Sprinter Sacre Stunning Winner at Cheltenham

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Sprinter Sacre beat favourite Un De Sceaux to win the coveted Queen Mother Champion Chase for a second time at the Cheltenham Festival.

With three former winners in the big race, Nicky Henderson's 10-year-old 5-1 shot, ridden by Nico de Boinville, powered home by seven lengths.

Ruby Walsh, seeking his 50th Festival winner, was second on the Willie Mullins-trained 4-6 favourite.

Outsider Special Tiara (16-1) was third for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Sprinter Sacre was a dominant winner by 19 lengths three years ago but did not race in 2014 after an irregular heartbeat was detected.

After two second-place finishes last year he won by 14 lengths at Cheltenham in November and then added the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton the following month when he eclipsed Sire De Grugy.

"It's been a long, long journey - those were two very, very grim years," Henderson said.

"That was unbelievable. That was about dreams, wasn't it?"

Walsh and Mullins had continued their remarkable start to the Festival with victory in the opening race on day two.

Having secured three wins on the opening day, Walsh rode the Mullins-trained six-year-old Yorkhill to another in the Novices' Hurdle.

Walsh, who rode the Mullins-trained Annie Power to victory in day one's feature, the Champion Hurdle. steered Yorkhill on an inside path and turned for home to beat favourite Yanworth by a length and three-quarters.

Its'afreebee stuck on pluckily for third, seven lengths further back.

Walsh was in contention again on Roi Des Francs in the RSA Chase but eventually faded to sixth as the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Blaklion, (8-1) ridden by 22-year-old Ryan Hatch, prevailed in a gripping tussle with Shaneshill to win by half a length.

Favourite More Of That, ridden by Barry Geraghty, was third, another eight lengths in arrears.

Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old Diamond King, (12-1) with Davy Russell on board, burst through on the far side to claim victory by a length and a quarter.

Long House Hall, ridden by Harry Skelton for his brother Dan, was second, with Ubak another neck away in third,

The Mullins-Walsh combination Blood Cotil pulled up.

Veteran performer Any Currency (11-1) stuck on gamely to strike for trainer Martin Keighley and jockey Aidan Coleman in the Glenfarclas Chase.

Second in this race for the last two years, the 13-year-old took over from long-time leader Valadom in the final part of the cross-country test over three and three-quarter miles and was the clear leader from the third-last fence.

Josies Orders, the 15-8 favourite, finished with a flourish up the hill to get to within a length of the winner at the line.

Bless The Wings (33-1) was another length and a quarter away in third.

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McCoy Set for Title 19

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AP McCoy will become champion jump jockey for the 19th successive year at Sandown on Saturday.

McCoy, who is 40 next month, rode more than 200 winners this season despite missing the start through injury.

The record-breaking Northern Irishman was hurt in a fall at Cheltenham in April 2013 which left him in intensive care.

In November, he passed the mark of 4,000 career wins with victory on Mountain Tunes at Towcester.

His triumphs in the 2013-14 season, which ends at the Surrey track on Saturday, have come at a winning strike rate of 24%.

McCoy finished more than 60 wins ahead of nearest rival Richard Johnson, who has never been champion and is runner-up for the 15th time.

"You start off at the beginning of the season and the goal is to be champion, and I've been lucky enough to achieve it 19 times," McCoy told 5 live. "I'd like to achieve it again next season if possible."

Fellow jockey Sam Twiston-Davies told 5 live: "We all look up to him massively. He's the most amazing man and we're all very lucky to be riding in the same era as him."

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys' Association, said: "What can one say about AP McCoy? He is simply a phenomenon.

"Who would have predicted almost two decades ago when he became champion jump jockey for the first time that he would not relinquish the title for almost 20 years? And he is still going strong in his 40th year and will soon be aiming for title number 20 in 2014/15.

"As well as being the greatest jump jockey in history, he is also a terrific gentleman and a true ambassador for our sport."

Paul Nicholls will be champion trainer for the eighth time, after beating last year's winner Nicky Henderson.

Gavin Sheehan will receive the annual award as champion conditional jockey.

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Exeter to Record McCoy Landmark

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Tony McCoy heads to Exeter for three rides tomorrow on what could prove a landmark day in the record-breaking champion jockey's career.

A double at Kempton courtesy of Captain Cutter and Foundation Man left McCoy on 3,998 career winners over jumps - and two successes at Exeter would see him reach the magical 4,000 at the track that saw him register his first British winner back in September 7, 1994, on the Gordon Edwards-trained Chickabiddy

Captain Cutter survived a less-than-fluent round of jumping to ultimately run out a comfortable winner of the Weatherbys Bank Foreign Exchange "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson's Punchestown bumper runner-up was the 4-11 favourite for his debut over timber and moved sweetly enough in the hands of the 18-times champion.

There was a slight moment of concern for his supporters as the six-year-old made a mistake four flights from home and he was also less than convincing at the final obstacle, but his class advantage was clear as he came home 10 lengths clear of Fine Words.

Talking about Captain Cutter's mistake four flights from the finish, McCoy said: "When he jumped, he almost caught his head. It could have been worse. He could have knuckled over, but thankfully he didn't.

"With the price that he went off at, he won the way he should have.

"He is a nice type of horse, he needs to brush up on his jumping and needs a bit of experience.

"He has started off well. I'm not sure he is the easiest horse to ride, but hopefully he will be (in time), all being well."

McCoy added to his tally with his final ride from three on the card as 11-10 favourite Foundation Man claimed victory in the Weatherbys Bank Foreign Exchange Handicap Chase.

Jonjo O'Neill's charge received a reminder from McCoy down the back straight, but mastered Lemon's Gent from the home turn and looked to have the race in safe keeping jumping the second-last.

Upton Mead came from further back to try to make a race of it under a familiar foe in Richard Johnson, but Foundation Man safely negotiated the final obstacle and was always doing enough to hold on by two and three-quarter lengths.

McCoy said: "He has been a disappointing horse, to be honest.

"He was going everywhere but forward, but he obviously has ability and he can improve. He is taking a step nearer and he is getting better.

"You can see from the size of him that he is a chaser, and hopefully he will improve with every race he runs."

Assessing his chances at Exeter, McCoy said: "I wouldn't say they are good chances. Flemenson is probably the best one."

The O'Neill-trained Flemenson bids to make in two from two over obstacles in the opening novice hurdle at the Devon venue, while McCoy also rides Keen Eye in a similar event and Well Hello There, also trained by O'Neill, goes in a handicap chase.

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Finian Rainbow Finds Pot of Gold

Finian's Rainbow and Barry Geraghty triumphed in the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree.

Nicky Henderson's star won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and was impressive again here despite demolishing a rail before the Grade One race and jumping moderately throughout the contest itself.

However the 13-8 favourite had enough class to see off Wishfull Thinking (15-2) before the last fence and he stormed clear up the run-in.

Philip Hobbs' runner bounced back to form for Richard Johnson and held every chance turning in but was no match for the winner, whilst Albertas Run (11-4), winner of the race in 2010, faded into third having helped to cut out the early pace with Poquelin.

Thomas Cooper's Forpadydeplasterer finished fourth but was well held.

Henderson said: "Last year as a novice he was trying to do everything in a terrible rush. He was only a bit quieter here last year because he'd had a hard race at Cheltenham.

"He grew up last summer for some reason and suddenly became sensible. This season he's been much more amenable.

"You'd always expect this fella to stay. Last year he looked an out and out two-miler because he was doing it in such a rush.

"Today he was always in a comfortable position just behind and you just hoped he was in cruise control and he probably was. When he switched him on he picked it up very quickly.

"We've got all summer to think about next season, but we're in a good position to be able to think about things. He's won the Champion Chase, he's won this. He goes to bed with all the medals."

Owner Michael Buckley said: "He's pretty special. "I wasn't worried about him stepping up in trip. The ground is probably a little on the soft side for him now, but he's very relaxed now and acts like a stayer, like we always thought he would be.

"How far he'll stay I've no idea."

Wishfull Thinking's trainer Philip Hobbs said: "It's good to see him back and he ran a much better race.

"It's been a very frustrating season but we schooled him straight away after Cheltenham and he's been absolutely fine.

"We'd have to think about Punchestown, as it's not very far away."

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Albertas Run, said: "I don't think it's because he had a hard race at Cheltenham. I'm a bit worried his old problems have come back.

"He looked like he might have been feeling his leg a bit. We'll just have to get him home and see, but he certainly won't be running again this season."

Long Run Schools for Betfred

Long Run will have a schooling session with jumping guru Yogi Breisner next week in preparation for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old also had his first workout since his victory at Newbury two weeks ago on Tuesday morning.

"He came out of Newbury well and did his first bit of work this morning," said the Seven Barrows handler.

"He'll have one session with Yogi Breisner next week and won't see a fence between now and then.

"He'll wear earplugs in the parade (at Cheltenham) and they will come out at the start."

Henderson admits Kauto Star will be a formidable opponent at Cheltenham.

"I don't think there's any doubt this is a different horse to the one we were playing with last year," Henderson said of Kauto Star.

"I think he was going through a patch last year and people were baying for his retirement. I wish Paul had listened!

"He has even avoided going through the final fence now - he has put the whole thing together.

"At Kempton we were only beaten a couple of lengths and (Long Run) had really winged the last we might have got it down.

"Ruby (Walsh) has really put the turbo on early with Kauto this year and (Cheltenham) is a different track to do it on.

"In the Gold Cup they tend to wind up the pace and if he's going to go on, he's got another two and a half furlongs up the hill to go."

Favourite

Henderson added: "We were two-love up and now it's two-all and it's going to be a very interesting battle.

"I've a nasty feeling public opinion will go with the old favourite and I'll be a very unpopular if we beat him.

"Last year was a great Gold Cup. It's all to play for and I don't think there's much between them."

One weapon Henderson has up his sleeve is the use of earplugs, which the French-bred has traditionally worn during races.

"He will have them for the parade, as we want to block that out, but they will come off in the race," he said.

second string

Seven Barrows suddenly boasts another Gold Cup contender in Burton Port, who closed to just half a length behind Long Run at Newbury when in receipt of 10lb.

However, it was his first start for a year and a quarter and Henderson is wary of the 'bounce factor' - when horses run well on their return from a lay-off but fail to back it up the next time.

"We got the impression he had improved at home and we weren't surprised how he ran," the trainer said.

"He got 10lb at Newbury and he's got to improve more than that, but I think there is improvement.

"We've just got to pray there's no dreaded 'bounce'.

"No-one has been able to explain it, but it does happen and you have to be wary about it. But he does look fantastic."

Punters should also hold their bets for the John Smith's Grand National on Burton Port, even if it is owner Trevor Hemmings' favourite race.

Henderson continued: "Trevor has very much said, 'This is a good horse - let's win the Gold Cup, rather than leave him for Aintree."'

The Magnificent Henderson Seven

Nicky Henderson has achieved a first as a four-timer at Kempton contributed to a grand total of seven winners from as many runners across the country.

Darlan, Mossley, Chablais and Whoops A Daisy won at Kempton, Foxbridge and Owen Glendower at Ludlow, while Top Of The Range was victorious at Ffos Las.

"This is quite special, I don't know if I've had seven, I remember having six one Boxing Day," Henderson said.

"We haven't had seven out of seven, that I can be fairly sure of."

The seven runners obliged at combined odds of 66-1 in an accumulator.

Henderson is the first British trainer to have seven winners from seven runners in one day and his triumphs evoked memories of Frankie Dettori's magnificent seven at Ascot in 1996 when the jockey went through the card.

Mossley was the shortest-priced runner at Kempton at 1-8 favourite following his second place in last season's Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Barry Geraghty, who was aboard all four at Kempton, had to sit tight when Mossley misjudged the fifth-last fence but the pair soon recovered to finish 10 lengths clear.

"I think Mossley slightly went to sleep, he made one mistake, but Barry said he winged the last two," Henderson said.

There was a little added pressure in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle as owner JP McManus was on hand to watch his 1-4 favourite Darlan.

Winner of his only start in a bumper at Haydock last April, Darlan was not foot-perfect over the obstacles but was far too speedy for Sleeping City.

And even if Chablais (8-15 favourite) developed a habit of jumping to the left in the two-mile Halcyon Gallery Novices' Chase, the lightly-raced gelding had pounds in hand himself.

"We had a fantastic day on Friday with five winners and then Saturday was a bit bruising with Long Run and Oscar Whisky being beaten, but this is special," Henderson added.

Paul Nicholls's Violin Davis went off the 11-10 favourite for the Listed race and tried to make all the running but was tackled by Whoops A Daisy (7-2) and Cloudy Spirit in the home straight.

It was the latter who gave Henderson's runner most to do and eventually finished two lengths behind.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Darlan

Mossley

Chablais

Whoops A Daisy

Foxbridge

Owen Glendower

Top of the range