Golden Ace wins the Champion Hurdle as Structure Hill falls

Golden Ace was the shock winner within the Champion Hurdle this afternoon after Structure Hill, after which State Man, crashed out.

Structure Hill, the 2023 winner, went off because the 1/2 favorite and was effectively positioned halfway by solely to fall on the fourth final, prompting gasps from the packed grandstands.

State Man took up the operating and gave the impression to be cruising in the direction of a second victory in two years solely to hit the ultimate hurdle and dismount rider Paul Townend.

State Man falls on the LAST!

Golden Ace wins a RIDICULOUS Unibet Champion Hurdle Problem Trophy 😳#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @williams_lorcan pic.twitter.com/OqeggDUgSm

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025

That enabled Golden Ace to emerge from the small pack of horses remaining to ease over the ending line.

“I’m misplaced for phrases, you dream of those moments as a child,” mentioned jockey Lorcan Williams.

Kopek Des Bordes wins the opening race

State Man’s late lapse will likely be an enormous blow for Townend and coach Willie Mullins however they need to discover some comfort in profitable the opening race of the pageant, the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Kopek Des Bordes was the victor after Townend this time managed to get over the past, regardless of a stumble, and ship an emotional win for proprietor Charlie McCarthy, who underwent surgical procedure for kidney most cancers final month.

It was additionally a shifting event for Townend in a race devoted to younger jockey O’Sullivan who tragically died aged 24 final month after a fall.

Pleasure for Henderson

Nicky Henderson lastly loved a primary Competition win in two years after a bug at his steady decimated his probabilities in 2024 as Jango Baie received the Arkle Novices’ Chase. Odd-on favorite Majborough may solely handle third.

The Townend-Mullins mixture additionally teamed as much as win the Mares’ Hurdle.