Old Park Star rules supreme for Henderson at Cheltenham

Ante-post favourite Old Park Star battled to get his head in front and claim the Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten hurdler came into the race as the 15-8 market leader under Nico de Boinville, and remained handily placed as Sober Glory made the running, with market rival Mighty Park tracking them for Ireland.

The latter dropped away quite quickly, however, and as the hill approached it was Mydaddypaddy who loomed and attempted to throw down his own challenge.

But he was unable to outdo Old Park Star, who pressed on again to come out on top by a length and a half from Sober Glory, with Mydaddypaddy a nose away in third.

Henderson, winning the race for a sixth time, received a raucous round of applause from those gathered around the winner’s enclosure, and said: “We’ve been here a long time, so we’ve got to know each other!

“This is a race that’s been kind to us over the years. It’s always a good race and the best novice hurdlers are all coming out to play.

“You have to have a good horse and we’re very lucky they’ve come along – it’s a long time since our first one in River Ceiriog (1986).

“Constitution Hill was obviously freaky when he won it and then your Altiors and Shishkins went on to jump fences and I would imagine that will be next year’s game for this horse.

“On a day we’ve said goodbye to Constitution Hill (over jumps), it’s nice to come straight in and a bring on a new one we hope could be a star.

“These young horses keep you going and I’m not going anywhere unless they want to pension us off!

“The first race on the first day is the best one you can get and England are one up (over Ireland)! I don’t know if we’ll be saying that on Friday night, but we’ll keep trying.”

He added: “It got tough up there. Turning into the straight he had to quicken off what looked a good, solid pace – he had to be brave to come up the hill like that.

“He’s still a big baby in our opinion – I think in another year he’ll be a much better horse.

“He’s quick and tough and his jumping is sound. He’s got a huge future in front of him.”

Also well as the winner, the second, third and fourth were all trained in Britain, the only four home-based runners in the race.

Joint-trainer Johnson White said of Sober Glory: “I couldn’t be more delighted with the run, obviously very disappointed to finish second, particularly as it looked like he would win it going to the last, but as we said before today, we would have accepted that result before the race.

“He’s a lovely horse going forward for his future career, so I’m pleased to be standing here and he’s run a very brave race. He’s a gorgeous horse and we can’t wait to get him back out again.”

Asked if his future is over fences next season White, who trains alongside Philip Hobbs, said: “Very much so. Well, I say very much so, depending on what we do the rest of the season, potentially Aintree, as to whether we keep him going. Options are open, but we’ve got lovely options available.

“That would be the quickest ground he’s run on. He’s travelled well on it and we couldn’t be, well we could have been a slight little bit happier, but he’s run great.

“Ben (Jones) thought he had it won at the last. He just thought the bigger crowd and the bigger stage, he just hit the front and had a little bit of a look, which is understandable, but overall, very pleased. But finishing second is never quite the same.”

Dan Skelton said of Mydaddypaddy: “It was an almighty run from a five-year-old, I couldn’t be prouder of the horse.

“He left nothing out there and we’ll look forward to coming back in the Arkle next year. The winner will probably be favourite again but I would hope we have something to say about that.

“It was a bit rough and tumble, but I don’t think it’s made any difference to the second or third winning and the winner was very good today.”

Alan King’s Baron Noir was fourth and he said: “He’s confirmed the Punchestown bumper form with El Cairos (fifth) and I couldn’t be more chuffed. He’s an exciting horse.”