13 March 2024 , 06:13
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Cheltenham racegoers can expect a dry day on Wednesday as the Festival began in rain-soaked conditions.
The feature race of the day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which will be run at 3.30. The Novice Hurdle at 1.30 and the Novice Chase at 2.10 are the other two Grade 1 races on Day Two and fans, jockeys and trainers will be able to plan for the day knowing conditions are set to stay the same throughout the day.
The forecast has given a zero percent chance of rain with what is described as a moderate breeze. There will be highs of 13 degrees. On Tuesday the ground certainly caused some issues with several jockeys claiming it was soft going after the opening race.
On Day One, the main race of the day, the Champion Hurdle, was claimed by State Man, who went off the 2/5 favourite and justified that as he travelled excellently before quickening heading over the last. Lossiemouth, another odds-on favourite, was an impressive winner of the Mares' Hurdle.
Both were trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, who won the Champion Hurdle for the first time in his career. Mullins is now sitting on 97 Cheltenham wins after an impressive opening day and, such is his form, many feel he could bring up the century on Wednesday.
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The Irish trainer said on his impressive start: "It is very satisfying. It is nice having a big team coming over here but they have to win."
Mullins' Champion Hurdle win with State Man was slightly overshadowed by the absence of Constitution Hill, who didn't run at the festival due to illness. The trainer admitted he had more of a shot without the star horse, but is ready to take him on next year.
Jockeys had to deal with very soft ground on the opening day"He's probably a better horse around Leopardstown, but he's a Champion Hurdle winner," said Mullins. "You've got to turn up to win a Champion Hurdle - we turned up. He probably doesn't produce his best at Cheltenham and of course we were aware when Constitution Hill came out that the expectation grew, but he's a very good horse and he deserves this.
"I'd imagine Nicky will get Constitution Hill back and we can have another crack next year. Any day you get a winner here is good."
Mullins also confirmed that State Man and Lossiemouth would clash next year. He said: "State Man is a very good horse and he deserves a Champion Hurdle but Lossiemouth will have a crack at it as well next year — let’s see if she is up to it."