Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore storm clear to win the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham

16 March 2021

Cheltenham Festival – Day one in pictures

16 March 2021

Rachael Blackmore’s historic Champion Hurdle victory on Honeysuckle was missing only roars of encouragement and cheers of celebration as the 2021 Cheltenham Festival had to get by without crowds, under ongoing coronavirus restrictions. But as equine and human endeavour nonetheless lit up Prestbury Park, here the PA news agency traces a memorable day one of four in pictures:

Few were in attendance, but millions nonetheless shared the jubilation remotely for Unibet Champion Hurdle heroines Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle (PA Wire)

Cheltenham Festival 2021 – Day One – Cheltenham Racecourse (PA Wire)

It was a glory day too for Shishkin and Nico de Boinville as Nicky Henderson's brilliant young chaser stayed unbeaten over fences with a dominant performance in the Arkle (PA Wire)

The turnstiles were motionless as a Cheltenham Festival like no other got under way on Tuesday (PA Wire)

Empty bookmaker stalls told their own tale too (PA Wire)

Cheltenham's regional director Ian Renton was a lone figure, watching the action from the grandstand (PA Wire)

Appreciate It and Paul Townend were devoid of company as well as they surged clear to win the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle very impressively (PA Wire)

Black Tears' Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle win was a Festival first for Denise Foster - who has taken over the running of Gordon Elliott's yard while he serves his well-documented ban. The narrow success was also the first leg of jockey Jack Kennedy's double and one of five Irish successes (PA Wire)

Favourites largely fared well on the opening day, but Sean Flanagan and Jeff Kidder's shock 80-1 victory in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle was a late leveller for the bookies (PA Wire)

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