Meath horses forced to settle for places on bizarre day one at Cheltenham

Meath horses had to settle for place money as none of the Royal contenders managed to get their heads in front on a dramatic day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Tom Gannon

Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead was well fancied in the feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, The Champion Hurdle. Unfortunately for Elliott, the mare ran a disappointing race in what transpired to be one of if not the most extraordinary contests in Cheltenham history.

After the odds on favourite, Constitution Hill fell at the fourth last hurdle, Willie Mullins' State Man travelled well through the field and looked by far the most likely winner when he took a crashing fall at the last. Jeremy Scotts' Golden Ace was able to take advantage and win at odds of 25/1. Out of the finishers, the only horse behind Elliott's mare was her stablemate King of Kingsfield.

In the opener, Elliott was a bit closer to victory when his horse, Romeo Coolio finished third in the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novice Hurdle. Last year's champion bumper second was out-battled by the impressive winner, Kopek Des Bordes and was passed on the turn before the last hurdle by Barry Connell's William Munny.

Gavin Cromwell went one place closer in a thrilling Arkle Novice Chase. Cromwell's mare Only By Night led briefly in the run-in and looked like she could win before the fast-finishing Jango Baie passed Keith Donoghue's mount along with Majborough and l'Eau Du Sud.

Gavin Cromwell hit the frame again later in the day when Robbies Rock ran a big race in the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at odds of 50/1. The four-year-old was best of the rest and made no real impression on the winner, Joseph O'Brien's Putyourhandstogether. Cromwell's Malina Girl was quietly supported in the betting market of the Ultima Chase over the last week and she finished a respectable third.

Now Is The Hour was a 13/2 chance for Cromwell and Donoghue in the closing race, The National Hunt Chase. The eight-year-old looked like he could challenge for victory before falling at the second-last. Gordon Elliott's Will Do ran on well to finish third but never looked like troubling the winner, Rebecca Curtis' Haiti Couleurs.