Cheltenham Festival LIVE: 5:30 result, tips, odds and winners on ...

In spite of an onslaught of early rain threatening to dampen spirits as well as the course, Rachael Blackmore ensured the Cheltenham Festival began with a bang in a wonderful ride atop Slade Steel for the opening race of the week, the Supreme Novices Hurdle.

With spectators gathered around the grandstand a false start scuppered the chance for an expectedly loud Cheltenham roar as sighs of disappointment met the horses instead as they led off. In an almost stubborn response the gathered crowds were rewarded with a tantalising and fantastic opening race.

Blackmore marshalled Slade Steel beautifully over the deteriorating ground and waited for her moment. She held her horse just on the outside of the pack as the favourite, Tullyhill, and Tellherthename jostled for the lead up front. With three fences to go a sense of nervous anticipation settled on the watching onlookers who wondered if she’d left it too late to make a move.

She hadn’t.

Beaten by Firefox on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse in December, Ballyburn subsequently bolted up over two and a half miles at Leopardstown before successfully reverting to two miles to strike Grade One gold at last month’s Dublin Racing Festival.

The six-year-old has been at the head of ante-post lists for both the Supreme and the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle since that latter triumph and Mullins moved to clarify running plans on Thursday.

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Hours after indulging in the local nightlife, Ricky Hatton reemerged at the festival for the opening day, and took a like to the Guinness Village where pints are being sold for £7.50 and a live band is performing.

He said: “It's the first time I've been to Cheltenham and I love it. When I saw the Guinness Village I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! It's a brilliant village. It's well documented I like a little Guinness!

“I go to Tenerife tomorrow and I just had a winner on Gaelic Warrior (in the Arkle), so I'll get some euros in for some pina coladas. I think some of the best days you'll ever have is when you come to the races. Cheltenham is a different league to where I've ever gone and watched it. But I'm not much of a gambler."

Olympian-turned-broadcaster Dame Denise Lewis is among the celebrities at Cheltenham today.

She said: “It's been a really great experience at Cheltenham. It's been a little while since I've been to the Cheltenham Festival, but day one is off to a real bang isn't it?

"The punters out there, it's just a sea of people. You can see why it's just the people's event. They are literally chomping at the bit. It's that anticipation, that coming together.

"Everyone has done their homework, it's a really knowledgeable crowd. It's that whole immersive feeling. I've just been on a tour to the parade ring and watched one of the races from the final hurdle. It is amazing."

Sipping a £30 bottle of Champagne, Tom Parlon marked his 25th year at the festival, although this year it is touched with sadness as his friend who often joined him, Tom Murray, died this year.

“It’s a special treat, Cheltenham,” he said. “It only comes round once a year and the atmosphere is incredible, I don’t mind paying £30 for a bottle once a year while I’m here, and not a lot of others do either by the looks of it.”

Mr Parlon, who is from Ireland, is staying with friends in a house in Cheltenham, paying £100 a night.

“That’s not bad for race week,” he says.

Ose Partir was one of the horses brought down during today’s racing.

A racecourse spokesperson said: “Ose Partir was immediately attended by expert veterinary professionals during our sixth race of the day, biut sadly sustained a fatal injury.

“Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.”

1.30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - Slade Steel

2.10 My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase - Gaelic Warrior 

2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase - Chianti Classico

3.30 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy - State Man

4.10 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle - Lossiemouth

4.50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - Lark In The Mornin

5.30 Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup - Corbetts Cross

Winning trainer Emmet Mullins, speaking to Racing TV: “Very happy. He’s a class animal and it was great to see him show his true colours.

“We’ve just got everything together at the right time.”

1st Corbetts Cross (Mr Derek O’Connor) 15-8

2nd Embassy Gardens (Mr P W Mullins) 7-4 Fav

3rd Mr Vango (Miss Gina Andrews) 14-1