Old Park Star rules Supreme for Nicky Henderson at Cheltenham

Old Park Star has claimed the opening race of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

NEW STAR: Nico de Boinville aboard Old Park Star after winning the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle on day one of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

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.

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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.”