Lorcan Williams described it as the “best day of his life” after riding Golden Ace to a dramatic win in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.
The Jeremy Scott-trained horse went out as a 25-1 outsider but hung around long enough to capitalise as first Constitution Hill and then State Man went down.
Constitution Hill fell at the fourth last, leaving State Man in pole position to retain the trophy he won last year, only for jockey Paul Townend to misjudge the last and hit the turf when clear.
State Man falls at the LAST!
Golden Ace wins a RIDICULOUS Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 😳#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @williams_lorcan pic.twitter.com/OqeggDUgSm
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025
The British Horse Racing Authority were quick to announce both horses, and jockeys, were fine.
That left Williams to take centre stage. He told ITV racing: “I’m lost for words. This is the best day of my life by far. You dream of these moments as a kid.
“But she is fantastic. She always turns up and fair play to [owner] Ian Gosden for picking this race rather than the Mares’ Hurdle. I am not complaining now.
“I’m just a small part of the team and delighted to be on board.
“All I was thinking was my agent said watch Constitution Hill. When he was out of the race I thought I would stay on for second. We were just there to pick up the pieces.”
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Trainer Scott in dreamland
Scott added to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: “I couldn’t even dream. I just said to someone for god’s sake thump me, I thought I was sleeping. It’s marred by the two horses who came down, but I’m just delighted the gods favoured us.
“Our owner was very keen to have a runner here, it’s extraordinary how things work out.”
Burdett Road came in second at 66-1 with Winter Fog third at 150-1. The highly fancied Brighterdaysahead could only manage fourth.
Early delight for Mullins
Disappointment for trainer Willie Mullins and Townend in the feature race was offset by winning the opening race of the festival, the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Kopek Des Bordes was the victor after Townend this time managed to get over the last, despite a stumble, and deliver an emotional win for owner Charlie McCarthy, who underwent surgery for kidney cancer last month.
It was also a moving occasion for Townend in a race dedicated to young jockey O’Sullivan who tragically died aged 24 last month after a fall.
Joy for Henderson
Nicky Henderson finally enjoyed a first Festival win in two years after a bug at his stable decimated his chances in 2024 as Jango Baie won the Arkle Novices’ Chase. Odd-on favourite Majborough could only manage third.
The Townend-Mullins combination also teamed up to win the Mares’ Hurdle with Lossiemouth justifying its favourite’s status with an impressive run at 4-6F.
Puturhandstogether won the 4.40 for Joseph O’Brien and Haiti Couleurs became the fourth favourite to win on day one by clinching the National Hunt Chase.
