The first day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival had an unfamiliar feel to it, lacking a capacity crowd for the first time in history, but its famous roar was still heard nationwide thanks to an electrifying opening day that did not disappoint the millions tuning in at home.
The action on the track certainly lived up to its billing, as the bookmakers survived a major scare with “banker” accumulators narrowly foiled by Concertista’s defeat in the Mares’ Hurdle. Turf accountants across the land were facing a multimillion pound payout if Willie Mullins’ mare had followed in the footsteps of short-priced winners Appreciate It (5/6f), Shishkin (4/9) and Honeysuckle (11/10f) at Prestbury Park, but her defeat left punters ruing the fine margins that so often dictate this great game.