The first two days of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival have certainly created some stories. There have been numerous mistakes made by favourites, leading to big results and some even bigger emotions.
Majborough and Constitution Hill Help the Bookies on Day One
After Kopek Des Bordes landed the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 4/6, the layers were fearing the worst. The so-called “bloodbath four-timer” of him, Majborough, Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill winning would have left the bookies tens of millions of pounds down.
In the Arkle however, their luck turned. Sent off the 1/2 favourite for Willie Mullins, Majborough was never really fluent. He made a mistake four from home before a worse one at the last effectively put him out of the race. He rallied again but ended up only a close third in a tight finish between four of the five runners.
A number of doubles still came in after Lossiemouth (4/6) cruised home in the Mares’ Hurdles, and the bookies still had something to fear from the Champion Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill, the subject of much debate, was sent off the heavy 1/2 favourite. They wanted him beaten, but ideally not by main rival Brighterdaysahead (Gordon Elliott) who was also strongly backed.
It was all over early for Henderson and Hill. After taking a keen grip of the reins early, he was within three lengths of the lead when crumbling to a fall four from home. Elliott’s 5/2 shot effectively then became favourite, but it was State Man, last year’s winner, who stylishly went to the front and had the race at his mercy.
As it happens, he fell dramatically at the final hurdle, hampering Brighterdaysahead and leaving 25/1 shot Golden Ace to weave past the crowd and score for Jeremy Scott.
More Odds-On Punter Misery on Wednesday
Though 6/4 jolly Final Demand was beaten in the opener on day two, well-backed The New Lion gave many a smart punter some joy. It wasn’t to last for the backers.
Ballyburn (Willie Mullins) looked head and shoulders above his opposition in the Brown Advisory and was sent away the 4/7 favourite. He pulled very hard though and never looked comfortable. He was last of all after a jumping mistake and even lost an iron.
After more less than perfect jumping, Ballyburn was hampered late on which meant Paul Townend’s patient approach was ultimately for no reward. He came home fifth.
After Stumptown (5/2f) made no mistake in the Cross Country, it was all down to Jonbon in the Champion Chase.
The 5/6 favourite for Nicky Henderson was a confident shout for many, but he too jumped badly at times, especially at the ninth. Pushed back into contention by Nico de Boinville, he was fully 14 lengths down after his mishaps but stayed on late for second place.
It was a distant second place (18 lengths), the winner being a most poignant and emotional one.
Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty Claim Touching Wins
Marine Nationale (Barry Connell, 5/1) was the beneficiary of Jonbon’s woes in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Nobody however begrudged that win at all and for one big reason.
Both he and Jazzy Matty, winner of Grand Annual a race later, scored very poignant wins. Two years ago, both horses won at this festival under jockey Michael O’Sullivan, the 24-year-old rider who tragically died in a fall only last month.
Marine Nationale’s jockey Sean Flanagan took the applause of the crowd, but very graciously told everyone that “Michael made him what he is”. It seems the young rider is still having an influence on the game and that will live with many of us for a long time.