Updates from Cheltenham

Baccalaureate created a massive 100-1 surprise as he saw off hot favourite Pistolet Noir in the opening Betfair Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Making his debut for Paul Nicholls after switching from the care of Nick Williams, Pistolet Noir was sent off the 8-15 favourite to underline his claims for the Triumph Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh always had him in the front rank but he was having to get to work on the turn for home while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Baccalaureate was cruising in behind.

Paddy Brennan opted to kick on coming down to the last and Baccalaureate responded in style as Pistolet Noir crashed through the last.

Although the winner tired a little up the straight, he was always holding the runner-up for a two-length victory.

Twiston-Davies said: 'It was a shock because we know he likes better ground but why he was 100-1, I don't know as he wasn't beaten that far last time. I thought he'd be about 20s.

'Chris Coley wanted a horse for his syndicate at the time I didn't have one but Philip Hobbs said he did and that's how we bought this fellow, so I guess Philip will be now crying in his cornflakes!'

Brennan added: 'He travelled and he jumped and with better ground he will be even better again.'

Nicholls was not too disheartened and Pistolet Noir is still likely to be entered for the Triumph.

'It was a surprise to me that he was made the favourite for the Triumph because he's not run on the Flat,' he said.

'He was quite clueless when we got him and he wants two and a half miles.

'We will probably still put him in the Triumph but we might give him another run first and see how he gets on.'

Colin Tizzard's Hey Big Spender defied top-weight with a find round of jumping in the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase.

The 5-1 chance jumped well throughout under the trainer's son Joe, in stark contrast to most of his rivals with many failing to finish.

Edgbriar made a bold fist of things from the front but Hey Big Spender tracked him into the straight and after taking over on the run to the last, he powered up the hill to score by 10 lengths.

Tizzard senior said: 'He's a progressive horse but I was a bit worried about running here because the last time on this course he seemed to stop up the hill, so we don't really know his ideal distance.

'Joe thinks on this ground, he wants two miles and five furlongs, in which case we would look at the Jewson (Novices' Handicap Chase), but if it's quicker in March, we might go three miles for the RSA Chase.

'It's all in the melting pot.'

Bob Buckler's The Sawyer recorded back-to-back wins in the Betfair Trophy Chase at Cheltenham with a fine front-running display.

The 10-year-old was sent off at 11-2 having landed a valuable prize at Ascot just a week ago and was always jumping with precision at the head of affairs.

Private Be emerged as the main danger running down to the final obstacle but The Sawyer, ridden by 10lb claimer Nathan Sweeney, found plenty for pressure to score by three-quarters of a length.

Sue Smith's gallant 13-year-old Mister McGoldrick also raced up with the pace throughout and ran a typically game race to finish a creditable third.

Buckler said: 'I did very little with him between when he won at Ascot and today but when I sat on him on Thursday, he frightened the life out of me and I knew we had to come here.

'You'd struggle to find a horse as battle-hardened as him and if he did have a weakness, it's that he can get caught right on the line.

'I think he'll have a little break now and a race like the Topham Chase at Aintree could come into consideration.'

Taranis returned from a 766-day absence to land the Argento Chase in the hands of Nick Scholfield.

Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old had been off the track since breaking down in the 2007 King George VI Chase at Kempton and was sent off at 16-1 for this belated reappearance.

His better fancied stablemate Inchidaly Rock came to grief with over a circuit to run but Taranis was always travelling ominously well.

Favourite Carruthers and last year's winner Joe Lively led him into the straight but Scholfield exuded confidence and only had to keep his mount up to his work after the last to score by six lengths.

Scholfield said: 'He's given me a great ride the whole way round and it's some training performance as he's been off the track for so, so long.

'I was travelling so well and the last thing Ruby (Walsh) said to me before I went out was if I had a chance, don't hit the front too soon.

'I've arrived there way too early, but there was plenty in the tank and people forget he's a Ryanair Chase winner.'

Mark Bradstock, trainer of the runner-up, said: 'I'm over the moon and I've always said that in that gluey ground he's not quite strong enough yet.

'We'll see how he is but he's got a lovely break between now and Cheltenham.

'He's run a cracker today and covered himself in real glory.'

Joe Lively stayed on to finish third and his trainer Colin Tizzard added: 'He's back to his old self.

'He was giving them 4lb and it was lovely to see him run such a nice trial for the Grand National.'

Restless Harry confirmed his fine effort in last month's Challow Hurdle was no fluke with an impressive display in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle under Henry Oliver.

Robin Dickin's six-year-old was beaten just half a length when a 40-1 shot for Newbury's Grade One on his latest start and was sent off at 7-2 for this event.

He was always travelling strongly at the head of affairs and although the unbeaten General Miller and the highly-regarded Royal Charm came to challenge turning for home, Restless Harry stayed on strongly up the straight to score by eight lengths from the former.

Oliver said: 'He's a lovely little horse. He's still quite green but he's improving and going from strength to strength.

'He's so gutsy from the front and I think he's going to be a different horse again next year.

'He was 40-1 for his last run but he was very impressive at Towcester the time before and we thought we'd have a go and it has paid dividends today so I'm thrilled to bits.'

Dickin said: 'I know it sounds bullish but I don't think this is his best distance and I'm sure he'd keep galloping the same over three miles.

'He'll have a break when he'll be turned out with 14 other horses in a very big field, accompanied by a herd of fallow deer.

'His next race will be the three-mile hurdle just before the Gold Cup (Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle).'

Paddy Power make him 6-1 for the Cheltenham Festival contest.

Tidal Bay bounced right back to form with an impressive display in the Betfair Cleeve Hurdle in the hands of Brian Hughes.

The 2008 Arkle Trophy hero was without a victory in well over a year and was sent off at 14-1 for this return to the smaller obstacles.

Howard Johnson's nine-year-old travelled strongly throughout and was still hard on the bridle turning for home.

He showed his customary high head carriage going to the final flight and jumped it slightly awkwardly, but he quickened well up the hill to beat Time For Rupert by five lengths.

Hughes said: 'This was the forgotten horse of the race and there weren't too many Arkle winners in that field.

'He didn't really like the ground but fair play to Howard and his team as they had him spot on and the horse dug very deep.

'He was flat out all the way and he's got his critics but he didn't half try there.

'Howard just wanted to give the horse a change of scenery and it's worked.'