Emotions sprint and stay with O'Sullivan out in front of so many Cheltenham minds 

The Festival is both marathon and sprint but deep and moving sentiments rushed to the surface once the curtain was raised on a day to remind you of the real power of sport

FOR MICHAEL: Paul Townend, aboard Kopek Des Bordes, celebrates by pointing to a Cork crest after winning the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Racing Festival at Prestbury Park in Cheltenham, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Cheltenham is both marathon and sprint. It is a four-day, 28-race slog and a festival that invariably bursts out of the blocks with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the Tuesday. Pacing? Forget about it. Think Paul McCartney or Olivia Rodrigo opening at Glastonbury.

If it’s a gig that grabs your attention from minute one, then this one captured hearts, too. And, hey, it’s easy to say that. And, yes, it’s easy for that sort of statement to look sappy in print, but some stories still sit with you in these cynical times.