It’s fair to say day one of the 2019 Cheltenham Festival had a bit of everything. Driving rain in the hours before the Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle, the traditional curtain-raiser for the biggest week of the racing year, dampened bodies but not enthusiasm. “She comes two or three days early for fear they bring it forward a day,” he joked. Willie Mullins saddled the winner of both the Supreme and the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase. Irish Examiner columnist Ruby Walsh was the man of the saddle for Klassical Dream’s Supreme victory and, like Maureen Mullins, the passage of time has not diminished his affection for this week.

Source: Irish Examiner March 12, 2019 20:03 UTC