Top amateur jockey Jamie Codd secured his eighth Cheltenham Festival winner with triumph on board Le Brueil in the National Hunt Chase.
In a typically chaotic race – run over four miles, the longest trip of the race – the Ben Pauling-trained seven-year-old stayed on best up the Cheltenham hill to beat Discorama and Barry O’Neil by half a length.
After the race, trainer Ben Pauling said the 2020 Grand National would be the long-term target for his 14-1 winner.
The front two finished well clear of the rest, with Jerrysback coming in third at 16/1 and 125/1 outsider Clondaw Cian fourth.
Favourite Ballyward, seeking a third win of the day for Willie Mullins, fell mid-race, while ante-post fav Ok Corall was never in contention and Impulsive Star was pulled up.
The race concluded a dramatic first day of the festival, in which Espoir D’Allen was a shock winner of the Champion Hurdle, while banker of the day Benie Des Dieux fell when clear at the last in the Mares’ Hurdle.
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