Paul Townend denied an opening day treble after State Man fell at the last in Champion Hurdle

Cheltenham rarely disappoints and the natural amphitheatre in the Cotswolds treated us to a roller coaster of sheer theatre on Tuesday afternoon from start to finish. 

Raw emotion and unbridled joy were the recurring theme on another memorable opening day. 

Paul Townend recorded a Grade One double but fell at the last on Joe and Marie Donnelly’s State Man with the Champion Hurdle at his mercy. 

He had traded at 1.04 on Betfair (1/25) prior to that dramatic exit Earlier the Lisgoold jockey landed the Grade One Mares Hurdle on the impressive Lossiemouth who remains unbeaten at the track. 

Townend initiated that double in the opener on the pride of Fermoy Kopek Des Bordes. 

It was an afternoon of contrasting fortunes for two high profile Cork owners undermining the volatile nature of National Hunt racing.

Joe and Marie Donnelly were denied a second consecutive Unibet Champion Hurdle after the dramatic final flight exit of State Man. 

Golden Ace prospered to spring a 25/1 shock in the day's feature. 

The 1/2 favourite Constitution Hill departed before the race had begun in earnest. 

There was another sting in the tail as Paul Townend and State Man fell at the final flight with the race seemingly at his mercy. 

It was a race to treasure for bookmakers.

Brighterdaysahead was a bitter disappointment. 

She was picked off by State Man turning for home and weakened tamely, having been hampered at the last. 

Golden Ace who touched 129/1 in running on the exchanges also landed the Mares' Novices' Hurdle last season.

From a Cork perspective the opening race dominated the narrative. 

Kopek Des Bordes justified his lofty reputation under Paul Townend. On a day when Cheltenham honoured the late Michael O’Sullivan it was written in the stars that Michael’s brother Alan and Uncle Eugene would present Fermoy owner Charlie McCarthy with the trophy. 

A clearly emotional Eugene O’Sullivan told me it was all the more memorable to present the trophy to the exceedingly popular Fermoy owner who has had his own well documented health issues.

Kopek Des Bordes gave the McCarthy’s a day to remember as Fermoy took centre stage at Prestbury Park.

The heavily backed favourite overcame a mistake at the final flight to win the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle. 

It was an eighth success for trainer Willie Mullins in the Cheltenham opener. 

Kopek Des Bordes was backed from 5-6 into 4/6 after a scintillating success at the Dublin Racing Festival. 

He travelled supremely well throughout and readily eased past Romeo Coolio after the second last. 

Kopek Des Bordes blundered at the last but fended off the challenge of William Munny to win by a length and three-quarters. 

William Munny carried the silks that were worn by Michael O'Sullivan aboard 2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Marine Nationale. 

O'Sullivan was honoured before the race with a huge round of applause prior to the traditional curtain raiser. 

Michael was a key part of the team at Closutton and Townend was clearly emotional after crossing the line. 

David McCarthy, son of the owner, told me that this was a day they would never forget and Punchestown might be on the radar next with the Champion Hurdle next year the ultimate target.