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Confirmed runners and riders for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Champion Hurdle and Tuesday's other Cheltenham Festival races
State Man will face seven rivals as last year's Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.30) runner-up bids to capitalise on Constitution Hill's absence and win at the Cheltenham Festival for the second time.
The 2022 County Hurdle winner was joined by Colonel Mustard, Iberico Lord, Irish Point, Nemean Lion, Not So Sleepy, Zarak The Brave and Luccia in the line-up. Pied Piper, Echoes In Rain, Lossiemouth and Love Envoi were the four not declared.
Willie Mullins has a stranglehold on day one of the meeting and perhaps most interestingly declared Gaelic Warrior alongside Il Etait Temps and Hunters Yarn for the My Pension Expert Arkle (2.10) as ten go to post for the first Grade 1 chase of the four days. Grand Annual favourite My Mate Mozzie has also been declared.
Mullins is responsible for half of the 12 who will go to post for the opening race of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30), with Tullyhill and Mystical Power headlining his challenge. Firefox and Slade Steel are among the opposition.
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Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (4.10) favourite Lossiemouth, another of Mullins' incredible team, will face ten rivals as Ireland's champion trainer aims to reclaim a race he once dominated, but has not won since 2018.
The Maureen Mullins National Hunt Chase (5.30) will feature the smallest field of the day with just seven declared. Leading amateur rider Derek O'Connor was booked for Corbetts Cross. Embassy Gardens will be ridden by Patrick Mullins.
The Ultima Handicap Chase (2.50) did not attract a full field of 24, falling one runner shy, with the Lucinda Russell-trained Apple Away switching to the National Hunt Chase.
A full field of 22 will line up for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.50), with the Fergal O'Brien-trained Teorie the final horse to make the cut. Topweight Liari stood his ground to pin the weights at 134.
The Gary Moore-trained Royal Way and the Gordon Elliott-trained pair of Barrier and Pacini were the shortest-priced runners to miss out and were priced at 16-1, 20-1 and 25-1.
Champion Hurdle runners and riders
- Colonel Mustard JJ Slevin
- Iberico Lord Nico de Boinville
- Irish Point Jack Kennedy
- Nemean Lion Richard Patrick
- Not So Sleepy Sean Bowen
- State Man Paul Townend
- Zarak The Brave Daryl Jacob
- Luccia James Bowen
Supreme Novices' Hurdle runners and riders
- Asian Master Mr Thomas Costello
- Favour And Fortune Tom Cannon
- Firefox Jack Kennedy
- Gold Dancer Danny Mullins
- Jeriko Du Reponet Nico de Boinville
- Kings Hill Jack Gilligan
- Mistergif Daryl Jacob
- Mystical Power Mark Walsh
- Slade Steel Rachael Blackmore
- Supersundae Patrick Mullins
- Tellherthename Kielan Woods
- Tullyhill Paul Townend
Arkle Novices' Chase runners and riders
- Authorised Speed David Noonan
- Found A Fifty Jack Kennedy
- Gaelic Warrior Paul Townend
- Hunters Yarn Daryl Jacob
- Il Etait Temps Danny Mullins
- JPR One Brendan Powell
- Master Chewy Tom Bellamy
- Matata Sam Twiston-Davies
- My Mate Mozzie Keith Donoghue
- Quilixios Rachael Blackmore
Mares' Hurdle runners and riders
- Ashroe Diamond Patrick Mullins
- Echoes In Rain Brian Hayes
- Gala Marceau Danny Mullins
- Hispanic Moon Darragh O’Keeffe
- Lantry Lady Jack Kennedy
- Lossiemouth Paul Townend
- Love Envoi Johnny Burke
- Marie’s Rock Nico de Boinville
- Telmesomethinggirl Rachael Blackmore
- Theatre Glory James Bowen
- You Wear It Well Gavin Sheehan
The markets for day one
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 1.30 Cheltenham
Coral: 3 Mystical Power, Tullyhill, 4 Firefox, 7 Jeriko Du Reponet, Slade Steel, 12 Mistergif, 20 Tellherthename, 25 Asian Master, 50 bar
My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase, 2.10 Cheltenham
bet365: 10-3 Gaelic Warrior, 4 Il Etait Temps, 5 Found A Fifty, Hunters Yarn, 13-2 Quilixios, 8 JPR One, 10 My Mate Mozzie, 25 bar
Ultima Handicap Chase, 2.50 Cheltenham
William Hill: 9-2 Meetingofthewaters, 6 The Goffer, 13-2 Chianti Classico, 9 Stumptown, 11 Trelawne, 14 Monbeg Genius, Twig, Weveallbeencaught, 18 bar
Unibet Champion Hurdle, 3.30 Cheltenham
Coral: 2-5 State Man, 4 Irish Point, 12 Iberico Lord, 14 Zarak The Brave, 16 Luccia, Not So Sleepy, 20 Nemean Lion, 40 Colonel Mustard
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, 4.10 Cheltenham
bet365: 4-7 Lossiemouth, 4 Ashroe Diamond, 16 Echoes In Rain, Love Envoi, Marie's Rock, 20 Gala Marceau, Hispanic Moon, Telmesomethinggirl, 25 bar
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, 4.50 Cheltenham
William Hill: 9-2 Lark In The Mornin, 6 Batman Girac, Milan Tino, 17-2 Ndaawi, 10 Liari, 11 Ose Partir, 14 Miss Manzor, Nara, Eagle Fang, 16 bar
Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novice Chase, 5.30 Cheltenham Coral: 7-4 Embassy Gardens, 2 Corbetts Cross, 9-2 Salvador Ziggy, 10 Kilbeg King, 14 Apple Away, 16 Henry's Friend, 25 Mr Vango
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