Horse Racing

LAST year's Coral Cup third Pause And Clause returned to the scene of his career-best performance to give trainer Emma Lavelle her second Cheltenham Festival winner in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Pause And Clause defied a welter burden to land the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle under Johnny Farrelly.

Emma Lavelle's 14-1 chance, third in the Coral Cup 12 months ago, travelled strongly throughout the contest and held the lead heading into the straight.

Nicky Henderson's Radium travelled as though he might pick him up but he blundered at the final flight and Pause And Clause stayed on well up the hill to score by three and a quarter lengths, with Clova Island third and Peveril fourth.

While David Pipe may not have won his father's race, at least Farrelly is attached to the Pond House yard.

Lavelle said: "He hasn't had his ground all winter and when I saw it was raining I thought 'please stop' but at least it was wet and he's got through it.

"He ran such a great race here last year in the Coral Cup. Today, he's galloped and he's jumped.

"Johnny has given him a fantastic ride. He just kept the momentum bringing him forward, the horse is so willing."