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."

In a race billed as the ‘Decider’ between Kauto Star and Denman – both previous winners of the race, Imperial Commander showed it was not just about two horses as he bounded up the famous Cheltenham hill for a memorable victory. It was the culmination of four breathtaking days of racing.

Paddy Brennan and Nigel Twiston-Davies crowned a day to remember with a stunning victory for Pigeon Island in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.

Favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle two years ago, he has found life over fences pretty tough.

However, he scraped in at the bottom of the handicap and not surprisingly ridden with supreme confidence, the 16-1 chance flew up the famous Cheltenham hill.

French Opera, saddled with top weight, made a bold bid under David Bass to come the race in the Henderson family and he was only a length and a quarter away in second.

Consigliere travelled well for a long way and finished third, with Cornas fourth.