Cheltenham Festival: Catterick trainer Phil Kirby sees his 100-1 outsider Rayna’s World snatch third place

Although Concertista maintained Willie Mullins’ 100 per cent record in the five runnings of the with a wide-margin success over stable-mate Dolcita, Kirby’s inmate, ridden by Tommy Dowson put in an impressive performance.

Having won twice on the Flat and then placed twice over hurdles at Wetherby, Rayna’s World had been available at 200-1 earlier in the day.

But the mare made a mockery of her price to prevent Irish trainer Mullins’ horses from filling the first four places in the race.

In the opening race, the Marsh Novices’ Chase, Sue Smith’s Midnight Shadow finished sixth under Danny Cook in a thrilling race which saw Samcro edge out Melon – and crowd favourite Faugheen.

The 2018 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner has had a chequered career since that Festival highlight – but returned to his best in a finish that had just about everything.

The pair battled it out up the famous hill and it could have gone either way, but in the end it was the Gordon Elliott-trained Samcro (4-1) who snatched the verdict on the line under Davy Russell.

Faugheen – with the packed stands willing him on – was right behind the first two in third spot, with Mister Fisher fourth.

Min was finally a winner in his fourth Festival when grinding out victory in the Ryanair Chase.

Always in the front rank, the Mullins-trained nine-year-old held the late challenge of Saint Calvados to take Grade One honours under Paul Townend.

Min, owned by Rich Ricci, was accompanied by Frodon up front in the early stages until last year’s winner started to lose touch, although he kept going for fourth.

Shattered Love and Aso were others unable to keep pace with Min, who turned up the tempo with Riders Onthe Storm falling three out.

A Plus Tard laid it down to Min (2-1) from that point, but the 7-4 favourite could not find what was needed from the final fence. Saint Calvados was the last to challenge but the post came in time for Min, who crossed the line a neck to the good. A Plus Tard was a length and a half back in third.

Sire Du Berlais led home an Elliott one-two as he recorded back-to-back victories in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Continuing a fine Festival for Elliott as well as jockey Barry Geraghty and owner JP McManus, Sire Du Berlais (10-1) was revitalised by wearing blinkers for the first time.

Milan Native claimed a length-and-three-quarter success in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase to provide Elliott with a 549-1 treble on the day, ahead of Henry Oliver’s Kilfilum Cross was again second, with the Warren Greatrex-trained Bob Mahler a further length and a half behind.