• Tom Masters

Mar 10, 2026, 12:53 PM ET

The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is well under way and it was Willie Mullins’ Lossiemouth who claimed the feature race of the opening day with Champion Hurdle glory.

You can follow every single race throughout the Festival on ESPN, with all seven races from Champion Day on Tuesday covered right here.

– Cheltenham Festival Champion Day results, race times, weather, odds, favourites, more
– Cheltenham Festival 2026 explained: What to know, dates, races
– Prestbury Cup at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival explained: Score, winners, standings

The day’s racing began at 1.20 p.m. in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as the famous Cheltenham roar saw Old Park Star edge past Sober Glory and Mydaddypaddy in a British 1-2-3.

Then at 2 p.m. we had the Arkle, named after the iconic Gold Cup winning horse, and it was Kargese who stole the show to get Willie Mullins on the board, beating favourites Lulamba and Kopek Des Bordes.

Races kept coming thick and fast and in the Fred Winter at 2.40 p.m. there was a birthday victory for owner JP McManus, as Saratoga stormed away, ridden by Mark Walsh.

At 3.20 p.m. we saw McManus land a second triumph as the 18/1 AJ and Jonjo O’Neill trained JohnnyWho toom the Ultima Handicap chase from favourite Jagwar.

Mullins opted not to pursue a three-peat in the Mares Hurdle and his decision was vindicated as Lossiemouth stormed to a hugely impressive Champion Hurdle victory.

The Sun Racing Plate saw the Skeltons get on the board with Harry Skelton riding Dan Skelton’s Madara easing to a comfortable victory.

Then there was the final race of the opening day — the National Hunt Steeplechase, which saw Henderson bookend the day with a second triumph, as James Bowen landed his first ever Cheltenham winner on Holloway Queen.