Lorcan Williams described it as the “best day of his life” after driving a dramatic victory in the Champion Hurdle in Cheltenham in Cheltenham this afternoon.
The horse, trained by Jeremy Scott, went out as a 25-1 outsider, but hung around for a long time to benefit the first constitutional hill, and then the statesman went down.
Constitution Hill fell for the last time and left a statesman in pole position to keep the trophy he had won last year, just so that Jockey Paul Townend wrongly judged the last one and hit the lawn when it is clear.
State you fall last!
Golden Ace wins a ridiculous Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 😳#Itvracing | #Cheltenhamfestival | @Williams_lorcan pic.twitter.com/oqegggduggsm
– ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025
The British Horse Racing Authority quickly announced that both horses and jockeys were in order.
The focus was on Williams. He said ITV Racing: “I am lost for words. This is far from the best day of my life. As a child, they dream of these moments.
“But she’s fantastic. She always appears and plays fairly (owner) Ian Gosden because she chose this race instead of the hurdle of Mares. I don’t complain now.
“I’m just a small part of the team and I am happy to be on board.
“Everything I thought was my agent, said Watch Constitution Hill. When he was out of the race, I thought I would stay in second place. We were only there to pick up the pieces. “
Trainer Scott in Dreamland
Scott added BBC Radio 5 Sports: “I couldn’t even dream. I just hit someone for God’s sake, I thought I was sleeping. It is clouded by the two horses that have come down, but I am only happy that the gods prefer us.
“Our owner was very interested in having a runner here. It is exceptional how things work.”
The Burdett Road was second place with 66-1 with 150-1 with 66: 1. The highly prefabricated BurderDaysahead could only create the fourth.
Early joy for Mullins
The disappointment for coach Willie Mullins and Townend in the feature race was won by the opening race of the festival, the hurdle of Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices.
Kopek of the on -board was the winner after Townend had managed to go over the last one this time and to achieve an emotional victory for the owner Charlie McCarthy, which was operated on last month for kidney cancer.
It was also a moving occasion for Townend in a race that was dedicated to the young Jockey O’Sullivan, who tragically died last month after a fall at the age of 24.
Joy for Henderson
Nicky Henderson achieved a first festival victory in two years after a mistake decimated his chances in 2024 when Jango Baie won the chase of Arkle Novices. Odd-on favorite Majborough could only manage the third.
The combination of townend-mullin has also teamed up to win the hurdle of Mares when Losssiemouth founded the status of his favorite with an impressive run at 4-6f.
Puturhandstogether won the 4.40 for Joseph O’Brien and Haiti -Couleurs became the fourth favorite, which won on the first day by winning the National Hunt Chase.
