Live Cheltenham Festival results as opening day begins including Champion Hurdle

The biggest week in the racing calendar is finally back, as the opening day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival gets underway this afternoon.

In typical festival fashion the event is off to a quick start on day one, with one of the week’s headline acts Honeysuckle taking to the course at the top of the market in 3:30pm Champion Hurdle.

The card will kick off at 1:30pm, where Constitution Hill and Desert Dynamo lead the market in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, before Edwardstone goes out as slight favourite in the Arkle Novices’ Chase at 2:10pm.

The wide open Handicap Chase then follows at 2:50pm, before the feature race the Champion Hurdle kicks off 40 minutes later.

The Mares Hurdle at 4:10pm and and the Handicap Hurdle at 4:50pm come next, before the day is rounded off with the National Hunt Chase at 5:30pm.

Keep up to date with all the cards, results and winners right here on Mirror Sport.

Racing TV is the only channel broadcasting every race live from the Cheltenham Festival, with two exclusive races each day. For a limited time, you can join Racing TV for half price for the Festival – just £12.49 a month for an entire year, with promo code "RTVCHELT50". Visit racingtv.com/halfpricecheltenham for details.

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls on his Day 1 Cheltenham runners

Still stuck for picks? Here is Betfair ambassador and Champion trainer Paul Nicholls explaining why his runners should be ones to watch on the first day of Cheltenham Festival 2022….

13:30 – Silent Revolution

He is a useful prospect who won well on his debut over hurdles for us at Newbury in November before having a little problem with a splint which prevented us giving him another run before Cheltenham. But he has done plenty at home and enjoyed an away day at Wincanton where he worked nicely. Obviously we are pitching Silent Revolution into a hot race but we are game to give it a go.

14:50 – Frodon

The way the ground is drying up at Cheltenham will favour Frodon who looks great, retains all his enthusiasm and worked very well on Saturday morning. It is a bit of a punt running him in this handicap under top weight but we know he enjoys racing on the Old course and this is the only realistic option for him before the Oaksey Chase which he won last April on the final day of the season at Sandown.

It's true he disappointed last time at Leopardstown but some of ours were running below par at the time and we knew we were in trouble when it rained on heavily watered ground. I'm sure he needs better ground these days. While Frodon appears to have a lot on his plate he is an amazing horse, keeps surprising us and is capable of running another big race.

16:50 – Bell Ex One

He's an interesting Irish recruit, a bit of a dark horse and I'm not really sure what to expect on his first start for us. He has a mark of 130 after winning twice over hurdles in the autumn and was also useful on the flat. He's tough and consistent, pleased in a recent workout at Wincanton, has had plenty of racing and seems to do everything right at home. I'm putting on blinkers to sharpen him up.

EXCLUSIVE: Harry Redknapp buys Cheltenham Festival horse Back On The Lash with royal trainer

He always had an eye for talent, and now Harry Redknapp has swooped to buy a Cheltenham Festival horse – with a trainer for the royal family.

The former Tottenham manager joins Princess Anne and Zara Tindall as an owner at Martin Keighley's stables.

Redknapp acquired Back On The Lash ahead of the cross country race on Wednesday, where his horse will take on dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll.

Cheltenham Festival 2022 tips: The 384-1 Gordon Elliott accumulator that could make it a special week

Floueur, Tiger Roll, Frontal Assault – it appears Gordon Elliott's team of horses for Cheltenham are indeed 'savage'.

Check out this 384-1 accumulator from Elliott’s horses which could win Mirror Sportreaders plenty of cash this week.

Tuesday’s schedule

13:30 – Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle 2m 87y

14:10 – Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase 1m 7f 199y

14:50 – Ultima Handicap Chase 3m 1f

15:30 – Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2m 87y

16:10 – Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle 2m 3f 200y

16:50 – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m 87y

17:30 – Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Novices' Chase 3m 5f 201y

Tuesday’s races to watch as Britain aims to hit back at Ireland

British trainers were left embarassed in 2021 as they suffered a record 23-5 defeat to Irish runners.

Jockey Racheal Blackmore won six races – which was more than all British trainers. Will we see such dominance again?

Supreme Novices Hurdle: Trainer Nicky Henderson is desperate for a home win in the opener through either Constitution Hill or Jonbon, while Dysart Dynamo leads three runners for Willie Mullins.

Champion Hurdle: The Irish powerhouses of Henry de Bromhead, Mullins and Gordon Elliott all occupy the first three in the betting in Honeysuckle, Appreciate It and Teahupoo. The training trio have 22 of the meeting's 28 ante-post favourites between them. Epatante, the 2020 champion, flies the flag for Henderson.

Cheltenham Festival 2022 tips: Newsboy’s 1-2-3 and best bets for day one

Lines are changing all the time while punters across the country are desperately hunting for a bargain where possible.

With over 60,000 spectators in attendance and plenty more watching from home, fans will be desperate to land on a winner to make some money and make their week.

Our top tipster has picked out a winner for each race on Tuesday – good luck!

What will the Festival look like in 2022?

The Festival has been a key sporting event in each of the last two years, which have been affected by the pandemic.

Cheltenham was one of the last major sporting events to be held with spectators before the coronavirus lockdown in March 2020 – and one year later, only stable staff awaited the winners.

This time around, thousands of punters from both sides of the Irish Sea are set to travel down to the famous racecourse.

There are a total of 28 races over the four days, with Tuesday's final race run as the Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Chase to support those affected by the humanitarian crisis after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Cheltenham Festival: ‘Four days of escapism’

There's a lot going on in the world right now, with the eerie shadow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine serving as a disheartening backdrop among most events.

However, presenter Matt Chapman is desperately searching for some silver linings – and he believes Cheltenham Festival can help.

"We've got terrible things going on around the world, but we've got four days of escapism"

Well said @MCYeeehaaa

Watch:
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Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle: Inside story behind Cheltenham Festival’s top jockey

Speaking of Honeysuckle…

Rider Rachel Blackmore and her champion horse are the unbeaten top pick, and she is attempting to retain her crown after impressively winning the race last year.

Check out the inside story of how the duo took Cheltenham by storm last year.

Welcome to Cheltenham Festival

Good morning and welcome to The Mirror's live coverage of the Cheltenham Festival. It's set to be a very special four days of sporting action.

Follow all the action from Cheltenham Festival with our live blog, featuring tips, results, reaction and everything in between as Honeysuckle goes for back-to-back Champion Hurdle wins.

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