Lorcan Williams described it as the “best day of his life” after aiming Golden Ace to a dramatic victory in the champion hindrance in Cheltenham this afternoon.
The horse trained by Jeremy Scott went out as a 25-1 outsider, but hung around long enough to capitalize as First Constitution Hill and then the statesman went down.
Constitution Hill fell on the fourth last and left the statesman in pole position to retain the trophy he won last year, only for Jockey Paul Towning to harm the last one and hit the grass when he was clear.
Statesman falls at the end!
Golden Ace wins a ridiculous Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 😳#Itvracing | #Cheltenhamfestival | @Williams_lorcan pic.twitter.com/oqeggdugsm
– ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025
The British Horse Racing Authority quickly announced to announce both horses and jockeys, were fine.
Williams left that to be central. He said to ITV Racing: ‘I get lost for words. This is by far the best day of my life. You dream of these moments as a child.
“But she’s fantastic. She always appears honest play [owner] Ian Gosden for choosing this race instead of the obstacle of the mares. I don’t complain now.
“I am only a small part of the team and I am delighted to be on board.
“The only thing I thought was my agent said Watch Constitution Hill. When he was out of the race, I thought I would stay second. We were just there to pick up the pieces. ‘
Trainer Scott in Dreamland
Scott added to BBC Radio 5 Sports extra: “I couldn’t even dream. I just said to someone for God’s sake, I thought I was sleeping. It is marred by the two horses that came down, but I am just very happy that the gods preferred us.
“Our owner really wanted to have a runner here, it is extraordinary how it is good.”
Burdett Road was second on 66-1 with Winter Fog third at 150-1. The highly imagined Brighterdaysahead could only manage the fourth.
Early joy for Mullins
Disappointment for trainer Willie Mullins and Towning in the Function Company was compensated by winning the opening race of the festival, the Hurdle by Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices.
Kopek des Bordes was the victor after Towning this time the last one managed to come, despite a stumbling, and an emotional victory for owner Charlie McCarthy, who underwent an operation for kidney cancer last month.
It was also a moving opportunity for Towning in a racing dedicated to the young Jockey O’Sullivan who died tragically last month after a fall.
Joy for Henderson
Nicky Henderson finally enjoyed a first festival victory in two years after a bug on his stable decimated decimated his chances in 2024 when Jango Baie won the chase of the Arkle Novices. Odd-on Favorite Majborough could only manage the third.
The combination of Townend-Mullins also worked together to win the obstacle of the Mares with Lossiemouth that justified 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 to win on the first day by getting the National Hunt Chase.
