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13:30 - Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Blackmore wins a classic
Winner: Slade Steel
The Story: A stunning win for Betfair ambassador Rachael Blackmore in a dramatic finish as she held off Mystical Power up the hill. Slade Steel was a Betfair Beacon, having spent most of the day as third favourite but backed late on in to second favourite to get the fire emoji up on the Betfair Exchange.
The race was a great battle, Slade Steel touching 26.025/1 in-running on the Betfair Exchange while Mystical Power was backed at a low price of 1.051/20.
The Betfair Sportsbook was paying four places on each-way bets meaning payouts for backers of Mystical Power, Firefox and Asian Master.
14:10 - Arkle Challenge Trophy - Gaelic lands win for Mullins
Winner: Gaelic Warrior
The Story: Another Betfair Beacon obliges as Gaelic Warrior fully justifies favouritism to claim the Arkle.
Betfair Exchange customers saw the flames emoji next to Willie Mullins' chaser and the master trainer duly obliged to get another Festival winner home and land a three point nap for Betting.Betfair tipster Daryl Carter.
Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps filled the places in the 10 runner race.
Gaelic Warrior is the 6/1 second favourite for the King George Chase at Kempton.
14:50 - The Ultima - Easy for Chianti
Winner: Chianti Classico
The Story: David Bass' chaser does it in serene fashion barely trading at bigger odds than the 9.08/1 starting price on the Betfair Exchange. Although the finish promised much it didn't really deliver in-play drama with runner-up Twig backed at low in-running odds of 5.79/2. Chianti Classico was a winning bet for Brendan Duke on Betting.Betfair.com.
The Betfair Sportsbook paid six places which were filled by Twig, Meetingofthewaters, Famous Bridge, The Goffer and Weveallbeencaught.
15:30 - Champion Hurdle - State-ly work by the Man
Winner: State Man
The Story: Easy for State Man, the shortest price on today's card, who strides clear at the business end and holds off the gutsy challenge of runner-up Irish Point.
16:10 - Mares Hurdle - It's Mullins again
Winner: Lossiemouth
The Story: Another easy win for a Willie Mullins horse as Lossiemouth obliges in the Mares' Hurdle, never being backed above odds-on in-play on the Betfair Exchange. A notable performance from Rachael Blackmore on Telmesomethinggirl who was ridden prominently and gave Lossiemouth something to think about before chasing her home up the hill.
Telmesomethinggirl (22/123.00) and Hispanic Moon (40/141.00) filled the places.
Mullins' Ashroe Diamond was a Betfair Beacon, showing up as ice on the Exchange and was duly pulled up.
16:50 - Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - Plot job Lark In The Mornin lands another Irish winner
Winner: Lark In The Mornin
The Story: One of the handicap biggest plot jobs on day one of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival went in as Lark In The Mornin powered clear in the Boodles. It was an Irish 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 with the huge priced 80/181.00 Eagles Reign snatching second from the Gordon Elliott-trained Ndaawi in third.
Betfair tipster Kevin Blake put up Lark In The Mornin at 9/110.00 on the Cheltenham Racing Only Bettor Podcast on Wednesday.
Favourite Milan Tino was a Betfair Beacon, showing up as fire on the Exchange having been heavily backed all day but was disappointing back in sixth, going off at 10/34.33.
17:30 - National Hunt Chase - Mullins wins but not Willie
Winner: Corbetts Cross
The Story: A lively betting heat before the off with three horses becoming Betfair Beacons. But it was not either of the fire emojis that won with Corbetts Cross doing the business for Emmet Mullins.
Runner-up Embassy Gardens was a popular bet and would have been the final leg of many a day one multi but could not land a blow on the winner.