Good day at the office for jockey Waley-Cohen at Cheltenham

Sam Waley-Cohen took time off from his desk in the city to partner Tricky Trickster to a ten-length victory in the four- mile National Hunt Cup Chase for amateur riders, the oldest and longest race at the festival.

Alan King's Pangbourne, under Will Biddick, led for two of the three circuits, but then dropped out as Tricky Trickster took control, carrying the colours of the Million In Mind Partnership.

Tricky Trickster ran on to beat Drumconvis, ridden by Derek O'Connor, for Irish trainer Tony Martin.

"This is my local course and it is great to have a winner here for the owners," said successful handler Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Waley-Cohen picked up a one day suspension for hitting his mount in an incorrect place.

Mikael D'Haguenet was strongly fancied to take the Ballymore Novice Hurdle for Irish trainer Willie Mullins and the five-year-old duly obliged under Ruby Walsh.

Timmy Murphy hit the front on Diamond Harry, trained by Nick Williams at South Molton, but had to settle for third behind Mikael D'Haguenet, a one-and-threequarter length victor from Tony McCoy on Alan King's Karabak.

"He's a machine and travelled well throughout the race," said Walsh.

Walsh struck again for Mullins on another well- backed favourite when Cooldine shot 16 lengths clear going up the hill in the RSA Chase, after Matty Batchelor set the pace in the three-mile event on Carruthers.

A mistake three fences out put paid to the chances of Carruthers, leaving Walsh to take control, chased home by Jessica Harrington's Horner Woods, with Massini's Maguire a further nine lengths back.

Paddy Flood recorded his first success at the festival when steering Ninetieth Minute to a one and a half length victory over Lucinda Russell's Mirage Dore for Tom Taaffe, with Pause And Clause third in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle.

In the Fred Winter Novices Hurdle, Ski Sunday had to settle for second behind Newmarket raider Silk Affair, ridden by Tom O'Brien.

To round off another great day for the Irish, horses from the Emerald Isle filled the first three places in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper with Philip Fenton's Dunguib ridden by Brian O'Connell beating Some Present and Rite of Passage.