Henderson extends Champion tally with Epatante

Molly Hunter
March 10, 2020 6:30 pm

And rules Supreme with Shishkin.

Epatante provided Nicky Henderson with a record eighth Unibet Champion Hurdle victory on the first day of the biggest week in jumps racing, the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old mare proved her status as 2-1 favourite was perfectly justified when jumping into the lead over the last and holding off a late challenge from Sharjah to prevail by three lengths.

The victory was the second leg of a double for Henderson, who took the opening contest of the day when Shiskin triumphed in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Also enjoying a double was Henry de Bromhead, beginning with Put The Kettle On’s unexpected win in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase, where she belied odds of 16-1 under Aidan Coleman.

Rachael Blackmore then provided a second victory when steering Honeysuckle to success in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, ousting main rival Benie Des Dieux to deny Willie Mullins the opening-day success he has become so accustomed to.

Picture of the day

Quote of the day

“She’s special, she really is…but you can say whatever about her, the lady on her back is just as special” – Henry De Bromhead on Rachael Blackmore after her Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle victory aboard Honeysuckle.

Performance of the day

Outsider Put The Kettle On paid little attention to the chance she was granted by her 16-1 odds – and was a thoroughly worthy winner of the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase. Surging clear of the field with only 3-1 shot Fakir D’oudairies for company, the six-year-old mare gamely held off the latter to seal a length-and-a-half victory that few could have predicted.

Ride of the day

Honeysuckle looked to have it to do in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle as the field rounded the final bend into the home straight. Rachael Blackmore pounced on an opening, however, and squeezed through by the inner rail to surge to the head of field and then hold Benie Des Dieux in a thrilling finish.

What’s next?

After crowning the fastest of the high-class hurdlers, the Festival turns its attention to the steeplechase division on Wednesday, with the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. The race has been opened up by the withdrawal of reigning champion Altior, who has lifted the title for the past two years but will miss out due to injury. That means all eyes on the Defi Du Seuil-Chacun Pour Soi showdown. Elsewhere, Grand National hero Tiger Roll is set to take the same path as last year with a run in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, which he won at the 2019 Festival before heading to Aintree for his second successive National victory.