Cheltenham: Any Currency finally lands Cross Country Chase

Veteran performer Any Currency stuck on gamely to strike for trainer Martin Keighley and jockey Aidan Coleman in the Glenfarclas Chase at Cheltenham.

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

Bless The Wings kept Any Currency (11-1) company on the racecourse proper before the 15-8 favourites Josies Orders 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.

The well-fancied Balthazar King came down at the second of the cheese wedges at the end of the first of three circuits.

Both horse and jockey Richard Johnson appeared to have escaped unscathed.

Coleman said: “Who says these horses need to be retired at a certain age? This horse is better than ever.

“He’s getting his just rewards — he’s a pleasure to be involved with.

“I’d love to take him hunting when he retires.”

Keighley said: “I’m speechless. The horse deserves it. Aidan gave him a great ride, it’s absolutely brilliant.”

Earlier Yorkhill gave Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh their fourth winner of the Cheltenham Festival when comfortably outpointing Yanworth in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

Walsh made a decisive move on Yorkhill (3-1) by steering an inside path and getting a great run turning for home.

Pulling double to that point, the Graham Wylie-owned six-year-old had all of his rivals at full stretch, including Yanworth, who had been sent off the 11-10 favourite to maintain his 100 per cent record over hurdles.

Instead, it was Yorkhill who remains unbeaten over hurdles after slamming his main rival by a length and three-quarters.

Its’afreebee, who was always to the fore, stuck on pluckily for third, seven lengths behind the classy first two.

Mullins said: “Ruby gave him a super ride — he needed a bit of luck.

“It opened up, and he shot through. He jumped the last well. We seriously thought about going for the Supreme, but the more I looked at it, the more I thought Altior was hard to beat and that this race was the one.”

While Blaklion stayed on commendably up the hill to take the honours in the RSA Chase.

Produced by Ryan Hatch in a wide-open race, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Blaklion (8-1) put in a tenacious effort to come out on top.

The winner and Shaneshill battled it out in the closing stages, with the former prevailing by half a length. More Of That was third, another eight lengths in arrears.

Hatch, claiming a second Festival victory, said: “He’s not very big, but he can jump. He was absolutely super — he travelled all the way.

“He had a bit of boot at the end and passed them all. He’s such a legend, he’s as hard as nails. He’s a very good horse and I just steered him, really.”

Twiston-Davies said: “It’s fantastic. Nobody expected him to win, but he’s always been a great horse. We were so gutted (on Tuesday) and I was miserable as The New One (fourth in Champion Hurdle) isn’t quite as good as he used to be, but we’ve got another (good) one.”

Mullins was delighted with the performance of the runner-up Shaneshill. He said: “It was a fantastic run and we just elected to sit and wait with him and I’m very happy with that.”

Diamond King was produced to perfection by Davy Russell to rule the roost in the Coral Cup.

Russell delivered Gordon Elliott’s charge after jumping the last flight and quickly asserted on the run to the line. Baron Alco and Ubak, both trained by Gary Moore, set a steady pace and the tempo only increased down the hill with two flights to jump.

Several horses were spread across the course, with Blazer, Ubak, Waxies Dargle and Long House Hall among those having every chance. However, Diamond King (12-1) burst through on the far side to pounce and score by a length and a quarter from Long House Hall (16-1). Ubak (28-1) was another neck away in third, with Blazer (8-1) fourth.

Elliott said: “That was great. Davy gave him a great ride and we’re delighted everything worked out. We thought if he settled he’d win.”

Paul Nicholls tasted success for the first time at this year's festival when Diego Du Charmil and Romain De Senam gave the Ditcheat trainer a one-two in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

There was still plenty to play for at the final flight where Voix De Reve and Campeador fell independently when looking to have a major say in the finish.

Their dramatic exit left Diego Du Charmil (13-2) in front from long-time leader Coo Star Sivola, but he had to be driven out by Sam Twiston-Davies to hold the late dash of stablemate Romain De Senam (20-1) by a head.

Coo Star Sivola was a head away third and Missy Tata was fourth.

In the last race of day two Ballyandy inched home in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper to give both trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and his jockey-son Sam doubles at Cheltenham.

In a typically hard-fought and messy 23-runner race, Ballyandy (5-1) got the verdict by a nose from the Willie Mullins-trained Battleford (25-1).

Mullins saddled the other placed horses, too, with Bacardys (16-1) finishing third and Castello Sforza fourth.