BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, BBC Sport

Kargese owner Kenny Alexander, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "She was second last year and she ran against Sir Gino, troubled him. It's a tough race and she won as we hoped she would. I couldn't believe it. Phenomenal.

"This was the one I was quite confident but you can't be confident in that race. Paul is a champion jockey, incredible."

1 Kargese (P Townend) 3-1 Fav

2 Ndaawi (J W Kennedy) 25-1

3 Absurde (D E Mullins) 5-1

4 Ethical Diamond (Mr P W Mullins) 16-1

16 ran

Kargese is Irish trainer Willie Mullins' eighth victory of this Festival.

That is as many wins as we have seen for all British-trained horses at Cheltenham this year.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

She did it really well. Who are we to doubt Paul Townend? He chose Kargese and she travelled strongly. It was never in doubt.

Image source, Reuters

Victory for the favourite.

Paul Townend rode that race very well, holding Kargese back until the right moment before applying the accelerator as they headed down the hill.

It looked for a second as if she would run out of gas as outsider Ndaawi made a late charge, but Townend timed it perfectly.

Kargese jumps the last well, can she hold on?

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

This is anyone's race. Kargese is travelling very well on the outside of the track.

Image source, Reuters

Kargese makes a move and is going strong.

Into the lead goes the favourite!

They get more tightly bunched as they round the corner and head down the hill.

Still no move from any of the favourites. Absurde is holding fire on the outside.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

Gordon Elliott, a very frustrating week for him with no winner so far. He's hoping to change that here.

Kargese, the favourite, is currently running in seventh.

Two to jump.

They are fairly spread out in the early stages, this is another short race at two miles so those near the back may need to get a shufty on.

Four hurdles to go, Spirit d'Aunou leads.

Away first time, and all over the first of eight hurdles ok.

Our Champ and Spirit d'Aunou lead the way.

We are about to get underway in the County Hurdle.

Absurde and Valgrand have been backed heavily this morning, but Kargese still goes off as the most fancied.

Who'll get a tune out of their horse this afternoon?

Image source, Getty Images

16 runners in this second race of the day.

Kargese, a mare, goes off as 11-4 favourite.

Micah Richards
Former Man City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, BBC Sport

I'm having an absolute blast! This is just extraordinary. I came about 10 years ago, I was with Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott and some of the other boys at Man City. I'm going to come every year from now on.

When you watch them on TV but when you're up close and personal, they really are beautiful. I'm not messing when I say I'm coming here every year.

I've been in a lovely box and we've had some lamb, some potatoes and some vegetables. What an experience.

Andrew Thornton
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

For the first time at the Festival, padding has been added to the top of the hurdles to improve safety for horses.

It's innovation. They have been rolled around so many of the racecourses already. They are horse-friendly. They can rattle the top of the hurdles and the padding has got to help. The horses get used to it, and it certainly helps. It's innovation in sport and anything that is horse-friendly is a big plus.

Image source, Getty Images

Another race with a strong Irish challenge.

Kargese, who was second in last year’s Triumph Hurdle is a leading contender for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins, who also saddles last year’s winner Absurde, who is not without a chance of making it back-to-back wins, and Ethical Diamond.

Joseph O’Brien’s Lark In The Mornin, last year’s Fred Winter, has not impressed this year but is capable of a big run.

British hopes seem to sit with Valgrand for Dan and Harry Skelton.

Image source, Getty Images

Yesterday, BBC Sport ventured into Cheltenham to speak to punters about the cost of attending the Festival and whether it might put them off in future years.

The answer, overwhelmingly, was no.

"We have done the whole week," said one fan. "It's great craic, great atmosphere. It is a little bit more expensive, but then everything is now. I can't wait for the next one."

"The pint list is terrible!" added another. "But it's really enjoyable, the cost is worth the money. You need to save a few more months."

Some regular visitors, however, have admitted to having cut their attendance down due to the sheer cost of tickets, food and drink, and everything else that comes with a day at the races.

"We usually come for two days but this time around we are just coming for the one because of the prices," said one visitor. "We want to be here, but it's expensive to do both."