Cheltenham Day One: Lossiemouth Wins Champion Hurdle

Updates here from the opening day of Cheltenham.

A horse has died on the opening day of racing's Cheltenham Festival.

Hansard lost his life following a fatal injury during the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase.

A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse said it decided "that the best course of action for the horse’s welfare was for him to be humanely euthanised."

Elsewhere, Lossiemouth has won the Champion Hurdle, the feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The 7-to-5 favourite, ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins,  finished comfortably in front of Brighterdaysahead, with The New Lion in third.

Here's winning jockey Paul Townend:

Old Park Star has won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the opening race of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Nicky Henderson's unbeaten hurdler came into the race as the 15-8 favourite.

And jockey Nico de Boinville made sure of the win after Sober Glory faded badly.

Kargese was a surprise 7-to-1 winner for Willie and Danny Mullins in the Arkle. 

The feature today is the Champion Hurdle later this afternoon. 

Reaction from winning trainer Willie Mullins after Kargese landed the Arkle:

Coverage of Cheltenham 2026 is brought to you by Mitchells Industrial Suppliers The Midlands Leading Tool Store.

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