Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 1: Results and winners after dramatic Champion Hurdle

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Well, what a cracking way to kick off another year at Cheltenham. It was an action-packed day and we get to do it all over again tomorrow.

Catch you then!

So here is how things ended today:

1.20: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Winner: Kopek Des Bordes (4/6F)

2.00: Arkle Novices’ Chase

Winner: Jango Baie (5/1); 2)

2.40: Handicap Chase

Winner: Myretown (13/2)

3.20: Mares’ Hurdle

Winner: Lossiemouth (4/6F)

4.00: Champion Hurdle 

Winner: Golden Ace (25/1)

4.40: Handicap Hurdle

Winner: Puturhandstogether (17/2)

5.20: National Hunt Chase 

Winner: Haiti Couleurs (7/2F)

‘It feels amazing – it was like looking in slow motion. He is such a tough horse. His jumping is quick and accurate and he gallops all day long.’

1st: Haiti Couleurs (7/2jf) – Ben Jones / Rebecca Curtis

2nd: Rock My Way (16/1) – Brendan Powell / Joe Tizzard

3rd: Will Do (12/1) – Jack Kennedy / Gordon Elliott

4th: Resplendent Grey (10/1) – Sean Bowen / Olly Murphy

5th: Transmission (7/2jf) – Patrick Mullins / Neil Mulholland

In the end, it all opened for Ben Jones and Haiti Couleurs. They led for the majority of the race and stormed to the line as others faded and fell behind them.

A disappointing display from the other pre-race favourite Transmission who didn’t threaten at all.

Three to go and it’s awfully packed. A length-and-a-half lead behind Now is the Hour who goes down at the penultimate fence!

Danny Mullins is unseated over the latest fence as Jupiter Allen and Haiti Couleurs remain at the front of the pack.

Rock my Way trailing behind them as a bit of ground opens up to the chasing pack.

Patrick Mullins is at the back of the bunch right now but there’s plenty of time for the favourite to make its way through the field.

Jupiter Allen just behind the leader as Caesar Rock manages to avoid a fall after a poor jump over that last fence.

Jupiter Allen takes the early lead but it’s a bunched crowd.

This race has historically only been for amateurs but professional riders are now able to compete in this one for the first-ever time.

The favourite, Transmission, is one to keep an eye out for as it’s ridden by  Patrick Mullins, the son of trainer Willie.

It’s the final race of the day and we’ve got 18 runners. Here’s who the bookies fancy:

• Transmission 7/2
• Haiti Couleurs 9/2
• Now Is The Hour 15/2
• Resplendent Grey 17/2
• Gericault Roque 10/1
• Will Do 14/1
• Hasthing 14/1
• Captain Cody 16/1
• Kyntara 18/1
• Rock My Way 20/1

Odds via oddschecker (and subject to change)

All the latest on the two horses who went down in the Champion Hurdle:

‘They went a good gallop which suits him. He jumped and travelled brilliant. I didn’t want to get to the front too early.

‘I thought he ran great the last day at Fairyhouse on heavy ground and this ground suited him.’

1st: Puturhandstogether (17/2) – Mark Walsh / Joseph O’Brien

2nd: Robbies Rock (50/1) – C Stone-Walsh / Gavin Cromwell

3rd: Liam Swagger (12/1) – Sam Twiston-Davies / James Owen

4th: Hot Fuss (17/2) – David Bass / Tom Dascombe

5th: Slurricane (33/1) T P Harney / R’O Sullivan

What a perfect run that was from horse and jockey Mark Walsh. They bided their time perfectly and everyone else was playing for second once they kicked on over the final couple of hurdles.

Kool One goes down as they go over the penultimate hurdle. Puturhandsotogether, though, comes through the crowd to make a surging run for the line and it’s won very easily in the end.

Solar Drive, Hot Fuss and Stencil have brolen clear with three to go.

Solar Drive still leading the way.

The favourite hits the front but Solar Drive soon moves ahead of him with five to go.

And we’re off in the penultimate race of the day.