Day one of the Cheltenham Festival lifted some of the lockdown misery for Irish punters as the Irish horses dominated on day one.
While it was the start of the predicted 'green-wash' at Prestbury Park on Tuesday, one partnership dominated more than others, Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle.
History Makers
Honeysuckle entered the pantheon of the great horses as she won her eleventh successive race when taking the Champion Hurdle. The woman on her back was, however, entering uncharted territory.
Rachael Blackmore becomes the first female jockey to win a championship race at The Festival ™
Honeysuckle remains unbeaten with a spectacular victory in The @UnibetRacing Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/KjfnX2g7Ds— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 16, 2021
Rachael Blackmore became the first woman to ever ride the winner of a 'Championship' race at Cheltenham. The unassuming jockey from Killenaule, County Tipperary, will put racing on the front page of every newspaper for the right reasons this week.
Jack is Back
Blackmore will rightly take the plaudits and headlines but Jack Kennedy is top of the Cheltenham jockeys' table after day one. The Kerry jockey rode a double late in the day on Black Tears in the Mares' Hurdle and Galvin in the National Hunt Chase to go top of the standings.
A huge upset!
Black Tears wins the @CloseBrothers Mares’ Hurdle.#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/HnR44tWgEt— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 16, 2021
After a difficult few weeks for the team at Cullentra following the Gordon Elliott controversy and ban, Kennedy did what he does best and let his riding do the talking.
Black Tears gave Sneezy Foster a first Festival win since taking over at Cullentra, while Galvin is now in the care of Ian Ferguson, who had the horse prior to Elliott.
The Black Tears ride will be a tough watch for many punters but it was sublime form Kennedy who nabbed the favourite right on the line.
Team Green
The predicted Irish domination at Cheltenham has well and truly taken hold on day one. The Prestbury Cup leaderboard has only two home wins after day one.
The sublime Shishkin and the grand old servant Vintage Clouds, who took the race at his fifth attempt, were the only UK winners on the day.
Nico de Boinville becomes the only current jockey to win the race twice
Shishkin is the mightily impressive 2021 @SportingLife Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase winner#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/H0DZcbc9i0— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 16, 2021
While the Irish challenge has plenty of heavyweights, the wins were spread across five stables. Willie Mullins, Henry de Bromhead, Denise Foster, Ian Ferguson and Noel Meade took the spoils for an easy lead in the Prestbury Cup battle.
The first time is the sweetest
While the stands were all but silent at Cheltenham, Sean Flanagan probably wouldn't have had many punters cheering him on Jeff Kidder if they were there.
"I shattered my jaw and fractured my skull in one belt... then I got back and broke my sternum" 💪🏻@swflanagan has had some bad injuries over the last few years, great to see him get a first #CheltenhamFestival winner for boss @tuvastables @HRIRacing | #EveryRacingMoment pic.twitter.com/qmVwCdV5En
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 16, 2021
Jeff Kidder took the Boodles juvenile handicap at 80/1 giving Flanagan a first-ever festival success. While not many will have back the horse Flanagan will never forget the moment, riding a winner for boss Noel Meade.
Bookies spared
The Mares Hurdle has provided plenty of punting drama over the years with high profile fallers such as Annie Power and Benie des Dieux saving the bookies' bacon on a couple of occasions.
On Tuesday the bookmakers' liabilities were literally accumulating as hot favourites Appreciate It, Shishkin and Honeysuckle all obliged at short prices. The fourth leg of so many bets was the Willie Mullins trained Concertista in the Mares Hurdle who was backed into odds-on favouritism.
This year no faller was required to get the bookies out of trouble, just one of the great Cheltenham Festival rides by Jack Kennedy on Black Tears, who nabbed the favourite on the line.
Catch the Cheltenham Show every morning on OTB Sports from 10.30.
