Summary

  • Mare Honeysuckle retains her Champion Hurdle title for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead

  • Champion Hurdle: Honeysuckle (8-11 F), Epatante (16-1), Zanahiyr (28-)

  • Ultima: Corach Rambler (10-1), Gericault Roque (9-1), Oscar Elite (22-1)

  • Arkle: Edwardstone (5-2 F), Gabynako (25-1), Blue Lord (4-1)

  • Supreme Novices Hurdle: Constitution Hill (9-4 CF), Jonbon (5-1), Kilcruit (6-1)

  • Mares' Hurdle: Marie's Rock (18-1), Queens Brook (4-1), Mrs Milner (14-1)

  • Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: Brazil (10-1), Gaelic Warrior (13-8 F), Bell Ex One (28-1)

  • National Hunt Novices' Chase: Stattler (2-1), Run Wild Fred (15-8 F), Vanillier (11-4)

  • Irish runners beat British trainers 23-5 in 2021

  • Fans return after missing 2021 Festival because of Covid-19 pandemic

Live Reporting

Gary Rose and Callum Matthews

  1. Rachael Blackmore is OK after that fall in the last race because she is up on Champion Green for this race.

  2. Charlie Poste
    Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Paul Townend has got Gaelic Warrior nicely settled. I wouldn't be worried about him at the moment.

    This race is normally ultra competitive - I think it is a great addition to the card - but in five minutes time we could say his price was tremendous value because we could say he's 20 pounds less than he should be.

  3. Gina Bryce
    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra presenter at Cheltenham

    Gaelic Warrior looks like a huge horse as he walks past us in the Parade Ring.

  4. 'Credit to the boss'

    Nico de Boinville, winning jockey on Marie's Rock, on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "The plan was to just take our time a little bit and see what evolved in front of us and she travelled and jumped well. All credit to the boss - he has been incredibly patient with her and she just seems to be progressing each race this season."

  5. It has been an excellent day so far for Britain with four winners.

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  6. Gaelic Warrior to prove handicapper wrong?

    Race preview: 16:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2m 87y)

    This is an odd one. Gaelic Warrior has never run in Britain or Ireland and has only been seen three times in France with form figures of 633. Now, that doesn't sound like he should be a strong 9-4 favourite for a race at Cheltenham.

    Well, he is. The Willie Mullins camp are rumoured to think the four-year-old is "chucked in" off his mark of 129. They were expecting a mark of 139, and would have been delighted with that apparently. Could he end up making a mockery of his opening mark? Time will tell.

    His closest competitors will more than likely come from Ireland too, with the Gordon Elliott-trained The TIde Turns, Pauk Nolan's HMS Seahorse and Padraig Roche's Brazil all popular in the market.

    Britain's best hope may be the Venetia Williams-trained Saint Segal, who has won both of his hurdles starts this season.

    Willie Mullins and owner Rich RicciGetty Images

    Could Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci have another star on their hands with Gaelic Warrior?

  7. Pundit picks

    Frank Keogh
    BBC Sport at Cheltenham

    Former jockey Andrew Thornton banged in the first two winners earlier with his selections Constitution Hill and Edwardstone.

    It's now over to BBC 5 live sports extra presenter Gina Bryce for her selections. No pressure, Gina...

    16:50 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

    HMS Seahorse (9-1) – Better ground may be the key to this horse, once trained on the flat by Aidan O’Brien. Form ties in with the leading juveniles this year.

    17:30 National Hunt CHase

    Run Wild Fred (7-4) – He’s got high-class handicap form, finishing second in both an Irish National and Thyestes Chase. Experience is usually required to win this. Trainer Gordon Elliott has landed the race four times.

  8. Winning trainer, Nicky Henderson, on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "I lost her last year - a bit like Epatante, but it is lovely when they come back.

    "You've just got to get their confidence and belief back. Everything has gone right for her. I was very impressed with her at Warwick last time out so I was hopeful.

    "The pressure was off after one winner earlier, so I'll be able to enjoy it now."

  9. 'Fantastic'

    Jockey Nico De Boinville, speaking to ITV: "She is such a gutsy mare. She came into her own today. That was fantastic."

  10. Paul Porter, part of the winning syndicate for Marie's Rock, on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "That was amazing - you join syndicates for days like today. I've travelled down from Cumbria today and I've got friends up there in the stands. My voice has gone!

    "What a journey back to Cumbria after this!"

  11. Indefatigable and Telmesomethinggirl were the two horses to fall in the dramatic closing stages of that race.

    Rachael Blackmore, winner of the Champion Hurdle, was on Telmesomethinggirl but was up quickly after the fall.

  12. Result

    16:10 - Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle

    1. Marie's Rock 18-1

    2. Queens Brook 4-1

    3. Mrs Milner 14-1

    4. Stormy Ireland 7-2 fav

    Full result

    12 ran

  13. Charlie Poste
    Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    That was an excellent ride. She was quite keen early on so Nico de Boinville has smuggled her away and then produced her at the last.

    I must admit, before the race I thought it would be a formality for Ireland that race.

  14. John Hunt
    Race commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    That was a really dramatic conclusion.

  15. Marie's Rock wins
    Breaking

    Marie's Rock comes through to win the Mares' Hurdle.

  16. A couple have fallen as Queens Brook leads a congested field.

  17. John Hunt
    Race commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    This is wide open as they prepare to turn down the hill.

  18. Martello Sky is up into third with Queens Brook also in the mix with three to jump.

  19. Charlie Poste
    Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    All of the mares took in the preliminaries well but I really liked the look of Queens Brook - she'd be the one for me.

  20. John Hunt
    Race commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Rachael Blackmore is playing it really cool at the back early on.

    I really like this distance over hurdles at Cheltenham - there's plenty of space.