumped and travelled brilliant. I didn’t want to get to the front too early.

"I thought he ran great the last day at Fairyhouse on heavy ground and this ground suited him."

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

Plenty in the crowd are putting their hands together!

They set out too quickly, by the end there was only one horse still going - and that was Puturhandstogether.

1 Puturhandstogether (M P Walsh) 17-2

2 Robbies Rock (C Stone-Walsh) 50-1

3 Liam Swagger (Sam Twiston-Davies) 12-1

4 Hot Fuss (David Bass) 17-222 ran

Puturhandstogether with a brilliant performance!

Stencil and Solar Drive had led for much of that, but as they came up the home straight, Puturhandstogether flew up the outside and only got stronger towards the end.

A winner for jockey Mark Walsh and trainer Joseph O'Brien.

Solar Drive takes a lead round the bend but has the likes of Hot Fuss and Stencil a length or two behind.

Solar Drive is not showing any signs of slowing up so far as they get towards the last three hurdles.

It's a very tight pack towards the front, led by favourite Stencil as they pass the first couple of hurdles.

The grey Solar Drive is pressuring on the outside.

First time of asking, they get let go!

Much better than a standing start.

When we had a larger field earlier today, a couple of false starts led to a standing start, once they could get going properly.

As the The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle looks to get under way, there seems to be more calm and less chaos.

Image source, Getty Images

Another big field – 22 runners – and again, finding a winner could be a challenge.

Last year’s race was won by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Lark In The Mornin and he has two very good chances again with Puturhandstogether, ridden by Mark Walsh and Beyond Your Dreams, the mount of JJ Slevin.

It could also be a big day for the French with Stencil, trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, who are based near Chantilly, and ridden by James Reveley, one to have caught the eye.

And champion jockey Harry Cobden, is keen on the chances of his mount Quantock Hills, who will be hoping to improve after a disappointing run here last time out.

We could probably spend all day, night and possibly the rest of the week discussing the events of the Champion Hurdle.

However, we have another race coming up momentarlity.

Next up, it's the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle!

Racegoer Jodie O'Leary is all of us during that Champion Hurdle.

Image source, Getty Images

Champion Hurdle winning jockey Lorcan Williams, speaking to Radio 5 Sports Extra: "I still can't believe it. The race was opening up at the top of the hill, Consititution Hill came down but I still didn't think we had a chance. It was when we turned for home that I started to feel I was happy, and we were there to pick up the pieces.

"I was turning the bend in third, thinking of second, then I saw State Man coming down and I thought, God almighty. We just needed to keep going to the end.

"It's two iconic horses, so to have won it I'm delighted.

"As a kid you dream of winning these races. I could not believe these circumstances, I am lucky to be part of this mare's [Golden Ace] career."

Michael Shinners from SkyBet has just been speaking on ITV Racing.

He predicts that shock events in that Champion Hurdle would have earned bookmakers "in excess of £10million."

Constitution Hill was a huge favourite there, State Man was among the best of the rest. Both fell.

The field really opened up for the also short-priced Brighterdaysahead, but a disappointing finishing for him and trainer Gordon Elliott meant it was a race for the bookies and a historic win for Golden Ace.

Gina Bryce
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra at Cheltenham

Fast forward 12 months, if she is healthy to run here, there will be questions about Brighterdaysahead. Twice she has come here and twice she has disappointed.

She had a pacemaker here, the conditions were perfect. She sat in second. There are not many excuses for her this time.

Maybe it's just a case the track doesn't suit.

Good news following those two falls for Constitution Hill and State Man in The Champion Hurdle.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have told ITV Racing that the two horses are "absolutely fine".

Golden Ace trainer Jeremy Scott speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "I couldn't even dream. I just said to someone for god's sake thump me, I thought I was sleeping. It's marred by the two horses who came down, but I'm just delighted the gods favoured us."

On being such long odds for the race: "Our owner was very keen to have a runner here, it's extraordinary how things work out.

"That's her unbeaten here. It's interesting Willie doesn't normally run his mares until after Christmas, maybe next year we will hang fire for a bit."

On being a Cheltenham-winning trainer "It's just amazing."

Replays of State Man's fall show he took the last hurdle a stride too early. Perhaps a loss of concentration from rider Paul Townend?

It certainly made for a dramatic race, and allowed bay mare Golden Ace to take a win we definitely did not expect.

Phew, and this is only day one of the Festival. There are three more days of Cheltenham action still to go! And another two races remaining today!

State Man trainer Willie Mullins speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "I don't. There we are. It's what happens. It is [the ups and downs of racing]."

"At least we made the right decision.

On whether he will chat to Paul Townend: "We don't need any chat. I'm just delighted he's okay."

Constitution Hill trainer Nicky Henderson speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "He seems fine. He's very bright and breezy."