Image source, Reuters

From nowhere!

A remarkable finish to that race, with four of the five runners separated by barely a length.

Favourite Majborough appeared well in control, but made a horrid mistake over the penultimate fence. Both of the horse's back legs buckled and Mark Walsh did well to stay mounted.

L'Eau Du Sud capitalised to move into the lead, but did not jump the last fence well either to completely open the field.

But suddenly through came Jango Baie, ridden by Nico de Boinville in red and white diamond silks. Having hung around the back of the lead pack for 95% of the race, de Boinville timed the run perfectly to snatch a shock victory.

Mistake by Majborough over the penultimate fence!

This is going to be so close!

Two to go, the field is more spread.

L'Eau du Sud, the grey owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, is up to second.

Three fences to go, Majborough leads by a length.

All five runners are still in contention.

And now Majborough hits the front. Jockey Mark Walsh has moved him ahead of Touch Me Not earlier than expected.

12 fences here, and all five are safely over the first two.

Majborough is currently sat in third place. Touch Me Not is the early leader.

Andrew Thornton
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

I think Majborough wins. Jango Baie will come from the front here. Majborough will do well to come past him, but I think he will.

Away we go in the second race of the day, named after Arkle - the horse which won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in three successive years between 1964 and 1966.

Just five runners in this next race - Jango Baie, L'Eau du Sud, Majborough, Touch Me Not and Only By Night.

Majborough is the odds-on favourite.

Image source, PA Media

A reminder that we are keen to hear from you today and throughout the Festival - are you one of the lucky ones at Cheltenham? If so, let's hear who you're going with and who you are backing. Pictures of outfits are also encouraged.

If you're following from your sofa, sneakily from work or maybe even in the Spanish sunshine, we'd love to hear from you too about everything racing-related. Get in touch using the details at the top of this post.

Image source, PA Media

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is at Cheltenham and will have keen interest in the next race, the Arkle Novices' Chase over two miles.

Ferguson owns L’Eau Du Sud who has won in each of his last four runs.

Majborough is a big favourite for this race, but L’Eau Du Sud is among the small chasing pack looking to cause an upset.

Image source, PA Media

Former Manchester United teammates Jonny Evans and John O'Shea were pictured together at Cheltenham this morning.

Evans, 36, is still at Old Trafford but has not played since December due to injury.

The duo played together 51 times between 2007 and 2011 and have a combined total of 633 United appearances between them.

O'Shea, 43, retired in April 2019 and recently managed the Republic of Ireland on an interim basis, as well as working as a coach at Birmingham City and Stoke City.

And speaking of men with a Man Utd link...

Idyllic.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Willie Mullins is bidding for a third win in a row in this race after successes for El Fabiolo and Gaelic Warrior and the odds-on favourite Majborough is his hope this year in a field which only has five runners.

The 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner has lost just once over his career and beat Touch Me Not, who he is up against again, last time out in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown.

English hopes seem to lie with L’Eau Du Sud, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by his brother Harry who won here in November – one of his four wins this season - and also has a win over Touch Me Not to his name.

Image source, Getty Images

Barry Connell, trainer of second-placed William Munny, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra:"He was electric today. He was very long at fifth last, fourth last, third last. He settled, which he hadn't been doing. It was a very deep race today, first was very good, second was very good. In his first two hurdle runs he was very keen, we changed things up today and it worked. We're very thrilled. "

On Michael O'Sullivan: "Michael started his career through our yard. We went on a magical journey together, it's very emotional today for obvious reasons. We couldn't be happier. Other than winning, we couldn't be happier."

"I was fortunate enough so spend a good bit of time with his family, friends and girlfriend. His family is here, girlfriend is here and they've had great support here and in Ireland."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Expectation is at fever pitch for day one of Cheltenham, says the Racing Post.

And conditions are set fair after some early sunshine today following drizzly spells on Monday. It has been cool and dry.

Jon Pullin, Cheltenham’s clerk of the course, said: “Yesterday there was 3.5mm of rain late afternoon into early evening and the going for today remains good to soft.”

Image source, Racing Post

Veteran Cheltenham watchers may have noticed something different about the hurdles in that opening race.

Organisers have installed newly designed padded hurdles for the Festival this year - how, and why, is explained here.

Image source, Reuters

Winning jockey Paul Townend tells ITV Racing: "That's the perfect start to the week. I got in a lovely position but I was at the front sooner than I wanted to be.

"He had a look at the stands, despite the hood and missed the last but picked up. He is a very good horse. I think he can go to the top because he has had so little racing. Every day is a school day and he is growing up all the time. He isn't the finished article yet."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

I've never heard 'Ole, Ole, Ole' ring out like that after just the first race at Cheltenham.

Favourite backers are off to a flyer and the noise greeting winner Kopek Des Bordes was fierce.

Bookmakers fear they will lose millions of pounds if three more hot favourites go on to win - Majborough, Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill.

Image source, Getty Images

Kopek Des Bordes' trainer Willie Mullins speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "Considering the ammunition I had in this race, they were spread out like brown cows at the start. They showed tremendous pace to get up there. He picked up and won his race. Great run.

"We've put the hood on him at home and it worked today. It made him much calmer. He was much better in himself. He was nice and settled.

On Kopek Des Bordes: "I think he'll be fine. He'll be better once he gets more racing in himself."