| Dates: 15-18 March Venue: Cheltenham Racecourse Races: 13:30-17:30 GMT Main race: 15:30 |
| Coverage: Commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, feature races Radio 5 Live. Racecards, live text, results & reports on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Honeysuckle won the Champion Hurdle for the second year in a row on the opening day of the Festival.
The 8-11 favourite was steered by the Irish rider to a 15th successive career victory.
After finishing ahead of Epatante and Zanahiyr, Honeysuckle and Blackmore were given a rousing reception.
Blackmore was the first female rider to win a big race.
She was the first woman to win the Grand National on Minella Times.
Honeysuckle is the first mare to win the Champion Hurdle twice.
The meeting was held behind closed doors last year because of Covid-19, but this year a record first day crowd of over 68,000 roared home the runners.
Blackmore, who was voted the World Sport Star of the Year in December, said walking out in front of the stands was such a special place.
I'm lucky to ride winners here and this mare is just incredible.
The champion hurdle was the first race for Appreciate It, who won the supreme novice title in 2021.
Blackmore coasted to the front as the race unfolded, but stayed cool in his slipstream.
Honeysuckle had won her 11th top-level Grade One race.
It is the never-ending fairytale. He said that he always prepared himself for it to end.
Unreal. I was hoping that she would get the roar.
Epatante ran a fine race in second for trainer Nicky Henderson, who had a successful opening day.
Constitution Hill, trained by Henderson, was a breathtaking winner of the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle, powered clear of Jonbon and Kilcruit to win by 22 lengths.
When in contention, Dysart Dynamo was a late faller and would have had a hard time reeling in his rival.
I will be surprised if you have ever seen a performance like that in a race, said John Hunt.
Henderson said Constitution Hill was an extraordinary animal.
Shallwehaveonemore, trained by Gary Moore, died after falling at the final flight.
Great Britain went into the meeting on the back of a record 23-5 defeat to Irish-trained runners, but won the first three races and ended the day 4-3 ahead.
Edwardstone, ridden by Tom Cannon, ran out an emphatic winner for his fifth successive victory.
Cannon's mount did well to sidestep Brave Seasca earlier in the race, which resulted in Cannon's first Festival win.
Lucinda Russell won the Ultima Handicap Chase with a 10-1 chance Corach Rambler.
Henderson and De Boinville sealed a double with Marie's Rock, who won the Mares Hurdle.
Brazil scored in the juvenile handicap hurdle to give JP McManus his first win of the week. Mark Walsh steered the 10-1 shot to victory despite being hampered by runner-up Gaelic Warrior.
Patrick on Stattler beat Run Wild Fred in the concluding National Hunt Chase to win the title.
One of the most eagerly anticipated contests of the week is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, as Shishkin and Energumene face each other for the second time.
One of the great races of recent times was the first meeting between Mullins and Henderson's Shishkin, and they will be looking for revenge here.
In his two previous performances outside Ireland, Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi were beaten at odds.
The two-mile contest has a competitive feel thanks to last year's winner Put The Kettle On and runner-up Nube Negra.
Tiger Roll will attempt to win the Cross Country Chase for the sixth time.
Michael O'Leary, the owner of the gelding, said this could be his last race and that he wouldn't be running in the National.
On Wednesday, 17 March.
The Ballymore novice's hurdle is 2m 5f.
The Chase is 3m 80y.
The Coral Cup is a 2m 5f race.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is 1m 7f 199y.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is 3m 6f 37y.
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is a race.
The Weatherbys Champion Bumper is 2m 87y.
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