Summary

  • Espoir D'Allen (16-1) wins feature race, the Champion Hurdle

  • Buveur D'Air falls in bid for third successive victory in opening day's feature race

  • Benie Des Dieux, ridden by Ruby Walsh, falls at final fence in Mares' Hurdle

  • Other winners - 13:30 Klassical Dream (6-1); 14:10 Duc Des Genievres (5-1); 14:50 Beware the Bear (10-1); 16:10 Roksana (10-1); 16:50 A Plus Tard (5-1); 17:30 Le Breuil (14-1)

  1. Postpublished at 18:04 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    Fingers crossed. Hopefully we will be back tomorrow and starting our live text from 12:30 GMT....

    Keep an eye out on our racing index for all the latest news and the outcome of tomorrow's inspection at 8am.

    In the meantime, you can catch up on how Espoir D'Allen landed a shock Champion Hurdle win and the full story on the expected high winds.

    Thanks for your company - hope you backed some winners! Cheerio.

  2. Could tomorrow's racing be called off?published at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    In you missed it earlier... there is a lot of uncertainty about tomorrow's meeting because of expected high winds.

    Ian Renton, regional director for the south west region of The Jockey Club, has been speaking to Racing TV and says it was sensible to arrange an inspection for 8am tomorrow morning.

    He says it is impossible to predict how strong the winds will be, and from what direction, although with winds over 40mph forecast it could make for a dangerous situation.

    "We have been looking at this scenario for a few days now, so we have been able to put in some contingency plans," he said.

    "We feel being able to put on a full meeting on Saturday is infinitely better, to have a proper days racing, rather than extending Thursday and Friday to nine or 10 races."

  3. Tuesday's cardpublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    13:30 - Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Race 2m 87y -KLASSICAL DREAM

    14:10 - Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase 1m 7f -DUC DES GENIEVRES

    14:50 - Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1f -BEWARE THE BEAR

    15:30 - Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2m ½f -ESPOIR D'ALLEN

    16:10 - OLBG Mares' Hurdle Race 2m 3f 200y -ROKSANA

    16:50 - Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase 2m 4f 44y -A PLUS TARD

    17:30 - National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) 3m 7f 147y - LE BREUIL

  4. Postpublished at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    As dramatic opening day of the Festival as was expected. Here's a rundown of what happened on the track...

  5. Postpublished at 17:51 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    It is being reported that two of the three horses said to be receiving treatment are back on their feet, with one still down and being tended to.

  6. 'Very special'published at 17:47 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Le Breuil's winning jockey Jamie Codd: "Massive well done to Ben Pauling and his team. I picked up this ride fairly late last week and luckily he didn't have a rider.

    "It's worked out brilliantly. I hope everybody is up on soft/ heavy ground but this guy stays very well"

    Ben Pauling, trainer: "Very special, gutsy. He jumped so well and travelled incredibly. What an amazing day."

    Ben PaulingImage source, BBC Sport
  7. Postpublished at 17:46 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    Some worrying news, however, with screens around at least three of the fallen horses as they receive treatment. Let's hope that there are no fatalities.

  8. 'Gutsy' from Le Breuilpublished at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    What a crazy race. Le Breuil won by half a length as his stamina saw off Discorama.

    Third place? Jerrysback was 47 (FORTY-SEVEN) lengths behind. Only four horses finished the race.

    "I knew he'd stay but I didn't think he would stay that well. Gutsy," trainer Ben Pauling said.

  9. Le Breuil triumphs in finalepublished at 17:41 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    Full result

    1 Le Breuil (Mr J J Codd) 14-1

    2 Discorama (Mr B O'Neill) 9-2

    3 Jerrysback (Mr D G Lavery) 16-1

    18 ran

  10. WINNER - LE BREUILpublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    Just Your Type has been caught by Discorama, Le Breuil and Atlanta Ablaze... this is dramatic...

    Le Breuil and Discorama surge clear... it is a two-horse race... neck and neck... Le Breuil digs deep and outlasts Discorama.

  11. Postpublished at 17:37 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    This is not nice to watch... there have been several falls in this race, leading to a depleted field which Just Your Type still fronts.

  12. Postpublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    Just Your Type has taken up the mantle as the field goes into the final circuit of the track...

  13. Postpublished at 17:35 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    Beyond The Law is not beyond falling at a fence. Jockey Johnny Barry scampers to his feet, dodging horses as they head towards him. He looks alright. As does Beyond The Law which continues without its rider...

  14. Postpublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    Beyond The Law races into an early lead...

  15. WE'RE OFF!published at 17:33 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    A huge roar greets the start of the final race of the opening day...

  16. Amateurs get an opportunity to shinepublished at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    National Hunt Chase (17:30 GMT)

    Final race of the day and a chance for amateur riders to take centre stage.

    Impulsive Star for Sam Waley-Cohen could be one to watch, but the market is headed by Ballyward, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick, and OK Corral from the Nicky Henderson yard and ridden by Derek O'Connor who has plenty of experience around the Cheltenham fences.

    Derek O'Connor on OK CorralImage source, Getty Images
  17. Today's cardpublished at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    And there was one...

    13:30 - Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Race 2m 87y -KLASSICAL DREAM

    14:10 - Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase 1m 7f -DUC DES GENIEVRES

    14:50 - Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1f -BEWARE THE BEAR

    15:30 - Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2m ½f -ESPOIR D'ALLEN

    16:10 - OLBG Mares' Hurdle Race 2m 3f 200y -ROKSANA

    16:50 - Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase 2m 4f 44y - A PLUS TARD

    17:30 - National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) 3m 7f 147y

  18. Postpublished at 17:19 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    BurkeImage source, Rex Features

    It's not all glory at Cheltenham, you know - just ask jockey Jonathan Burke after he was unseated by his ride Glen Forsa during the Arkle Chase.

    BurkeImage source, Getty Images
  19. Postpublished at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    Joseph is dialling 999 and reporting the theft of his amazing technicolour dreamcoat as we speak...

  20. Postpublished at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March 2019

    Here's another look at racegoer Marc Nicholson's, ahem, dapper suit.

    He's the man in the yellow shoes...

    RacegoerImage source, PA