Lorcan Williams' pose of shrugging surprise on the back of Golden Ace after crossing the finishing line to win the Champion Hurdle will go down forever in Cheltenham folklore.

Image source, Reuters

Winning jockey Lorcan Williams on 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."

This is a first Grade One win for Williams

We've just seen a replay of Constitution Hill's fall. He simply didn't jump for the fifth hurdle, clattering through the obstacle and it was all over.

It was as if Nico de Boinville and his ride panicked, losing their nerve at the key moment.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That's a huge shock, we know he [Constitution Hill] takes his chances with the odd jump.

Image source, Reuters

We will have to pick the bones out of that one for the rest of the afternoon.

That last hurdle was remarkable - State Man powered to the front as Paul Townend pushed him hard, but under no pressure it clattered the hurdle and took a heavy fall. Fortunately we hear Townend is ok.

Brighterdaysahead meanwhile looked to get completely hampered, first by the falling State Man and then the back markers.

It allowed Golden Ace to cleanly come through and take a win which will go down in Cheltenham history.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I cannot believe what we've just seen. Who said racing is predictable? It is predictably unpredictable. Golden Ace, the huge outsider, was left to take out the biggest price in hurdle racing.

1 Golden Ace (Lorcan Williams) 25-1

2 Burdett Road (Sam Twiston-Davies) 66-1

3 Winter Fog (B Hayes) 150-17 ran

Image source, Getty Images

WHAT AN UPSET!

At 33-1, amid absolute chaos in The Champion Hurdle, Golden Ace cleanly moves through the final stretch and wins comfortably.

Jockey Lorcan Williams looks absolutely stunned.

Image source, PA Media

State Man is well ahead... but falls at the last!

And Brighterdaysahead is going backwards!

This is sensational!

Blimey Charlie, that's why you cannot take anything for granted at Cheltenham.

Brighterdaysahead and Stateman go head to head into the last.

Image source, PA Media

A huge upset, as the favourite catches the fifth hurdle heavily and the jockey is unseated!

Four hurdles jumped, four hurdles to go.

All take it well, all still in contention.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

King of Kingsfield in as a pacemaker is doing his job.

Brighterdays ahead has indeed hit the front, with Constitution Hill in third.

Burdett Road nearly fell at the second hurdle and has fallen to the back.

There's the Cheltenham roar.

We are under way. Rank outsider King of Kingsfield leads the way - we expect he will serve as pacemarker for stablemate Brighterdaysahead.

The runners are on course.

Two miles, eight hurdles, more than £250,000 to the winner.

Here we go...

Seven runners in the feature today - but we expect it be a three-horse race.

Will it be favourite Constitution Hill? Can mare Brighterdaysahead take the win? Or will 2024 champion State Man go back to back?

Golden Ace, Burdett Road, King Of Kingsfield and Winter Fog are the other contenders in the field.

Gina Bryce
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra at Cheltenham

I definitely think State Man is definitely being overlooked because of the battle at the top between Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead.

Image source, Getty Images

More from jockey Nico de Boinville, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on his relationship with trainer Nicky Henderson: "I’ve been here since I was 19, he’s known me in loads of different forms. It goes well and we all know where we both stand."

On his preparation for the Champion Hurdle with Constitution Hill: "It’s incredibly intimate, everything has been gone through and we know where are with our horse. It’s definitely more of a collaboration rather than him tying me down to any sort of instruction."

On whether he sets plans for each race: "You’ve got to set strategy but there’s no point trying to be so rigid. It’s better to be flexible, go with what you see in front of you rather fixing yourself down. It’s better to react rather than sort of being ‘this is what I’m going to do’."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Much has been spoken and written about Constitution Hill since his electric nine-length win in the Champion Hurdle two years ago.

He has only raced four times - all wins - since due to a series of setbacks, and today is Judgement Day.

The big question is how much ability he retains. Can any chinks be exposed by the likes of Brighterdaysahead and 2024 champion State Man? Will he be king of the hill or over the hill?

There won't be many bigger receptions in the winners' enclosure this week if Constitution Hill regains his title.