Cheltenham Festival day three

St Patrick's Day revellers have a drink before the racing starts. The Cheltenham festival is synonymous with the Irish, who for years have descended on Gloucestershire in their tens of thousands to cheer on their horses and down the black stuff by the tankerload Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Tony McCoy gets proceedings off to a swinging start on Noble Prince, jumping a fence before going on to win the first race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Runners gather for the start of the second race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Competitors head out into the country after the first lap. Buena Vista wins, ridden by Conor O'Farrell at 20-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

A horse shining with sweat walks back to the stables after the second race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Princess Anne takes a stroll through the paddock Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

10-11 favourite Big Bucks jumps the last and wins the World Hurdle ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

... jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Paul Nicholls celebrate victory Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Former eventing world champion Zara Phillips watches the action Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Tony McCoy grits his teeth as he urges 6-1 Albertas Run up the hill after the last to win the Ryanair Chase Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Flat trainer Henry Cecil, a special guest for the day, has a runner at Cheltenham for the first time. His horse Plato will be taking part in the final race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Trainer Nicky Henderson reacts after the fifth race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Punters wait anxiously for the next race. Could be a chance to earn back some of that lost cash Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Runners jump the water as they take part in the penultimate race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Racegoers in horse heads watch the final race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Henry Cecil smiles and waves with a little embarrassment as the crowd chant his name after his horse, Plato, wins the final race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian