CHAMPAGNE Fever, ridden by Ruby Walsh, has won the first race at the Cheltenham Festival today: the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Speaking to Channel 4, Walsh said of Champagne Fever: "He just came of age over the last fortnight and his work was just scintillating.
"He jumped like a stag and travelled really well, when AP got to him he got his head down and went again."
In second place was My Tent or Yours, ridden by AP McCoy, in third was Jezki and in fourth place was Un Atout.
The victory gave leading Cheltenham Festival jockey Walsh his 35th career win at the meeting.
Simonsig, ridden by Barry Geraghty, won the Racing Post Arkle Challenge in the second race at the Cheltenham Festival.
Second was Bailey Green, third was His Excellency with Overturn in fourth.
Golden Chieftan, ridden by Brendan Powell, won the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase.
And Hurricane Fly stormed to victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.
Rock on Ruby was second, Countrywide Flame was third with Zarkandar in fourth.
Quevega made history at the Festival yesterday as she become only the second horse to win the same race five years in a row.
She earned her place among the all-time greats with victory under Ruby Walsh in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle to cap a great day for jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins.
The Waley-Cohen family received a boost ahead of Long Run’s bid to win back the Gold Cup when a horse they bred won the Rewards4Racing Novices’ Handicap Chase.
New dad Sam rode Rajdhani Express to a hard-fought success in the colours of his father Robert, the chairman of Cheltenham Racecourse.
