Darts sensation Luke Littler shines at Cheltenham Festival
Darts sensation Luke Littler swapped his arrows for a sharp suit as he arrived at Cheltenham Festival’s opening day alongside girlfriend Faith Millar, reports BritPanorama.
The 19-year-old, fresh from his UK Open triumph just hours earlier, looked every bit the part in a beige blazer paired with a crisp white shirt and baby pink tie. Faith, also 19, matched her boyfriend perfectly in a gorgeous pink blazer, her blonde locks styled into elegant curls. The couple, who have been together since last summer, were clearly having a brilliant time as they threw their arms up and beamed with excitement as racing got underway.
They were not the only darts stars enjoying a day at the races, with Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall also spotted in the stands on Day One. The atmosphere was electric, with fans eagerly awaiting the first race, which kicked off shortly after 1pm.
The festival was buzzing with celebration, with snaps capturing guests swigging Moët straight from the bottle while others danced and sang in the streets. Littler’s appearance at Prestbury Park came after he pocketed £120,000 by defeating James Wade 11-7 in the UK Open Final, becoming just the fourth player to successfully defend the title.
The racing itself delivered a spectacular highlight as Lossiemouth stormed to Champion Hurdle glory in utterly dominant fashion. Willie Mullins’ grey mare, ridden by Paul Townend, crushed the competition with a devastating six-and-a-half-length winning margin. The 7-5 favourite has now won every single one of her four Festival appearances, earning her the nickname ‘the Queen of Cheltenham’.
Townend produced a tactical masterclass, keeping his mount tucked in behind pace-setter Brighterdaysahead before unleashing her devastating turn of foot heading for home. Lossiemouth powered up the famous hill with her rivals left trailing hopelessly behind, as Brighterdaysahead finished second, with The New Lion claiming third.
Racegoers were thrilled to find that organisers had followed through on their promise to slash Guinness prices to £7.50 a pint this year. This move was designed to tempt fans back after attendance took a hit in 2025, when just 218,839 people made it through the gates at Prestbury Park. That figure represented a drop of more than 10,000 compared to the previous year, which saw nearly 230,000 in attendance.
Ladies Day last year raised concerns, attracting only 41,949 visitors – the lowest single-day crowd in 25 years, with many blaming rising costs as the main culprit, as Guinness was priced at £7.80 in 2025. Amidst the glamour and festivity at Cheltenham, the contrast between the excitement of the races and the realities facing event organisers remains quite stark. This year’s festival, already promising a resurgence, carries the weight of a cautious optimism that might just breathe new life into the historic event.
