English/Ire
Old Park Star shines brightest in Supreme
Nicky Henderson gained a sixth Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle when Old Park Star struck in the Cheltenham Festival opener.
It was the well-backed Sober Glory who took the field along for much of the contest under Ben Jones but Old Park Star, who alongside Willie Mullins' raider Mighty Park, always remained in the slipstream and as the pace began to lift, Nico de Boinville looked poised to make his challenge.
A mistake at the last from Sober Glory put paid to his chances and although Dan Skelton's Mydaddypaddy loomed a threat between the pair up the run-in, Old Park Star found plenty once asked to fight off the eventual challenge by a length. Sober Glory fought on well to finish back in second, with Mydaddypaddy a nose behind in third.
Alan King's Baron Noir finished back in fourth to give British-trained horses a 1-2-3-4, while it was also an excellent start for favourite backers, with Old Park Star returning the 15/8 market leader following some strong late support.
Nicky Henderson, who last landed the prize with former Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill in 2022 and has also enjoyed success with the likes of Altior and Shishkin, said: "We've been here a long time, so we've got to know each other!
"This is a race that's been kind to us over the years. It's always a good race and the best novice hurdlers are all coming out to play.
"You have to have a good horse and we're very lucky they've come along – it's a long time since our first one in River Ceiriog (1986).
"Constitution Hill was obviously freaky when he won it and then your Altior's and Shishkin's went on to jump fences, and I would imagine that will be next year's game for this horse."
Before racing began, National Hunt fans said goodbye to Constitution Hill, who paraded in the paddock after connections announced that he would be kept to racing on the flat following his success at Southwell.
Henderson added: "On a day we've said goodbye to Constitution Hill (over jumps), it's nice to come straight in and a bring on a new one we hope could be a star.
"These young horses keep you going and I'm not going anywhere unless they want to pension us off!
"The first race on the first day is the best one you can get, and England are one up (over Ireland)! I don't know if we'll be saying that on Friday night, but we'll keep trying."
"It got tough up there. Turning into the straight he had to quicken off what looked a good, solid pace – he had to be brave to come up the hill like that."
Paddy Power reacted by cutting the winner to 7/2 (from 5s) for next year's Arkle, while the same firm went 8/1 from 10s for the 2027 Champion Hurdle.
"He's still a big baby in our opinion. I think in another year he'll be a much better horse," explained Henderson.
"He's quick and tough and his jumping is sound. He's got a huge future in front of him."
Sober Glory and Mypaddydaddy also look to hold bright futures, with both their respective connections looking forward to going over fences next season.
"I couldn't be more delighted with the run, obviously very disappointed to finish second, particularly as it looked like he would win it going to the last, but as we said before today, we would have accepted that result before the race," said Johnson White, trainer of Sober Glory.
"He's a gorgeous horse and we can't wait to get him back out again."
Dan Skelton was left feeling proud of the performance Mydaddypaddy produced and said: "It was an almighty run from a five-year-old, I couldn't be prouder of the horse.
"He left nothing out there and we'll look forward to coming back in the Arkle next year. The winner will probably be favourite again, but I would hope we have something to say about that."
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