09:42 Good morning from Cheltenham which is bathed in sunshine. The official going is Good to Soft, Good in Places, although this may well reverse by the time we reach the first race.

Very quiet here at the moment but once the gates open the atmosphere will crank up until we get the Cheltenham roar at 1:30.

Our commentators today are Richard Hoiles and Mike Cattamole on-course, Simon Holt for Channel Four and John Hunt (who is already here) for BBC Radio.

Our day 1 selections are:-

10:05 The ground looks to be absolutely perfect – no excuses today on the ground front.

10:17 Some early morning views.

Some of the Irish contenders after their morning workout:-

The home straight showing the controversial new location of the final hurdle:-

The point where history is made:-

An empty winners enclosure:-

The lull before the storm:-

10:25 The Media Centre is beginning to fill up now, plenty of Irish accents here. I hope they will not be in tears when Dunguib gets beaten in the opener?

Then again if the beast wins I will be the one in tears.

10:41 Well the gates are open and what seems like a sea of humanity is now flowing through the gates. Just under three hours to the opening race now.

10:52 Although there is a great deal of talk surrounding the Irish wonder horse Dunguib, it must not be forgotten that Go Native’s connections are in line to pick up a £1m bonus should he win the Champion Hurdle.

10:53 I may be tempting fate here but the band, usually based next door, has not started yet. Could this mean a paracetamol free Festival? It is not that the band was particularly bad last year, the problem was their set only lasted an hour before repeating ..... so hearing the same routine six times a day for four days was just a tad too much last year.

11:07 I spoke too soon - the band has started and it sounds like the same one as last year.

11:22 The Guinness Village is a tad busier than earlier on.

11:25 It is certainly drying weather and Simon Claisse says he would not be surprised if the going was Good, Good to Soft in places by the first race.

12:18 We have just had the singing of the Cheltenham song, led by Derek Thompson.

12:23 Enjoying the day

12:33 Early business for "the enemy"

12:52 I haven’t seen any official figures yet but it certainly looks busier than last year.

12:53 I am going to try and get to see the runners in the parade ring, the appropriate word being “try”  as it is a battle to get through the crowds at the moment.

12:59 I would like to take this opportunity to publicly apologise to anybody sitting near me in the media centre – I have just had an excellent Goodwood Estate burger – it just happens the onions are of the very strong raw variety. Personally I am not complaining, however my neighbours may well be.

Right I am off to see some horses - I may be gone some time.

13:20 The runners are in the parade ring for the opener and I have to say Dunguib looks very striking indeed.

Dan Breen is a little bit on his toes and both Get Me Out Of Here and Vino Griego have two handlers.

13:53 Well the Irish have been silenced after their banker of the week Dunguib was well beaten into third place by the home challengers of Menorah and Get Me Out Of Here.

Not jumping fluently with mistakes at the third and the fifth Dunguib did make late progress but Menorah and Get Me Out Of Here had already flown.

Menorah had first run and didn’t jump that well in the latter stages. Clear on the run-in he then faced a challenge from Get Me Out Of Here under strong McCoy driving and he was closing with Menorah holding on by a fast diminishing head.

Dunguib was closing, but not as fast and came home 1¾ lengths further back in third.

13:57 Comments from the winning trainer Philip Hobbs said: "He could be very good. I couldn't believe how green he was going to the second-last.

"It's a good job Richard poached the lead when he did as another 50 yards he might have been in trouble.

"He's been beaten on two occasions at Doncaster and Ascot, both times in muddling races, and that doesn't suit him at all.

"He's only five - he had a disadvantage to some of these because he's younger.

"At this stage, my first thought would be the Champion Hurdle next year rather than think about novice chasing, but we'll see."

13:59 Plenty of mutterings that Dunguib’s jockey left it too late before launching his challenge.

14:01 Betfred are going 8/1 for Menorah to win the 2011 Champion Hurdle

14:27 The Irish favourite may have failed in the opener but the tables were soon turned in the Arkle as there was an Irish winner in the shape of Sizing Europe.

To the fore throughout he challenged Mad Max three out. When Mad Max made a mistake two out this allowed Sizing Europe to pounce.

Osana and Somersby emerged as the main challengers with the latter turning out to be the biggest danger as Osana was one paced on the run-in.

The favourite Captain Cee Bee was a major disappointment, making some mistakes and eventually finishing out with the washing.

Winning trainer Henry De Bromhead said: "He seemed to be travelling brilliantly and jumping great.

"He got a fantastic ride and it all went right on the day.

"He loves to be fresh and we got our runs and experience into him before Christmas which was good. He prefers the better ground.

"Hopefully he'll be back next year for the Queen Mother."

Jockey Robert Thornton was pleased with Somersby's effortconceding, "Sizing Europe won it with his gears down the hill and I stayed on."

14:36 An update from the last race Captain Cee Bee burst a blood vessel, which will explain his poor run.

15:03 Well this is turning into a good day for the bookmakers with the third favourite of the afternoon going down, although it has to be said it was a very close run thing this time.

The Package, trained by David Pipe was the very well supported favourite and was produced late by Timmy Murphy.

This was after the race looked to be between Ogee and Chief Dan George.

It was 33/1 shot Chief Dan George who took the advantage coming up the run-in and looked to be an easy winner with Ogee unable to go with him.

However Murphy launched a charge on The Package and was closing on the leader with every stride.

The line just came in line for the outsider and the biggest win in the career of trainer James Moffatt, as he held on by a fast diminishing head. It was jockey Paddy Aspell’s first Festival win.

Ogee held on to take third spot with bottom weight Offshore Account running on well to take fourth.

Another doing their best in the closing stages was the top weight The Tother One, who came home fifth, whilst Theatrical Moment came home sixth.

There was drama at the seventh as Knowhere fell, bringing down both Exmoor Ranger and Casey Jones.

Sadly Casey Jones had to be put down and jockey Tom Scudamore has fractured his collarbone.

15:41 Binocular came back to form to take the Champion Hurdle in good style under Tony McCoy.

After an indifferent start to the season, and an injury scare a fortnight ago, we saw the old Binocular this afternoon.

Sweeping to the front, having been held up, as they turned for home. Once he was in front he never looked to be in any danger.

Khyber Kim, another settled near the rear emerged as the only challenger, but never looking a serious danger, coming home 3½ lengths behind the winner.

Zaynar was with the pace throughout and looked beaten coming down the hill, however he dug vdeep to hold on for third spot.

It was desperately close for fourth with the front running Celestial Halo just holding on from Starluck, who was putting in his best work at the end.

Go Native, looking for the million pound bonus, was never in contention at any time.

Winning rider Tony McCoy said, "When I schooled him last week it was the first time he has hurdled like we know Binocular can - like a champion hurdler.

"He didn't have a good build-up this year. He has not been hurdling as we know he can all year, he's made mistakes every time.

"I'm so happy for JP. This is better than any feeling I have had from the horse.

"It's hard to win here and this is everything."

Trainer Nicky Henderson said, "It hasn't been an easy passage this year. When he was beaten last year, we said he'd come back and Tony said he would win it.

"We were actually nine-tenths taking him out and we said he wouldn't run.

"We did a lot of work. We've got a fantastic team and we ironed out a few things.

"His jumping was the difference and Zaynar ran a great race. Binocular deserved to win it one day."

16:23 There was no fairytale treble for Garde Champetre in this year’s Cross Country.

Whether it was the weight, a bad mistake at fence 29 the double bank, or running into the rear of one of her stablemates turning for home, we will never know. For the record he came home fifth.

No surprise, however, the prize crossed the Irish sea and it was the 25/1 shot A New Story who took the prize after being produced late and relegating L’Ami into second spot for the second year running.

Heads On The Ground set the pace and was kept company by former National winner Silver Birch, although the latter faded in the later stages.

Double Dizzy and Sizing Australia were both with the pace for most of the contest although both fading late on.

L’Ami and Garde Champetre were settled mid-division throughout with Nina Carberry on the favourite tracking McCoy throughout, until making the mistakes.

16:25 It has finally come the going is now officially Good, Good to Soft in places

16:32 Some good news regarding Tom Scudamore, he has not broken his collarbone and he will be back here riding tomorrow.

17:01 Last year Quevega slaughtered the opposition when taking the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, she only became favourite for this afternoons renewal earlier today.

Well she duly won the contest but only by 4½ lengths this time, giving Ruby Walsh his 25th Festival Winner, making him the joint winning most Festival jockey with Pat Taffe. Who would bet against him being the lone winning most jockey this time tomorrow?

Settled mid-division the mare was produced with a late run sweeping past Carole’s Legacy, probably running to a career best this afternoon, and coming up the hill to, arguably, the biggest roar of the afternoon.

Voler La Vedette, who was the morning favourite but a drifter on course, ran on to come home third.

Stravinsky Dance set off at a breakneck pace, soon having a huge lead but unable to tempt any of her rivals to go with her. The main group being headed by No One Tells Me and Here Comes Sally, with Carole’s Legacy settled just behind.

It was no surprise when Stravinsky Dance came back to the field three out, leaving No One Tells Me and Carole’s Legacy to battle it out in front.

17:15 Well that’s it from day one of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival and we still have three more days to go,

It was good to see Binocular come back to form and take the Champion hurdle, also Quevega taking the Mares’ Hurdle for the second year running.

Tomorrow’s highlight should be Master Minded going for a third Queen Mother.

Of course tomorrow is St Patrick’s Day so there should be a real buzz and the Guinness Village, where we are based, is going to be very lively.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

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Results - Old Course

1:30 Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2m 110yds

1st 12 Menorah 12/1
2nd 10 Get me Out Of Here 9/2
3rd 5 Dunguib 4/5 fav
18 Ran
Distances Head & 1¾
Fav
Tote
Win £13.50
Places £3.20 £1.90 £1.20
Exacta £43.10
CSF £61.92
Tricast £94.45
Time 3' 56.2"

2:05 Irish Independent Arkle Chase 2m

1st 8 Siziung Europe 6/1
2nd 9 Somersby 4/1
3rd 5 Osana 14/1
12 Ran
Distances ¾ & 1¾
Fav 1 Captain Cee Bee 5/2 (Upl)
Tote
Win £6.90
Places £2.40 £1.80 £5.00
Exacta £26.50
CSF £27.05
Tricast £321.92
Time 3' 52.2"

2:40 William Hill Trophy Chase 3m 110yds

1st 15 Chief Dan George 33/1
2nd 18 The Package 9/2 fav
3rd 23 Ogee 8/1
4th 24 Offshore Account 33/1
24 Ran
Distances Head & 1¼
Fav second
Tote
Win £52.70
Places £9.10 £2.00 £2.00 £10.00
Exacta £297.00
CSF £158.50
Tricast £1,366.30
Time 6' 11.2"


3:20 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle 2m 11oyds

1st 1 Binocular 9/1
2nd 5 Khyber Kim 7/1
3rd 12 Zaynar 15/2
12 Ran
Distances 3½ & 6
Fav 3 Go Native 11/4 (upl)
Tote
Win £10.60
Places £3.40 £2.50 £2.40
Exacta £80.20
CSF £71.58
Tricast £505.19
Time 3' 51.8"

4:00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 7f

1st 13 A New Story 25/1
2nd 3 L'Ami 4/1
3rd 9 Lacdoudal 28/1
4th 10 Another Jewel 16/1
16 Ran
Distances 2½ & 2¾
Fav 1 Garde Champetre 7/4 (5th)
Tote
Win £29.80
Places £3.70 £2.00 £6.90 £2.90
Exacta £215.40
CSF £119.73
Tricast £2,917.74
Time 8' 18.3"

4:40 David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle 2m 4f

1st 1 Quevega 6/4 fav
2nd 11 Carole's Legacy 20/1
3rd 3 Voler La Vedette 9/4
17 Ran
Distances 4½ & 1¼
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.60
Places £1.20 £4.70 £1.30
Exacta £38.10
CSF £38.26
Tricast £73.38
Time 4' 45.1"