Sprinter supreme in Champion Chase

Longwood-based trainer Gordon Elliott endured a day of mixed fortunes at Cheltenham on a day when the Champion Chase was won for the second time by Sprinter Sacre (pictured), a horse former partner Barry Geraghty described as “like driving a Ferrari” after he won the big race in 2013.

Emotions were high as Sprinter Sacre regained his crown in the Betway-sponsored Queen Mother Champion Chase – a race he won three years ago with his then regular pilot Barry Geraghty on board.

Sprinter Sacre has had a succession of well-documented problems, including heart issues,and was brought back by his trainer Nicky Henderson to be the top two-miler again and got the beetter of Un De Sceaux (4/6 fav) today.

For Gordon Elliott there was the high of Diamond King winning for Davy Russell in the Coral Cup after making a late challenge from the last. Barry Geraghty finished fourth on the Willie Mullins-trained Blazer while Noel Meade's Waxies Dargle could only manage sixth.

Barry Geraghty is still waiting for his first winner and looked as if would achieve that in the Fred Winter juvenile hurdle when leading at the last on board the Gordon Elliott-trained Campeador, but fell at the flight in a race in which Missy Tata finished fourth for the the trainer.

Barry also finished third in the RSA Chase with More Of That.

Nina Carberry was a length off the winner in Cross Country Chase as she took second with Josie's Orders. Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh won the opening novice hurdle with Yorkhill

THURSDAY/FRIDAY

The feature tomorrow is the Ryanair Chase in which Noel Meade's Road To Riches will be taking on the odds-on favourite Vautour (Willie Mullins/Ruby Walsh).

The Andy Lynch-trained Zabana runs in the opener tomorrow while the Gavin Cromwell-trained Jer's Girl will go in the opener on Friday. Gain Cromwell ran Scenic Star (same owner as Jer's Girl) on the flat at Wolverhamption last night but had to settle for second place.