Arcalis wins Novices' Hurdle

Arcalis, trained by Howard Johnson and ridden by Graham Lee, won the opening Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival today.

Cheltenham 2.00 1 Arcalis (G Lee) 20-1 2 Wild Passion (P Carberry) 10-1 3 Dusky Warbler (J E Moore) 20-1 20 ran Also: 13-2 Fav Marcel Non Runner: 21

Arcalis (20-1) stormed away up the hill to land the race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Howard Johnson’s charge was produced with perfection to challenge approaching the last by Graham Lee and he streaked clear to win by six lengths from Wild Passion in the Grade One feature.

Dusky Warbler ran a big race back in third, a further half a length away.

A breathless Lee said after the race: "It's unbelievable. They have always thought a lot of him, especially my agent, since the day they bought him. They have loved him. I can’t talk – I’m speechless.

“I had a dream passage and coming into the meeting I was a Festival virgin - and I’m glad I lost my virginity.”