16:24 Well that’s it from day one of the Open Meeting, run in classic National Hunt weather.

Tomorrows big race is the Paddy Power Chase, however the weather forecast is absolutely atrocious tomorrow with heavy rain and gale force winds. The majority of the racing press will be here tomorrow, so I will leave it to them to cover racing here tomorrow.

We will be at Wetherby tomorrow and back here on Sunday.

16:21 Well there may only have been six runners and the race may have been won in near darkness but you will have to go a long way to see a finish as exciting as this one.

Turning for home it looked to be a battle between Ashkazar and Overclear, the pair having been left in front after long time leader Little Josh fell at the eighth.

The favourite Knockara Beau had been in contention but was looking tired and going backwards as they came down the hill.

Overclear jumped the last in front from Ashkazar when, all of a sudden Knockara Beau seemed to find a second wind and he hit the front to the delight of favourite backers.

However that was not the end of the drama. Weird Al had been settled last throughout and was still last approaching two out. Almost unnoticed he made steady headway until Noel Fehily asked for a final charge and before anybody realised he was bearing down on the favourite.

Favourite backers were willing the line to come but Fehily was to spoil the party as Weird Al got up to win by a neck.         

A cracking finish and the sort of finish that makes this sport so appealing.

15:54 Commenting on Garde Champetre’s fourth win on the cross-country course, trainer Enda Bolger was full of praise for Nina Carberry.

“Nina is the key to him. Heads did us proud too and he could come back for the race here at the December meeting with L'Ami.

"I don't know if Garde Champetre would run there under top-weight."

15:51 A contest run in the driving rain and gathering gloom saw Lord Ragnar come home the impressive winner.

Hitting the front of a well bunched field as they went out on the final circuit he went well clear coming down the hill and never looked in any danger, even as they slogged up the hill.

Attorney General, who had been with the pace throughout came home second, with Fredo a running on fourth.

15:29 A monster field for the RBC Wealth Management Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, in which 24 face the starter for the 2m 5f contest, being run in the gathering gloom here at Cheltenham.

Needless to say a very open betting heat, 15/2 the field, with Regal Approach heading the market

15:21 Well there was only going to be one winner of this contest and as Nina Carberry hit the front turning for home the murmur in the crowd  increased to a roar as Garde Champetre, who had been settled fifth or sixth throughout, hit the front and led the field up the run in to maintain his and Enda Bolger’s domination of the Cheltenham Cross Country course.

Indeed it was a 1-2 for Bolger as his front running Heads On the Ground set out to make all, only to be “done” by his stablemate. If anything other than Garde Champetre had nailed him you would have felt really sorry for him.

Sizing Australia put up a great performance under bottom weight. With the leader throughout he came home only a neck behind the runner-up.

Mr Big was another with the pace, as was former National winner Silver Birch.

14:54 Next up is the contest which divides opinion more than any other, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, over 3m 7f.

For some the race is an anathema for others, myself included, it is the highlight of the opening day.

14:42 This seems to be a day for front running performances as French Opera, under Barry Geraghty, hit the front as soon as the tapes were raised and virtually made all, coming home four lengths clear of his rivals.

The only time he did not lead was when Safari Adventure, who had been keeping him company, led briefly after French Opera made a slight mistake at the fourth.

Tramanto looked to be a serious challenger three out but the he flattered to deceive, soon dropping out towards the rear.

Nikola emerged as the final challenger and with a good leap at the last, looked as though he could mount a challenge. However the conditions took their toll as the entire field slowed up the hill and although French Opera was tired so were his rivals.

Disappointment of the race was Song Of Songs, held up in rear by McCoy he failed to respond when asked for an effort – he also made too many mistakes – eventually he trailed home last.

14:19 Race three is the paddypower.com Handicap Chase over two miles.

Seven face the starter with the defections of Beggars Cap and Beherayn due to the ground.

Some comment from the opener and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said, "He's quite a quirky horse but if you go back to his hurdles form and his rating, he had a very good chance and was definitely right.

"I am very proud of Sam, who has been placed in the Foxhunter here before.

"He was very over-excited and had offers of rides from a lot of the top trainers but I said, 'No, you're going to ride mine'.

"We have more runners here than anywhere else and this is where we want to be."

From the last race Paddy Power and Skybet have installed Loosen My Load at 20/1 for the Supreme Novices, although William Hill go 25/1.

14:10 A cracking finish to our second contest where the famous Cheltenham hill played its part in the finish.

William Hogarth and Loosen My Load set out to make all, with Coothill tracking.

As they turned for home Loosen My Load was sent well clear by Andrew Lynch and was puling away as they approached the last.

However it is a long climb from the final fence to the finish and the favourite Some Present , having been held up, jumped into second spot at the final flight and set off in pursuit of the leader.

He was narrowing the gap with every stride as the front running effort took its toll on Loosen My Load. However the line just came in time to give Loosen My Load a half-length victory.

Secret Dancer was another making progress up the hill, coming home 2¼ lengths behind the front duo.

13:44 Eight line up in our second contest, the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade Two contest over the extended 2 miles.

Loosen My Load is a head shaker, whilst Tito Bustillo and William Hogarth, now ridden by AP McCoy, were pulling hard.

Secret Dancer looked very nervous.

Cootehill looked very impressive in the ring, as did the favourite Some Present.

13:34 A good opening to the meeting for the Twiston-Davies family as Razor Royale, trained by Nigel and ridden by son Sam made a mockery of the handicapper by taking the opener by a convincing 23 lengths.

The Sawyer set out to make it a pillar to post run and he managed to hold onto the lead until they began the descent for home where Razor Royale and Qhilimar took up the running, the latter blowing his chances with mistake three out before finally falling two out. The fall left Razor Royale well clear of his rivals and the only way he was going to lose was by something going amiss.

He jumped the last fluently and Sam just eased him up the run-in to record a facile victory.

Brave The Sawyer held on to take the runners-up spot.

Mister Apple’s was doing his best work in the closing stages and came home 2¾ lengths behind the runner-up.    

The favourite, My Lord Oscar, was never in the race at any point and Silly Wupple never looked happy and finally decanted his rider at the third.

13:09 Fifteen face the starter in the opening Irish Times Amateur Riders Handicap Chase over an extended 3m 1f.

Two non-runners Out The Black and Rakalackey mean it is only 1,2, 3 for each way backers.

Being seasoned handicappers they were relatively well behaved with only Radetsky March and Notabotheronme slightly on their toes.

12:52 25 minutes to the opener and there is a really good crowd here for a Friday afternoon.

12:14 I would take the official going report with a pinch of salt - the word Good should not be appearing in the going report, it is going to be testing ground this afternoon and by Sunday it is going to be terrible going.

12:08 Good afternoon from Cheltenham, where the weather for day one of the Open Meeting is horrible, overcast with drizzle. One more non-runner to add to the list.

10:43 Three more non-runners, details on the right.

08:41 Our first non-runner, Beggars Cap is out of the 14:25

07:41 Following 9mm of rain yesterday evening the going has eased. It is now Good to Soft on the main course and Good on the Cross Country course.

Our selections for day one of the meeting are:-

17:33 Thursday

The advance news is:-

Going

Old course, Chase and Hurdle-GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD in places.
Cross Country-GOOD, GOOD TO FIRM in places.
(GoingStick: Old course (7.7), Cross country (9.7) on Wednesday at 14:00)

Forecast Thursday afternoon 7-9mm clearing after dark. Then dry until racing begins, up to 21mm Friday pm into Saturday am, Sunday 1 to 2mm.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

13:15
3 Out The Black (going - 09:15)
8 Rakalackey (going - 08:58)

14:25
4 Beggars Cap (going - 08:06)
8 Beherayn (going - 08:59)

16:05
6 Minella Theatre (going - 11:00)

Results

Old Course

13:15 Handicap Chase 3m 110yds

1st 5 Razor Royale 12/1
2nd 2 The Sawyer 16/1
3rd 9 Mister Apple's 10/1
15 Ran Nr's 3 & 8
Distances 23 & 2¾
Fav 13 My Lord Oscar 4/1 (PU)
Tote
Win £15.80
Places £3.90 £6.30 £2.20
Exacta £244.60
CSF £187.64
Tricast £2,001.54
Time 6' 26.3"

13:50 Novices' Hurdle 2m 110 yds

1st 2 Loosen My Load 5/2
2nd 3 Some Present 13/8 fav
3rd 4 Secret Dancer 16/1
8 Ran
Distances ½ & 2¼
Fav second
Tote
Win £3.60
Places £1.50 £1.20 £3.20
Exacta £7.00
CSF £6.89
Time 4' 15.7"

14:25 Handicap Chase 2m

1st 3 French Opera 5/2 fav
2nd 7 Nikola 10/1
7 Ran Nr's 4 & 8
Distances 4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £3.10
Places £1.90 £4.60
Exacta £32.60
CSF £23.87
Tricast £79.92
Time 4' 04.4"

15:00 Cross Country Chase 3m 7f

1st 1 Garde Champetre 4/6 fav
2nd 8 Heasd On The Ground 18/1
3rd 12 Sizing Australia 8/1
12 Ran
Distances 1¾ & head
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.80
Places £1.10 £3.00 £2.10
Exacta £9.70
CSF £14.58
Time 8' 25.6"

15:35 Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f

1st 11 Lord Ragnar 11/1
2nd 4 Attorney General 33/1
3rd 6 Fredo 16/1
4th 14 Regal Approach 6/1 fav
24 Ran
Distances 3¼ & 2¼
Fav fourth
Tote
Win £12.50
Places £3.30 £12.90 £6.70 £3.20
Exacta £1,047.00
CSF £349.45
Tricast £5,771.82
Time 5' 26.0"

16:05 Novices' Chase 2m 4f 110yds

1st 7 Weird Al 12/1
2nd 1 Knockara Beau 5/2 fav
6 Ran Nr 6
Distances neck
Fav second
Tote
Win £16.00
Places £3.30 £2.40
Exacta £62.50
CSF £41.40
Time 5' 21.5"