Day 1 at Cheltenham had a bit of everything

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.

Maureen Mullins is the ultimate example of that. Wife of legendary trainer Paddy and mother of legendary trainer Willie, she has been coming to this meeting for no less than 66 years and her grandson, jockey Danny, reports his nan to be as enthused as ever.