Superb Story gave brothers Dan and Harry Skelton their taste of first Festival success when winning a dramatic race for the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Cheltenham 2.10 Result
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) March 18, 2016
1 Superb Story (8-1)
2 Fethard Player (33-1)
3 Sternrubin (33-1)
4 Wait For Me (7-1 Jt Fav) #RTEracing
Superb Story led after jumping what should have been the second-last but the final flight was omitted while Wayne Hutchinson received treatment for a fall from Montbazon on the first circuit.
Thankfully, Hutchinson eventually got up and walked away.
In a fast and furious encounter, the well-backed Great Field pulled his way to the front after taking the first.
Though he finally did settle in front, his exertions must have taken their toll.
Harry Skelton brought Superb Story with a well-judged challenge and the 8-1 shot galloped on resolutely to score by two and a half lengths from 33-1 chance Fethard Player.
The always-prominent Sternrubin was two and a half lengths away third with Wait For Me (7-1 joint-favourite) fourth.
Harry Skelton said: said: "Magic. I've been saying for the last two weeks I couldn't see him getting beat, which sounds a silly thing to say before a County. I've never fancied one as much as this.
"It's great for all the staff because they work so hard, I'm the lucky one who gets to ride them.
"We've hit every bit of woodwork this week, I was speaking to Ted Walsh and he just said to slot him in and let it happen and we've hit the goal.
"I'm so thankful to Dan and to my dad (Nick Skelton, Olympic showjumper) for their belief in me.
"I was in front a minute too soon but I saw we weren't jumping the last so I thought 'right, let's go'."
Cheltenham 4.10 Result
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) March 18, 2016
1 On The Fringe (13-8 Fav)
2 Marito (14-1)
3 Paint The Clouds (9-2) #RTEracing
Victoria Pendleton exceeded all expectations by finishing fifth on Pacha Du Polder in the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase.
Pendleton gave the Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old a very patient ride and was stone last for the first mile.
As the race began to evolve, Pendleton, a double Olympic cycling champion, began to move through the field with style.
Dependable in the jumping department, Pacha Du Polder was making lengths at some fences but turning into the straight Pendleton still had plenty of horses in front of her.
As Nina Carberry brought Enda Bolger's champion hunter On The Fringe (13-8 favourite) through to beat Marito by a neck, Pendleton stayed on strongly to complete an afternoon to remember.
Pendleton, whose mount earned £936 in prize-money for fifth, said: "I can't believe how nice the crowd has been, I'd like to thank Alan and Lawney Hill, Andy Stewart (owner) and Paul Nicholls, they've made this all possible.
"I feel honoured to have been given this opportunity. It's right up there with everything I've ever done, it's such a rush.
"Thank you to all the jockeys that have been involved today, they've all been so nice and I feel really lucky. I think it's one of the greatest achievements of my life, a special achievement."
Ibis Du Rheu battled on bravely to outpoint Flying Angel in a close finish to the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.
It was a second Festival win of the week for trainer Paul Nicholls and a first ever for Jack Sherwood.
He kept his cool in a typically difficult 24-runner race to bring Ibis Du Rheu (14-1) through to challenge Flying Angel in the extended run from what became the final flight.
It was only in the last 100 yards that Ibis Du Rheu got the measure of last weekend's Imperial Cup winner to get the verdict by a length and a quarter.
Cheltenham 4.50 Result
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) March 18, 2016
1 Ibis Du Rheu (14-1)
2 Flying Angel (8-1)
3 Sky Khan (50-1)
4 Tully East (50-1) #RTEracing
Sky Khan was a length and a quarter away in third with Tully East fourth. What would have been the last obstacle was omitted as Jeremiah McGrath was being treated following a fall from Laurium on the first circuit.
Nicholls said: "He's a funny horse, he's always had plenty of ability, they missed out the last and he stayed on.
"It's brilliant for Jack, it's great to give him a Festival winner, and the Hales' (owners).
"It's a funny old game because at home Qualando (stablemate) would pick him up and carry him but there we are.
"It's nice to have a winner on the same day as Harry (Fry) and Dan (Skelton), my two former assistants, a great day."
Solar Impulse bounced back to form when springing a 28-1 surprise in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham.
The biggest-priced winner of the week, Solar Impulse was giving both trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies their third winners of the four-day spectacular.
Nicholls' decision to put blinkers on Solar Impulse for the first time was rewarded as the six-year-old, owned by Graham Wylie, travelled strongly at the business end of a highly-competitive contest.
Cheltenham 5.30 Result
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) March 18, 2016
1 Solar Impulse (28-1)
2 Dandridge (8-1)
3 Rock The World (9-2 Fav)
4 Savello (25-1) #RTEracing
Taking the lead just before the last, he stormed up the hill to land the spoils by three and three-quarter lengths from Dandridge.
Rock The World, the 9-2 favourite, was half a length away in third and Savello was fourth.
Nicholls said: "When I declared him I thought I had to do something to try to get his form back as he had been disappointing.
"I thought we'd put blinkers on and it has just made the difference. You have to go with your gut feeling. He's always had ability, he's crept down the handicap and everything went right today."
