Patience pays off for Alan

Alan King finally hit the mark after a series of near-misses as Oh Crick landed the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, bringing down the curtain on a memorable Cheltenham Festival.

King breathed a huge sigh of relief as Wayne Hutchinson kept the 7-1 chance going to repel Moon Over Miami by three-quarters of a length.

The Barbury Castle trainer explained that Oh Crick, who agent Anthony Bromley found in France, had proved a special horse on more than this occasion.

He said: "He's my 700th winner and was also my 500th on New Year's Day in 2008.

"I've always liked him and thought he had a definite squeak today. But as I watched him come up the hill, I couldn't imagine the feeling of getting run out of one again."

Cappa Bleu put in an exhibition round of jumping on his debut under Rules in the Christie's Foxhunter Challenge Cup Chase.

The 11-2 chance asserted along the far rail on the run-in to score by 12 lengths from Turthen.

The 7-2 favourite Juveigneur made a costly mistake on the far side.

Owner William Rucker and his wife Angela may now consider the Horse And Hound Cup for Cappa Bleu, who will join trainer Evan Williams next season to be aimed at the Hennessy.

Rucker explained: "Angela and (trainer) Sheila Crow found him in Ireland, but he got travel sickness and almost died on the journey over.

"Luckily, our head girl rushed him to hospital and those actions saved his life.

"Angela is keen to take him to Stratford and I wouldn't know about Aintree, but I can confirm he'll go chasing with Evan Williams next season."

Burton felt his mount took him to the front earlier than planned, adding: "He didn't know where to go after the last but he found extra."

David Pipe saddled eight of the 24 starters in an attempt to land the inaugural running of the race named in honour of his father, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

However, 7-2 favourite Big Eared Fran fell short in faring best of them, finishing third behind Andytown and Midnight Chase.

Felix de Giles encouraged the Nicky Henderson-trained Andytown to a nine-length win in the colours of Richard and Lizzie Kelvin Hughes.

Paul Nicholls knew the drying ground would favour American Trilogy in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle and was not surprised when the 20-1 chance came right away from Stradbrook and Cockney Trucker under Ruby Walsh.

Nicholls said: "I've just grafted and grafted with him in the last three weeks to make sure he was super-fit. Ruby actually rang me yesterday to make sure he was on it."