Owned by Audrey Turley, the nine-year-old son of Timos will have the assistance of Paul Townend in the saddle.

The Lisgoold rider will become the most successful jockey in Cheltenham Gold Cup history if his partner wins the day’s showpiece.

Townend currently has four wins – the same number as the legendary Pat Taaffe.

For trainer Willie Mullins, he will join Tom Dreaper as a five-time winner of steeplechasing’s  blue riband if the French-bred Closutton inmate claims a third crown.

First Cheltenham runner for 71-year old trainer Eleanor Broderick

Fermoy-based handler Eleanor Broderick, who won her first race inside the rails at Fairyhouse last November with Lisleigh Lad, will have her first runner at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Lisleigh Lad, who she bred with her partner Matt Slattery, will contest the ‘Foxhunters’ at 4.40pm. The seven-year-old son of Dansant will be ridden by Point-to-Point southern region jockey, Darragh Allen.

11 Mullins runners in Triumph Hurdle

Charlus, winner of three of his four flat races in France, will contest the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle at 1.20pm.

Costing a reputed €315,000 when purchase by The Why Knot Partnership, the gelded son of Churchill will be ridden by Seán O’Keeffe.

Willie Mullins, who has won the ‘Triumph’ four times in the past, will have a total of eleven horses in the 18-runner two  miles 179 yards race – Blue Lemons, Charlus, Larzac, Pappano, Poniros, Too Bossy For Us, Wille De Houelle, Lady Vega Allen, Lumiere Du Large, Place De La Nation and Sainte Lucie.

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It was a first Cheltenham Festival winner for the twenty-five year old amateur jockey on what was his first ever ride in Britain.

The Paul Nolan-trained winner had a neck to spare over the well-backed 9/2 favourite Johnnywho in the colours of J.P. McManus.

Wexford handler Nolan said:

“He is a stayer, but he was too free in the race last year. The ride that chap gave him was great as he never left the inside. He just had to try and keep on filling him. He was brilliant on him.

“I definitely thought Johnnywho was coming back, but I knew my lad would stay, however when I saw Derek (O’Connor) rallying I thought we were done.”

The winning handler was high in his praise of Stone-Walsh, saying:

“That was the lad’s first ride in England. He is a super rider that is loaded with talent, and what a pair of hands he has. I just thought he was super on him. He never put him into the race until he had to, but I was sure he was going to be second.”

“It is magical stuff”

The winning jockey, a brother of professional jockey Conor Stone-Walsh described the feeling of having his first Cheltenham winner:

“It is magical stuff and I’ve been dreaming of it for years growing up. Nothing will top this now I will say. It was all smooth sailing. It just got a little rough on the turn in, but he had plenty left and I was able to get him back going again.

“I never thought it would be like this, but when you get a ride on a horse with a chance you have to take it all in.”

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A then record €740,000 purchase in February 2024, the seven-year-old grey was racing in famous colours of the late John Hales, who owned the horse in partnership with Ged Mason and Alex Ferguson among others.

Speaking about the very positive ride jockey Harry Cobden gave the eventual winner, Nicholls said:

“We always had a positive plan; he jumps brilliantly. Everyone was telling me what to do and what not to do, trip-wise, and I felt he wanted a trip. I think he’d gallop forever, and it’s just good to get him back.

“Harry is good in front. He’s such a brilliant jumper and such a genuine horse, and he’s better than a handicapper, and he’d got to a nice low mark. He’s hasn’t run at all badly this season – the Cheltenham run here before turned out to be good, it’s just that he had such a big price tag, he’s had to put up with that, and you get plenty of stick.”

Discussing his achievement in reaching 50 Cheltenham Festival winners, the Ditcheat handler admitted:

“I never thought I’d train 50 Festival winners when I started. It’s fantastic – any winner here is fantastic, and if you get a winner here, anything on top of that is a bonus. It hasn’t been the best season for us; I do not know why, some of the horses have been wrong, and some and right, and the ones which are right run well.”

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In the Robcour colours, the six-year-old daughter of Westerner came to battle and ultimately deny Gavin Cromwell’s Sixandahalf (85/40f) by a half-length at the winning post.

Diva Luna (12/1) from the Ben Pauling yard and ridden by Ben Jones was third home, a further six lengths behind the runner-up.

Discussing his first winner of the 2025 Festival, the successful Waterford handler Henry de Bromhead said:

“We knew we had the stamina and the New Course suits horses with that. We always worry about being too handy in that race, but Rachael was spot on.

“I thought they went a real good gallop and she gave her some spin. It was a little bit like Telmesomethinggirl a few years ago.

“We weren’t as far back as we normally are, but she stayed on really well. I thought when we winged the last we had a chance.”

It was a 17th Cheltenham Festival victory for Rachael Blackmore, who admitted:

“It’s a magical place to be up here. It’s brilliant, she did it really well, she came through the race lovely. I want to dedicate this to my cousin, Robert Blackmore, who passed away at the weekend, his funeral is today, so I want to dedicate this to him.”

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Running for the first time in 313 days, Jimmy Du Seuil saw off Impose Toi (13/2) to seal victory in the two mile 5 furlong handicap hurdle to give the winning rider, Danny Mullins, his third career success at the Cheltenham Festival.

Ballyadam (16/1) was a length further back in third for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead.

“Credit goes to Willie Mullins – coming here with no run this season, prepared for a handicap like that, no run in a handicap… it’s just great to be a part of that team,” the winning jockey said.

Stumptown wins Cross Country Chase

Stumptown (5/2f) carried top-weight of 11st 10lbs to win the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

Ridden by Keith Donoghue, the eight-year-old had won on his previous start over the unique course in December and today was the comfortable seven-length winner from Latenightpass (11/1).

It was a fifth success in the race for the successful jockey, who said:

“I’m riding for the right people, for Gordon before and Gavin now. When you’re riding this calibre of horse, it makes it easier.

“I was only ever hanging in there. He didn’t jump as well as he could. Ground is probably a bit soft for him. But he stays well and I knew going to the last, I could feel him getting going and that he was never going to be beat.

“He really likes these fences. I was glad we put the cheekpieces on him today.”

For Co Meath handler Gavin Cromwell it was 7th Festival win.

“I was very concerned for a while to be honest, but he has ended up running out a good winner in the end,” Cromwell acknowledged. “I don’t think Keith thought he was at his best either, but listen we will take it anyway.”

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Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2023, when ridden by the recently deceased Michael O’Sullivan, Marine Nationale ran out an emphatic winner of the day two feature.

“I think the horse hasn’t got his credit since he won the Supreme Novices’, the winning owner/trainer said, before adding, “and people forget that he only had two runs last year so he’s effectively a novice this year, and we were having to plan a campaign to gradually get him his experience.”

“I’d like to dedicate this win to Michael and his girlfriend Charlotte”

When speaking to the media after today’s victory, Barry Connell admitted:

“Michael and I went on a journey with this horse; he rode him in all his races in his novice season over hurdles. He started as a 7lb claimer with us and we asked him to turn pro. He ended winning three Grade Ones as a claimer, leading rider on the first day, and then leading conditional. I’ve asked racing historians and I don’t think they can find anyone who did all that.

“It is a tragedy that he’s left us, but it’s a record that he can be really proud of. He’s achieved more in a lifetime than a lot of riders who have been riding a lot longer can ever achieve. So I’d like to dedicate this win to Michael and his girlfriend Charlotte, who’s here. Our hearts go out to all his friends and family and girlfriend.”

Costly mistake by Jonbon

Jonbon (5/6f), trained by Nickey Henderson for J.P. McManus made a jumping error and it took a patient Nico de Boinville time to get the race favourite back into contention.

Tried as he did, however, Marine Nationale, a son of French Navy, had flown under Flanagan, to decisively win the Grade 1 contest by 18 lengths.

Jonbon was second, with former Champion Chaser Captain Guinness (25/1) third, one and a quarter lengths behind the McManus-owned runner-up.

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Six Irish horses are among the field of eight for the Grade 1 contest over two miles, where the Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon, owned by J.P. McManus, will start as the race favourite.

Marine Nationale, a winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2023, is the strongest Irish challenger, having posted a career-best Racing Post Rating in the Dublin Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival last month.

Former winners of the Champion Chase, Energumene and Captain Guinness, contest again this year, with the former likely to have more support in the betting market.

New McManus recruit could deny Irish in opener

The opening Grade 1 Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle over two miles five furlongs will have eight Irish-trained runners in the 11-horse race. Here again, another J.P. McManus-owned English-trained horse – Dan Skelton’s The New Lion – may deny the overseas challenge.

An Irish winner is guaranteed in the 2.00 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, with all runners making the trip from this side of the Irish Sea. Willie Mullins accounts for four of the seven, Gordon Elliott has two, and Henry de Bromhead has one representative.

Strong Irish challenge in the Champion Bumper

The fourth and final Grade 1 of Wednesday’s action is the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at 5.20pm. The race which will close the day two card has Copacabana heading the betting market for Willie and Patrick Mullins. His stable companion, Gameofinches, the mount of Paul Townend, is next best with the bookmakers, followed by Gordon Elliott’s Kalypso’chance, who will be ridden by Jack Kennedy.

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Running in the colours of Charlie McCarthy from Fermoy, five-year-old ran out a ready length and three-quarters winner under Paul Townend.

The runner-up William Munny, ridden by Seán Flanagan for Barry Connell, carried the same colours in which Michael O’Sullivan achieved his most notable victory, when winning this race with Marine Nationale two years ago.

Reacting to the win, successful handler Mullins said:

“It’s wonderful. We sent a good team to try and win it, so I’m delighted we did. He looks to be some sort of a horse; the team of horses I had there, any year I’d say they’d be good enough to try and go close in that race, and they were spread out like Brown’s cows behind the first two.

“I think a faster pace suits his jumping better. He is like a chaser, but should he do that or stay over hurdles? I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll probably have a go over fences at the end of the season and see what he’s like, and if Paul is happy to go chasing with him.”

For the Lisgoold rider it was a 35th Cheltenham Festival success, and the 104th for Willie Mullins.

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The opening contest on day one is the Grade 1 Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over 2 miles 87 yards. Named this year in honour of the recently deceased Lombardstown, Co Cork, rider, the race will be poignant coming so shortly after the jockey’s death just a few weeks ago.

Champion handler Willie Mullins is responsible for half the 12-runner field, with main stable jockey Paul Townend unsurprisingly choosing the race favourite Kopek Des Bordes. Owned by Charles McCarthy in Fermoy, the French-bred son of No Risk At All jumped very poorly first time out over hurdles at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

He improved his hurdling significantly between then and the Dublin Racing Festival, where according to Race iQ he gained 10.72 lengths while jumping, and was the only horse over the two-day’s at Leopardstown to go sub 4 minutes over obstacles.

Romeo Coolio was runner-up in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024, and comes to Prestbury Park this season with wins at Down Royal last November and a Leopardstown Grade 1 at Christmas.

Salvador Mundi, the mount of Patrick Mullins, who previously finished second to Sir Gino in his native France, has a Tipperary maiden and a Punchestown Grade 2 to his name.

William Munny would be a fitting winner of this year’s renewal of the race. The listed novice winner at Punchestown will be ridden by Seán Flanagan, and will carry the colours of owner/trainer Barry Connell, the same colours worn by Michael O’Sullivan in 2023 when winning the ‘Supreme’ aboard Marine Nationale.

Despite Willie Mullins’ Closutton team being responsible for 50% of the field, the trainer has only won the race twice in the last six years (2021 Appreciate It and Klassical Dream 2019). He is, however, the race’s most successful current trainer with seven wins – Tourist Attraction (1995), Ebaziyan (2007), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019) and Appreciate It (2021).

The race, previously known as the Gloucestershire Hurdle, has been won by Irish-trained raiders on 44 occasions, and by the French once. Of the 16 divisions from 1952-59, Vincent O’Brien won 10 renewals. Ireland also kept a stranglehold on the race for seven years
from 1977-83 and has won 15 of the last 23 runnings

1:20pm Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

1 Funiculi Funicula (FR) 5 11 7 Michael A.O’Riordan/Séamus Hennessy W. P. Mullins Brian Hayes
2 Irancy (FR) 7 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Mark Walsh
3 Karbau (FR) 5 11 7 Barnane Stud,Partner & Temple Bloodstock W. P. Mullins Sean O’Keeffe
4 Karniquet (FR) h 5 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud W. P. Mullins Danny Mullins
5 Kopek des Bordes (FR) h 5 11 7 Monabeg Investments Limited W. P. Mullins P. Townend
6 Romeo Coolio 6 11 7 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
7 Salvator Mundi (FR) h,ts 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Mr P. W. Mullins
8 Sky Lord 6 11 7 Mr Basil Holian Henry de Bromhead Darragh O’Keeffe
9 Tripoli Flyer (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Ismail El Magdoub Fergal O’Brien Jonathan Burke
10 Tutti Quanti (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Colm Donlon Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
11 William Munny (IRE) h 7 11 7 Mr Barry Connell Barry Connell Seán Flanagan
12 Workahead (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore

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This year is the 18th running of the race, which Irish trainers have dominated since its inception – 14 of the 17 previous winners were trained in Ireland.

A Grade 1 race since 2015, the Mares’ Hurdle was won an incredible six consecutive years by Quevega, bettering the previous Cheltenham Festival record of five consecutive wins held by Golden Miller (1932 to 1936).

Willie Mullins has won 10 of the 17 editions of the race to date and saddles the favourite and last season’s winner, Lossiemouth, and second favourite in the betting, Jade De Grugy.

While the early season plan had been to contest the opening day feature, the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle, with Lossiemouth, connections of the grey mare decided last weekend to stick to her won sex in the almost two and a half-mile contest.

Jade De Grugy and Gala Marceau will carry the colours of Scottish owner Kenny Alexander, who previously won this race twice with Honeysuckle (2020 and 2023).

3:20pm Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y

1 Casa No Mento 7 11 5 LRK Racing & Willy Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
2 Dysart Enos (IRE) 7 11 5 The Good Stock Syndicate Fergal O’Brien Jonathan Burke
3 Gala Marceau (FR) h 6 11 5 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Brian Hayes
4 Jade de Grugy (FR) 6 11 5 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Danny Mullins
5 Jetara (IRE) p 7 11 5 Mr G. McGrath Mrs J. Harrington Sam Ewing
6 Joyeuse (FR) 6 11 5 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
7 July Flower (FR) 6 11 5 Mr Duncan Angove Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
8 Kala Conti (FR) 5 11 5 Robcour Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
9 Lossiemouth (FR) 6 11 5 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins P. Townend
10 Queens Gamble (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr A Frost and Mr E Galvin Harry Derham Paul O’Brien
11 Take No Chances (IRE) 7 11 5 Mr Garry Wilson Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

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