Cheltenham Festival 2015: Results, Winners, Payouts and More from Tuesday
The opening day of the 2015 Cheltenham Festival lived up to its billing, with Faugheen showing he is a superstar in the making with a devastating success in the Champion Hurdle.
Jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins lit the blue touchpaper by taking the opening two races with Douvan and Un De Sceaux, but it got even better in the Champion Hurdle as the pair teamed up to land the biggest race of the day with Faugheen.
Read on for a review of the opening day's action from Prestbury Park.
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| Position | Horse | Price | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1st | Douvan | 2/1f | R Walsh | W Mullins |
| 2nd | Shaneshill | 9/1 | P Townend | W Mullins |
| 3rd | Sizing John | 25/1 | J Burke | H De Bromhead |
| 12 Ran |
Douvan lived up to all the pre-race hype with a scintillating success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Trainer Willie Mullins spoke in glowing terms before the race, suggesting his charge was as nice a horse as he had taken to the Festival, and Douvan was punted accordingly.
Those who backed Douvan into 2-1 favouritism never had a moment’s alarm as the five-year-old travelled like a dream—he was in truth a little too keen early—took up the running between the final two flights and powered away up the hill under Ruby Walsh.
"He was plenty keen and I was probably in front soon enough but he kept going well and is a gorgeous horse," Walsh told Channel 4. "That's the first time he's had a race and you'd imagine he'll improve."
To cap a fine opening to the meeting for Mullins, his Shaneshill came home in second—with Sizing John in third.
The home charge blew out spectacularly. L’Ami Serge was never in a position to challenge, and Jollyallan didn't travel at any stage.
| Position | Horse | Price | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1st | Un De Sceaux | 4/6f | R Walsh | W Mullins |
| 2nd | God's Own | 33/1 | P Brennan | T George |
| 3rd | Josses Hill | 12/1 | B Geraghty | N Henderson |
| 11 Ran |
Un De Sceaux dealt another blow to the bookmakers when making it a double for Mullins and Walsh in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.
The seven-year-old is one of the most exciting horses in training, as his front-running tactics take the breath away.
The one concern was whether the occasion would get the better of him, but those who took the 4-6 odds were never given any worries as Walsh settled his charge in front.
Un De Sceaux got into a superb rhythm in front, with his bold jumping putting his rivals under pressure.
The gelding beat off a string of challengers, with a brilliant jump at the notoriously difficult third from home a joy to behold.
God’s Own and Josses Hill attempted to mount challenges turning for home, but Un De Sceaux found another gear when they came to his quarters.
Un De Sceaux jumped the last as well as all the others and skipped away for a six-length success.
"He has a good turn of foot," Walsh told Channel 4. "He got a bit close to the second last but he pinged the last. He's not an easy horse but we've minded and nurtured him and he's a pleasure to ride."
To win an Arkle from the front is notoriously tough, with Un De Sceaux the first since Anaglogs Daughter in 1980 to achieve the feat.
| Position | Horse | Price | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1st | The Druids Nephew | 8/1 | B Geraghty | N Mulholland |
| 2nd | Grand Jesture | 25/1 | J Burke | H De Bromhead |
| 3rd | Gallant Oscar | 9/1 | B Cooper | A Martin |
| 4th | Indian Castle | 16/1 | W Kennedy | I Williams |
| 5th | Pendra | 9/1 | AP McCoy | C Longsdon |
| 24 ran |
The Druids Nephew may have been trained by an Irishman, Neil Mulholland, and ridden by an Irishman, Barry Geraghty, but he put one on board for Britain with victory in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase.
It looked like he had been laid out for the race and won like a well-handicapped horse.
He travelled well in behind the pace, jumping economically, before taking up the running after landing over three from home.
He powered away turning into the straight, and a spring-heeled leap at the final fence put a seal on the race for the 8-1 shot.
| Position | Horse | Price | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1st | Faugheen | 4/5f | R Walsh | W Mullins |
| 2nd | Arctic Fire | 20/1 | D Mullins | W Mullins |
| 3rd | Hurricane Fly | 8/1 | P Townend | W Mullins |
| 8 ran |
Faugheen led home an amazing 1-2-3 for Mullins with a sensational success in the Champion Hurdle.
Confidence was high in the camp after the earlier wins of Douvan and Un De Sceaux, and it was well placed as Faugheen powered to victory.
Faugheen came into the race defending a perfect eight wins out of eight, but there were a few questioning his form at the top level.
The critics were shot down, as Faugheen made every yard of the running under Walsh.
"Willie Mullins on Faugheen: "Faugheen was fantastic, as was Ruby. Hurricane Fly ran great and there's far more improvement in Arctic Fire."
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 10, 2015"
Walsh jumped Faugheen out in front and dictated only a modest gallop.
With the lack of pace, there were a host of rivals queuing up three from home.
Defending champion Jezki was the first to throw down a challenge, but he looked in trouble before being bumped by Faugheen at the second last.
Turning for home, Walsh gave Faugheen a kick on the belly and he powered clear of his rivals.
With Jezki dropping back, it was left to Arctic Fire and two-time winner Hurricane Fly to give chase.
Give chase they did, but at a respectful distance as Faugheen proved himself the premier hurdler in training.
| Position | Horse | Price | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1st | Glens Melody | 6/1 | P Townend | W Mullins |
| 2nd | Polly Peachum | 9/1 | B Geraghty | N Henderson |
| 3rd | Bitofapuzzle | 16/1 | N Fehily | H Fry |
| 15 ran |
There was drama in the Mares’ Hurdle, with the bookmakers saved from potential armageddon, as favourite Annie Power crashed out at the final flight when in complete command.
With Douvan, Un De Sceaux and Faugheen scoring earlier in the day, huge sums were rolling onto Annie Power.
She was backed as if defeat was out of the question, going off at 1/2, and the race went to script for nine of the ten flights, as Annie Power cruised through the race.
Walsh sent her to the front at the second from home and was in total control, but she stepped at the final hurdle, clipped the top bar and crashed to the ground.
Fortunately for all concerned, Annie Power and Walsh emerged unscathed to fight another day.
While it was disappointment for Walsh, the Mullins camp still got the winner as Glens Melody stayed on up the hill to repel the late thrush of Polly Peachum to take the prize at odds of 6/1.
| Position | Horse | Price | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1st | Cause of Causes | 8/1 | j Codd | G Elliott |
| 2nd | Broadway Buffalo | 12/1 | K Walsh | D Pipe |
| 3rd | The Job Is Right | 10/1 | D O'Connor | M Hourigan |
| 4th | Perfect Gentleman | 10/1 | P Mullins | W Mullins |
| 17 ran |
Cause Of Causes provided leading owner JP McManus with a winner on his 64th birthday with a cosy success in the National Hunt Chase.
The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old was hugely unlucky at the Festival 12 months ago, when he would almost certainly have won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup but for a stopping blunder at the last.
Trained with a spring campaign in mind, Elliott had his charge tuned to the minute.
Cause Of Causes was held up by Jamie Codd, who was in no rush to engage battle over the four-mile trip—possibly with stamina doubts in mind.
It was not until heading to the penultimate fence that Codd let his charge move towards the front rank.
He turned for home in fourth place, but was travelling by far the best. A slick jump at the last allowed Codd to send his mount to the front and Cause Of Causes galloped up the hill to keep Broadway Buffalo at bay.
Stamina doubts were extinguished and the Grand National could be the next port of call.
| Position | Horse | Price | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1st | Irish Cavalier | 11/1 | P Townend | R Curtis |
| 2nd | Thomas Crapper | 6/1f | C Poste | R Dicken |
| 3rd | Generous Ransom | 8/1 | D Jacob | N Gifford |
| 4th | Horizontal Speed | 12/1 | R Johnson | P Hobbs |
| 20 ran |
Jockey Paul Townend secured his second win of the day when producing Irish Cavalier with a late run to land the CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices' Handicap Chase, the concluding race on the first day.
Irish Cavalier was held up for much of the race, but charged into contention turning for home and powered up the hill to hand trainer Rebecca Curtis her first win of the meeting.
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