A mighty mare is crowned champion, a 208/1 birthday double and we bid farewell to a jumping legend: Cheltenham day 1

The star of the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival was mighty mare Lossiemouth, who joined her stablemate Kargese in the winner’s enclosure. But we also bowed down to legendary hurdler Constitution Hill as he drew a line under his jumping career and we celebrated a British 1-2-3-4 in the first race of the day.

This is what happened on Cheltenham day 1.

Cheltenham day 1: All the love for Lossiemouth

Mega mare Lossiemouth was finally crowned a true champion when winning Tuesday’s feature race at the Cheltenham Festival, the Unibet Champion Hurdle. The Willie Mullins-trained grey, ridden by Paul Townend, was posting an outstanding fourth consecutive Festival success – she made a winning debut in 2023 in the Triumph Hurdle, before racking a brace of successes in the mares’ hurdle. On Tuesday, the seven-year-old cruised to glory, beating Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion to the championship crown.

She becomes the eighth mare to win the Champion Hurdle after the likes of Dawn Run, Annie Power and Honeysuckle.

“She’s a star mare,” said Willie Mullins. “Just to come back four years on the trot, never mind win, puts her in a league of her own.”

Mullins, the Festival’s winning-most trainer of all time had already visited the hallowed Cheltenham winner’s enclosure with another mare on Tuesday, Kargese having landed the Grade One Singer Arkle Novices’ Chase with Danny Mullins riding.

“A lot was made of this filly being hot-headed, but I’ve always had a good relationship with her,” said the winning jockey, Danny Mullins. “Even when I got headed over the second last, I knew I wasn’t done with yet. I hadn’t burned the petrol early. The last furlong was where she did her best work.”

Not to be outdone, 12/1 shot Holloway Queen made it a treble for the mares on Cheltenham day 1 when she landed the final race, the National Hunt Challenge Cup for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey James Bowen.

The easiest Cheltenham Festival winner you’ll see this week?

The Skelton family got off the mark in style on day one with Madara, who came home seven and a half lengths clear of the Gavin Cromwell-trained Will The Wise in the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase. Jockey Harry Skelton was riding the seven-year-old for his trainer brother Dan Skelton.

“This horse has been brilliant,” said Harry. “It was his race to lose, he put his head down and galloped well. You don’t get better than this, I feel privileged to be part of this.

“One on the board, I wouldn’t mind a few more now!”

Farewell to Constitution Hill at Cheltenham

With trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley making the decision that former champion hurdler Constitution Hill would pursue a career on the Flat rather than hurdles, he bid farewell to Cheltenham with a victory parade in front of a packed – and emotional – crowd.

Nicky Henderson also looks to have a future star on his hands, however, in Old Park Star, who led a British 1-2-3-4 in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The six-year-old runs in the colours of Gordon and Su Hall.

“It’s sad that Constitution Hill isn’t coming here to race, but it’s nice to come up with another youngster who has got his life in front of him,” said the Seven Barrows trainer. “This is only the beginning.”

Owner celebrates 75th birthday with a Cheltenham Festival double

Johnnywho and Saratoga provided owner JP McManus with a winning double on his 75th birthday. The former won the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase for trainers Jonjo and AJ O’Neill in his famous green and gold silks while the latter landed the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for trainer Padraig Roche.

“It’s unbelievable to have a double here and with Richie McLernon riding him too,” said JP McManus after Johnnywho’s success. “He rode a winner of this same race for me a few years ago [2012] on Alfie Sherin. It’s great to have him riding winners at the Festival again.

“Every winner at Cheltenham is very, very special.”

H&H will be bringing you daily news from the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and you can enjoy added insight, interviews and exclusive comment from Festival-winning jockey Davy Russell in the bumper magazine report, in the shops Thursday 19 March.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in: