JLT Novices' Chase resultpublished at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
1. Taquin Du Seuil (A P McCoy) 7-1
2. Uxizandre (R Thornton) 33-1
3. Double Ross (Sam Twiston-Davies) 11-1
Summary
More Of That beats Annie Power to Ladbrokes World Hurdle win
Trainer Paul Nicholls says Big Buck's has run his last race
Dynaste, also ridden by Tom Scudamore, wins the Ryanair Chase
Fingal Bay claims Pertemps Network Final in a photo-finish
AP McCoy rides Taquin Du Seuil to win in opening race
Ballynagour, ridden by Tom Scudamore, wins Byrne Group Plate
Spring Heeled wins the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
JLT Novices' Chase resultpublished at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Postpublished at 13:36 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
What a superb finish by Taquin Du Seuil, with Tony McCoy masterminding a very popular winner in the opening race on St Patrick's Thursday.
Winnerpublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Taquin Du Seuil storms through the field and wins the JLT Novices' Chase.
Postpublished at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Djakadam falls, as Felix Yonger begins to make a move. Still Uxizandre is in the lead though.
Postpublished at 13:33 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Wonderful Charm is on the inside, waiting for an opportunity to attack the leaders. 200-1 shot Captain Ocana is...last.
Postpublished at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Still Robert Thornton on Uxizandre leads the field but that lead has been shortened with nine to jump.
Postpublished at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Uxizandre is making the early running, opening up a decent early lead. Double Ross heads the chasing group.
Postpublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Oscar Whisky falls at the first fence and brings down Mozoltov
Postpublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Our first race of the afternoon, the JLT Novices' Chase, is off...
Postpublished at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
It's still very foggy out on the track, but it looks like we're OK to start on time. Who do you fancy for this first race then? Maybe you're going for broke and fancy 200-1 shot Captain Ocana. Maybe not.
Postpublished at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Wonderful Charm and Oscar Whisky are both seeing their odds shorten as we count down to the opening race in around seven minutes' time. Trained by Paul Nicholls, Wonderful Charm came second to Oscar Whisky in his last outing at Cheltenham but he was conceding 8lbs in weight. He should be expected to best his rival this afternoon.
Postpublished at 13:19 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham"A group of punters cannot wait for the first race - they are betting on which of their £1 coins will land nearest to the wall."
Postpublished at 13:19 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Taquin Du Seuil is another interesting horse in the JLT Novices' Chase, having beaten rival Oscar Whisky at this course in November. He also won last time out, albeit in a four horse race at Haydock, and he will attract some backing purely because he is being ridden by Tony McCoy and is trained by Jonjo O'Neill.
Postpublished at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Big Buck's or Annie Power? I suspect that debate will run and run - until they come face-to-face at 15:20 that is.
Our first race of the day is the JLT Novices' Chase when Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh will aim for a hat-trick of opening-race-of-the-day victories with Felix Yonger. He relishes the fast ground and will hope to impress in a race which has previously been won by Benefficient and Sir Des Champs.
Postpublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent at Cheltenham"Bookies report Annie Power being backed like she's won the World Hurdle already."
Market moverspublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at CheltenhamWorld Hurdle favourite Annie Power has been the best-backed horse of the entire 27-race Cheltenham Festival, according to Hayley O'Connor, spokeswoman for Thursday's big-race sponsors Ladbrokes.
"The market for the race entirely revolves around Annie Power," she said. "We wanted to do something special so we enhanced her price to 9/4 for a limited time [6/4 with some other firms) and punters couldn't get enough of her. Outside her and Big Buck's, we've had small interests in Alan King's Medinas and we've laid some hefty bets on At Fishers Cross each way.
"Felix Younger is very strong in the betting for the opener, now 7/2 from 4/1. Dynaste is being backed to reverse last year's Festival form to win the Ryanair, and is also 7/2 from 4/1 while Medermit and Hunt Ball are lively enough as well in the race.
"The only interest in the Byrne Group Plate is for Champion Court, backed from 14/1 into 10/1 and Roberto Goldback is steady in the betting for the final race on the card".
Get involved 81111published at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Mateen, London: I've gone all in on Big Bucks over Annie Power, never let me down before...but yes, Heart over Head!
Postpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
BBC Radio 5 liveFormer jockey Luke Harvey thinks Annie Power poses a big threat to defending champion Big Buck's in the World Hurdle: "It will be wonderful, the old and the new are locking horns. I personally think Annie Power will win. She gets a sex allowance of seven pounds as she is a mare and I think that will be crucial."
Postpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
If Derek Thompson can't pick a winner, what hope do us mere mortals have?
Postpublished at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2014
Derek Thompson
BBC Radio 5 live reporter at Cheltenham"I spoke to [Big Buck's jockey] Sam Twiston-Davies and he is pretty confident. I think Big Buck's will take a lot of beating in the World Hurdle. It is a two-horse race and no-one else will come close. But for once in my life I do not know who will win."