Top jockey, top trainer and GB v Ireland: how it looks after day one

The 2022 Cheltenham Festival is officially up and running and the opening day provided plenty of highlights.

Last year's festival was all about the Irish domination as Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore dominated. It also capped off a memorable four days for Ireland, who secured a 23-5 win in the Prestbury Cup.

Now, Britain were out for revenge and the home team began with a bang as they won four of the seven races on opening day.

What happened on day one?

Nicky Henderson led the home team's charge with an impressive double, which was headlined by Constitution Hill in the Sky BetSupreme Novices' Hurdle.

With momentum building for Britain, they quickly found a second winner when the Alan King-trained Edwardstone landed the Sporting Life Arkle under Tom Cannon. Things got even better for the hosts when Lucinda Russell's Corach Rambler came from way back to win the Ultima, making it 3-0.

Irish hit back – but not for long

The Irish knew they needed a response, and it's a response they got, as Honeysuckle lifted the roof off the grandstand when she won theUnibet Champion Hurdle for a second successive year, becoming the first mare to win this race twice in the process. The Henry De Bromhead-trained star extended her unbeaten run to 15 and proved to many why she is one of the best in the game.

The visitors were brought back down to earth when Henderson completed his impressive double with Marie's Rock in the Mares' Hurdle to restore their three-point advantage.

But Ireland reduced the deficit when Brazil tlanded the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for trainer Padraig Roche and jockey Mark Walsh, and the scoreline was cut again when Willie Mullins got off the mark at this year's festival as Stattler won the National Hunt Chase under Patrick Mullins in the final race of the day.

Leading jockey

2 Nico de Boinville
1 Tom Cannon
1 Derek Fox
1 Rachael Blackmore
1 Mark Walsh
1 Patrick Mullins

Leading trainer

2 Nicky Henderson
1 Alan King
1 Lucinda Russell
1 Henry de Bromhead
1 Padraig Roche
1 Willie Mullins

Prestbury Cup

Britain 4

Constitution Hill (Supreme)
Edwardstone (Arkle)
Corach Rambler (Ultima)
Marie's Rock (Mares' Hurdle)

Ireland 3

Honeysuckle (Champion Hurdle)
Brazil (Boodles)
Stattler (National Hunt Chase)

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