Boodles winner a stallion prospect for Galileo

What's rare is wonderful, and the sight of an entire horse jumping to victory in the Grade 3 Boodles Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival was something to be celebrated on Tuesday.

Brazil, a first Festival runner and winner for Padraig Roche, had some important equipment left intact when switching from Ballydoyle to Roche's yard and the JP McManus-owned four-year-old could develop into a classy stallion prospect if he continues his progression through the ranks.

He is a son of the breed-shaping Galileo and a brother to St Leger and Irish Derby winner Capri, who is standing his third season under the Coolmore National Hunt banner at Grange Stud.

Bred by Lynch Bages and Camas Park Stud, Brazil is also the younger brother of Group 3 winner Passion, who was also placed in the Irish Oaks and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, and Cypress Creek who won the Group 3 Loughbrown Stakes.

Sadler's Wells line dominates the opening day

Brazil was one of three winners on the opening day by sons of the pre-eminent Sadler's Wells who continues to make his presence felt almost 11 years on from his death, with Kayf Tara and Milan siring Grade 1 winners.

Kayf Tara, who will celebrate his 28th birthday later this week and is enjoying retirement at Overbury Stud, added a new Cheltenham star to his impressive resume with the victory of Edwardstown in the Arkle Chase for owner-breeders Robert Abrey and Ian Thurtle. Trained by Alan King, it was the second Grade 1 success of the season for the eight-year-old.

Edwardstone and Tom Cannon jumping to Arkle Chase gloryCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

St Leger winner Milan was one of just two living stallions to sire a winner on the opening card. Marie's Rock became her sire's third Cheltenham Festival winner courtesy of her success in the Grade 1 Close Brothers' Mares' Hurdle for Nicky Henderson and Middleham Park Racing.

Sons of the Coolmore colossus were also dominant as broodmare sires on the first day of the festival. Scintillating Supreme Novices' winner Constitution Hill has King's Theatre as his damsire while Stattler, successful in the Grade 2 Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup, is out of a mare by Old Vic.

Blue is the colour at Cheltenham

The rise of Blue Bresil to the highest echelons of National Hunt stallions continues unabated with Rathbarry Stud's star leading the sire standings after the opening day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

Constitution Hill and Nico de Boinville in splendid isolation at the lastCredit: Edward Whitaker

Blue Bresil edges it at the top of the table by virtue of Blue Lord's third place in the Arkle, added to the sublime success of Constitution Hill in the opener.

Constitution Hill and Blue Lord already provided their sire with Grade 1 victories earlier in the season and are two of the four individual top-level winners sired by the son of Smadoun, who was Grade 2 and Grade 3-placed over hurdles.