Cheltenham 2023 outcomes LIVE: Day 1

One of probably the most anticipated occasions at this yr’s Cheltenham would be the efficiency of Constitution Hill, as but unbeaten his 5 earlier runs below jockey Nico de Boinville.

Last yr’s winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle goes for coach Nicky Henderson on this afternoon’s Champion Hurdle.

Henderson, searching for a record-extending ninth win within the Hurdle, tempered expectations for the horse barely this week, although there is no such thing as a doubt the six-year-old appears an actual expertise.

“Constitution Hill is doing freakish things, but he’s only had five runs in his life and you have to remember it is very early days in his career,” Henderson warned.

Irish trainers secured a dominant Pretbury Cup victory in 2022, with their horses taking 18 of the week’s 28 races on a troublesome 4 days for British-reared opponents.

And additionally because of Betfair, listed here are the most recent odds for the opening go over the fences, with six-year-old Irish horse Facile Vega the favorite.

Odds for Supreme Novices Hurdle:

And the so-called Queen of Cheltenham has a runner within the Festival’s very first race, with Inthepocket among the many contenders for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

“He is a very nice horse, he kept on well to win a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas just before Christmas, when he probably wasn’t helped by the omission of the last two flights of hurdles, and he ran a solid race in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last time to finish second behind Il Etait Temps.

“He is a horse who has a big future, and hopefully he can run well here and get the week off to a good start.”

Rachael Blackmore etched herself additional into racing folklore as she added the Cheltenham Gold Cup to 2021’s Grand National in guiding A Plus Tard to a runaway success in chasing’s blue riband occasion final yr.

Not all the pieces had gone proper for A Plus Tard in final yr’s Gold Cup when ending runner-up to Henry de Bromhead-trained stablemate Minella Indo and the queen of bounce jockeys felt she had unfinished enterprise, having picked the flawed horse.

So it proved, because the 3-1 favorite left the earlier winner in his wake following a trip timed to perfection.

The Dublin stout is a well-liked beverage on the prestigious spring occasion, with the Diageo model a outstanding companion of the Festival.

For the primary time, followers will be capable of purchase alcohol-free Guinness, together with from the primary self-serve bar at a racecourse within the United Kingdom.

The 274,000 spectators will be capable of buy pints of the alcoholic model at £7.50, in accordance with The Sun.

St Patrick’s Day this yr falls on Gold Cup day, with Friday set to be probably the most profitable afternoon for beer-sellers.

Researchers polled 2,000 adults and located half grew to become “equestrian experts” when a giant horse racing occasion occurred– though many say this fleeting curiosity might result in a year-round love for the game.

As many as 90 per cent of followers of the massive three racing occasions – Cheltenham, Grand National, and Ascot – can have a flutter, usually inserting a stake on six races.

While 26 per cent take their curiosity to a different degree by buying a duplicate of the Racing Post in a bid to seek out an “absolute cert”.

And 31 per cent have organized social get-togethers to allow them to take pleasure in all of the highs and lows of race day with household and pals.

Sadly, Cheltenham can be intertwined with tragedy, with the demise of horses an all-too-regular occurence during the last 23 years. We hope that each one our runners and riders get round safely at this yr’s Festival.

A dry and, at instances, chilly winter has brought on loads of issues over the last couple of months on either side of the Irish Sea, and there might be extra inclement circumstances for opponents and spectators alike over the following 4 days. Wind and rain are forecast to hit Cheltenham, however in the present day’s going might be one of the best of the week.

We’ve nonetheless bought a short time earlier than the motion will get up and working at Cheltenham, which suggests there may be nonetheless loads of time for a wager or two on the day’s early races.

The Independent has consulted the specialists and give you our prime ideas for the Festival.