Poignant Cheltenham double dedicated to late jockey

Jockey Sean Flanagan looked to the sky after victory on Marine Nationale

Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty both claimed emotional wins at the Cheltenham Festival two years after winning here for jockey Michael O'Sullivan, who died in a fall last month.

First, Marine Nationale, ridden by Sean Flanagan for owner-trainer Barry Connell, won a dramatic Queen Mother Champion Chase by 18 lengths from favourite Jonbon, whose progress was halted by a jumping mistake.

Then the Cian Collins-trained Jazzy Matty, under Danny Gilligan, landed the Grand Annual Chase.

Marine Nationale had won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle two years ago in the same yellow and blue colours for O'Sullivan, who died aged 24 following his injuries at Thurles Racecourse.

"I'm just the man on him today, Michael made him what he is," said Flanagan.

"It's hugely emotional for a lot of reasons. His family find it very hard. Jockeys in Ireland, England and around the world have been under a cloud in the last couple of weeks."

Jonbon, trained by Nicky Henderson, went into the race with 17 wins from 20 starts but his three defeats had come at Cheltenham and his chance disappeared with a jolting mistake on the far side of the course where jockey Nico de Boinville did well to stay on board.

Two-time previous champion Energumene travelled well before fading and it turned into a battle between Quilixios and Marine Nationale before Quilixious fell at the final fence. That left Marine Nationale in the clear to claim victory.

"I'd like to say it's very poignant and very raw, the whole thing with Michael over the last three or four weeks has been horrible, horrible," said O'Connell.

"My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his girlfriend, Charlotte, is here and was with us saddling up the horse. Everybody in racing has come together for Michael and I hope this is a fitting tribute to him."

O'Sullivan won the Fred Winter Hurdle on Jazzy Matty for trainer Gordon Elliott in 2023.

Gilligan said: "I think we all know there is someone very special looking down on us today. That is for Michael."

Marine Nationale was part of an opening day double for Michael O'Sullivan at Cheltenham in 2023

The New Lion brings 80th winner for McManus

The New Lion (3-1) extended his unbeaten run to five with an impressive win from The Yellow Clay in the Turners Novices' Hurdle.

Jockey Harry Skelton triumphed for trainer brother Dan to seal an 80th Festival victory for owner JP McManus, who bought the horse earlier this year.

"He's a phenomenal horse and I've never had one like this," said Dan of The New Lion, who is around a 7-1 shot for next year's Champion Hurdle.

Lecky Watson was guided by Sean O'Keeffe to a surprise 20-1 triumph in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase for Willie Mullins.

Stablemate Ballyburn was sent off the warm favourite but he never recovered from a major blunder at the seventh fence.

Another Mullins outsider, the 16-1 chance Jimmy Du Seuil, won the Coral Cup under the trainer's nephew Danny. The winner had finished 13 lengths second to Ballyburn as a novice hurdler at Cheltenham last year.

And a Mullins Wednesday treble was completed when Jody Townend on Bambino Fever gave him a sixth Champion Bumper victory in eight years.

The 5-2 favourite Stumptown stayed on best of all to win the Cross Country Chase for jockey Keith Donoghue and trainer Gavin Cromwell. Latenightpass was second with Vanillier third, having earlier nearly led the whole field down the wrong route.

Snow showers had hit the course early on Wednesday but the weather brightened up and Queen Camilla was among those present to enjoy the action.

Attendance was down again - a crowd of 41,949 was recorded, nearly 5,000 less than the same day last year.

Jockey Harry Skelton with The New Lion and owner JP McManus