Let's Dance gave trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh a remarkable four-timer on day three of the Cheltenham Festival when taking her winning run to five in the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Walsh oozed confidence on the 11-8 favourite as he kept the Rich Ricci-owned five-year-old towards the back of the field for most of the race.
Verdana Blue led into the straight from Barra but a big leap took Let's Dance to the front and she galloped on strongly up the hill to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Barra. Dusky Legend was a neck away in third.
4.50 Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle result
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) March 16, 2017
1 Let's Dance 11-8F
2 Barra 12-1
3 Dusky Legend 20-1#CheltenhamFestival
Presenting Percy turned the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle into a procession as he gave trainer Pat Kelly and jockey Davy Russell back-to-back victories.
Mall Dini had struck for the same team 12 months ago and Presenting Percy (11-1) followed up in devastating fashion.
Russell brought the six-year-old through the pack to lead before the final flight and storm up the hill to win from Barney Dawn, Jury Duty and The Tourard Man.
"I'd be very surprised if he was capable of winning a Pertemps off that sort of weight. That will fairly stall him, I think." - Davy Russell, after the British handicapper had allotted Presenting Percy a handicap mark of 146
Russell said of the three-and-three-quarter-length winner: "To be honest, the credit has to go to Pat Kelly, he's a master and he improved for the better ground and I'd like to apologise to Phil Smith (BHA handicapper), maybe he was right (to give him more weight that his official Irish rating).
"Probably 99 times out of 100 the handicapper does a good job, but I thought he'd been a bit harsh on him. Pat has obviously found improvement in him.
"I rode my luck a bit and jumped him off at the back, but he settled lovely and it all went well.
"I've been to a lot of sporting occasions, but this is the ultimate."
1410 Pertemps Final Handicap result
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) March 16, 2017
1 Presenting Percy 11/1
2 Barney Dwan 16/1
3 Jury Duty 9/1
4 The Tourard Man 66/1#CheltenhamFestival
Road To Respect recovered from a bad mistake at the first fence to run away with the Brown Advisory & Merribale Stable Plate Handicap Chase.
The six-year-old, trained by Noel Meade, stormed up the hill in the hands of Bryan Cooper to give owners Gigginstown House Stud their third Festival win of the week.
Baron Alco kept on well for second place, as Road To Respect (14-1) came home six lengths clear.
Bouvreuil was a length and three-quarters back in third with Thomas Crapper fourth.
Cooper, who struck on Tuesday with Apple's Jade, said: "He travelled really well, he's been running in good novice races all winter long and I was a bit worried if he lacked the experience.
4.10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) March 16, 2017
1 Road To Respect 14-1
2 Baron Alco 10-1
3 Bouvreuil 10-1
4 Thomas Crapper 7-1
"He didn't jump the first great, but after that I gave him a bit of room to get his confidence. It was a messy race but he bolted up.
"Noel is a great person to ride for. I had a lot of luck for him early in my job. I've struggled to ride a winner for him the last couple of years, but he does a great job.
"It's great to get another one on the board."
Winning owner Michael O'Leary said: "He's related to Road To Riches so he wants good ground, but he's been running against all the best novices in Ireland.
"I didn't think he had much of a chance, but Bryan gave him a great ride, he was in the right place the whole way.
"Someone told me it's Noel's first win over fences here which just goes to show if you keep banging your head something will give."
Domesday Book caused a major shock in the concluding Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase when scoring at 40-1 for jockey Gina Andrews and trainer Stuard Edmunds.
