John Inverdale has apologised for an incredible slip of the tongue whilst live on air discussing the Cheltenham Festival. 

Inverdale was interviewing Lizzie Kelly, the 21-year-old jockey, and ex-jockey John Francombe, when he made the slip. During the FiveLive discussion, Francombe replied to a question with the answer: "You get wet, you're mucking out, and it's hard work... But through all of that it's a way of life that most of them wouldn't swap, a lot of people go off and do other things and then come back to it."

Incredible slip

Then came the unforgivable moment. 

Inverdale retorted: "This is looking at it through rose-c***ed... rose-tinted glasses from the past... I apologise there for a slip of the tongue, but Lizzy your love of the sport just shines through.”

Kelly somehow managed to keep her composure, forcing back a chuckle with the reply: "Oh yeah, erm because, as (nearly laughing), as I've said it's very important to love it or you wouldn't do it otherwise."

Past discrepancies

It is not the first time a remark from Inverdale has caused controversy. In July 2013, the BBC commentator was forced to apologise to Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli after criticising her appearance. 

"I wonder if her dad did say to her when she was 12, 13, 14, 'Listen, you’re never going to be a looker," he said at the time. 

"You’re never going to be somebody like a Sharapova, you’re never going to be somebody with long legs, so you have to compensate for that."

Cheltenham Festival

Day one of the Cheltenham Festival got off to a blistering start, with Ruby Walsh riding three winners for trainer Willie Mullins. Douvan won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Un De Sceaux claimed the Arkle Trophy and Faugheen romped home in the Champion Hurdle - the feature race of the day.

All hopes were then on Annie Power to claim the OLBG Mares' Hurdle to complete an incredible four-fold for Mullins and Walsh on the day and send the bookies home with unprecedented losses. 

However with Annie Power cruising, she crashed into the final fence, leaving the racing world stunned and Glen's Melody on hand to snatch the prize. 

Bookmakers Paddy Power claim to have refunded £2.5 million worth of bets on the first two races of the day as it turned into a punters paradise. Douvan, Un De Sceaux, and Faugheen won at odds of 2/1, 4/6 and 11/10 respectively. 

Faugheen's win was without doubt the most impressive. Walsh hit the second to last fence hard yet still managed to come off the bridle to win at an incredible pace from 20/1 chance Arctic Fire. Grand old champion Hurricane Fly finished back in third to complete a 1-2-3 finish for Mullins on a day not many racing fans will forget in a while.