The Cheltenham Festival began in memorable fashion on Tuesday as Old Park Star justified strong support to land the £150,000 Novices’ Hurdle, the traditional curtain-raiser to the four-day meeting. The six-year-old, owned by Gordon and Su Hall and trained by Nicky Henderson, displayed determination and stamina to overhaul longtime leader Sober Glory after the final flight, pulling clear to win the extended two-mile contest by a length and a half.
Ridden by Nico de Boinville, Old Park Star travelled smoothly throughout before quickening up the famous Cheltenham hill to secure the opening race of the Festival. Sober Glory, trained jointly by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, held on bravely for second, while Dan Skelton’s Mydaddypaddy finished a further nose behind in third after a tightly fought run-in.
Cheltenham Festival Results: Old Park Star Lands Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Trainer Nicky Henderson was delighted to see another promising young hurdler emerge, particularly after the absence of his star performer Constitution Hill from this year’s race. “It’s sad that when Constitution Hill isn’t coming here, but it’s nice to come up with another youngster who has got his life in front of him,” Henderson said after the race. “This is only the beginning — it’s his first year hurdling and he’s done nothing wrong all season. “I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t go chasing next season. He’s very talented and he’s a quick horse too. Two miles is probably perfect for him at the moment, but he’ll get further in time.
“He’ll get stronger and improve, and I should think jumping fences will almost certainly be next year’s game.” Henderson also reflected on how Old Park Star compares with previous winners he has trained in the race. “Constitution Hill was very quick but he never went chasing. The Altiors and Shishkins jumped fences and were champion chasers. You’d like to think this fellow can follow along those lines.
“Winning the first race on the first day is the best one you can get as it takes the pressure off. England is one up — we probably won’t be saying that on Friday night but we’ll keep trying! “In years gone by this has always been a race that’s been kind to us. It’s always a good race. It’s the best novice hurdle and they are the future.” Winning jockey Nico de Boinville praised the winner’s determination after a testing finish.
“He was incredibly gutsy,” the rider said. “There was a bit of a bump to Mydaddypaddy. He’s a class horse and fair play to him. “I always thought he would stay well and eat up the hill, and that’s what he’s done. I’m delighted. We even missed at the last and he still managed to win.” Reflecting on the significance of the success, De Boinville added: “It’s great for the whole team. We always love a Supreme winner, so it’s fantastic. “I missed the last and thought I was going to wing it, but it didn’t seem to matter. He stayed on really well, and I think he’s going to be a really nice horse going forward over fences.”
Runner-up trainer Philip Hobbs was encouraged by Sober Glory’s effort despite the late mistake. “He jumped everything brilliantly until the one that really mattered,” Hobbs said. “It might have made the difference, and then there was that interference, but it was a great run. “He’ll definitely go chasing next year. He’s always been a good jumper.”
Dan Skelton, trainer of third-placed Mydaddypaddy, was equally proud of his runner after a competitive finish. “What a great race to start the meeting,” Skelton said. “I’m very, very proud of our horse. “It looked like he was coming there to win and then got knocked from pillar to post halfway up the run-in. It hasn’t cost us winning — fair play to the winner, he’s found a bit more.
“Maybe the bumping cost us second, but it was still a great race with a British one-two-three-four.” Old Park Star’s victory also marked another notable milestone for Henderson and De Boinville at the Festival, with the trainer recording his 76th Festival winner and the jockey celebrating his 18th success at the prestigious meeting.
Among the other runners, Baron Noir ran a strong race to finish fourth, while El Cairos came home fifth after a solid effort. Mighty Park, who had travelled well earlier in the contest, was unable to quicken approaching the final stages.
The opening race once again underlined the importance of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as a showcase for emerging jumping talent, and Old Park Star now looks set to be one of the most exciting young prospects to emerge from the early Cheltenham Festival results this year.
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