The Constitution of the Hill and the State Man falling while the Golden Ash provides shock on the first day
Lorcan Williams described him as the “best day of his life” after riding Golden Ace to a dramatic victory at Champion Proted in Cheltenham this afternoon.
The horse-trained Jeremy Scott came out as an outsider 25-1, but hung long enough to use the first hill constitution and then demolished the state man.
The Hill Constitution fell in the fourth last, leaving a state man in a position to retain a trophy he won last year, just for Joker Paul Townend to delve his last and hit the lawn when he was clear.
The state man falls to the last!
Golden AS wins a funny unibet champion hurtle challenge 😳 trophy#Itraking | #Cheltenhamfestival | @williams_lorcan pic.twitter.com/oqeggdugsm
– ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025
The British Horse Race Administration quickly announced horses, and the jockers were fine.
This left Williams to enter the center stage. Said ITV Racing: “I lost myself for words. This is the best day of my life. You dream of those moments as a child.
“But she’s fantastic. She always appears and a fair game [owner] Ian Gosden to select this race, not the obstacles of the mare. I’m not complaining now.
“I’m just a small part of the team and I’m delighted to be on board.
“All I thought was that my agent said that the Watch Constitution Hill. When he was out of the race, I thought I would stay in another place. We were just there to pick up the pieces.”
Coach Scott in the dream of a country
Scott added the BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: “I couldn’t even dream. I just told someone for a name of God, I thought I was sleeping. He was outraged by two horses that came down, but I was only delighted with the gods we were favored by us.
“Our owner was very willing to have a runner here, it’s extraordinary how things work.”
Burdett Road came second to 66-1 and winter fog third at 150-1. The extremely thoughtful glittering day could only manage the fourth.
Early Enthusiasm for Mullins
The disappointment of coach Willie Mulins and Townend in the game was made up with the victory in the introductory race of the festival, the obstacles of Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novak.
Kopek des Bordes was the winner after Townend managed to cross the last one this time, despite the video and achieved an emotional victory for owner Charlie McCarthy, who was undergoing surgery last month due to kidney cancer.
It was also a moving opportunity for Townend in the race dedicated to the young jocker O’Sullivan, who tragically died at the age of 24 last month after the fall.
Joy for Henderson
Nicky Henderson finally enjoyed his first win at the festival in two years after the Beetle in his stable decimation of his chance in 2024, while Jango Baie won the chase for Arkle Novices. The odd favorite Majborough could only manage third.
The combination of Townend-Mulins also partnered to win a mare’s obstacle with a loss that justified the status of her favorite with an impressive 4-6F driving.
Puturhandstovstover won 4,40 for Joseph O’Brien, and Haiti Couleurs became the fourth favorite he won on the first day, establishing a national chase.
Overview of the second day …
