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Sam Fender

Seventeen Going Under

All Eyes On Blackmore As Cheltenham Festival Begins

Tuesday, 15 March 2022 11:10

Tens of thousands are flocking to the festival for the first time in two years.

Tens of thousands of racegoers will return to Cheltenham for the first time since 2019 with the festival kicking off today.

All eyes will be on the Irish mare Honeysuckle, bidding to give Rachael Blackmore back to back wins in the Champion Hurdle.

The roar as the first race gets underway with pack-stands will be definitely fortissimo!

It could be another good day for the Irish, who swept the floor last year and have a strong hand on Day One, headed by Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore, the defending Champion Hurdlers.

The Tipperary jockey knows she's the one people want to beat.

She made history last year, riding six winners to become the first woman to be the top rider at the event.

She's been remembering how special the victory was 12 months ago:

They’re back for more, facing nine rivals in the Champion Hurdle, and Blackmore is well aware of how stiff the competition will be:

Trainer Gordon Elliott is double handed in the Champion Hurdle, a race he has yet to win at the festival.

But he knows the favourite Honeysuckle poses a formidable threat:

Rivals include Appreciate It, trying to win the race 12 months after his last run for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

Willie knows it’s a big ask:

The British hopes rest on JP McManus' Epitante, who was good enough to win in 2020.

But the tens of thousands there will say one thing unanimously - it's great to be back.

Take a listen to Mike Vince, who's been looking ahead at the week's action at Cheltenham:

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