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SOLWHIT CROWNED WORLD CHAMPION.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Solwhit arrived late on the scene to deny the Stewart family a fairytale victory with Celestial Halo in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

In the absence of Big Buck's it was left to Celestial Halo to carry the red and white silks of Andy Stewart for Paul Nicholls, and though he looked likely to win as they came down the straight, in the end he had no answer to Solwhit's surge up the hill.

So often the bridesmaid behind Hurricane Fly in his early days, the Charles Byrnes-trained nine-year-old was guided to a two-length success by Paul Carberry.

CARD THE ACE IN RYANAIR.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Cue Card made all to claim a second Cheltenham Festival success for Colin and Joe Tizzard in the Ryanair Chase.

Winner of the Champion Bumper three years ago, Cue Card was well in control from the top of the hill and easily held favourite First Lieutenant by nine lengths at odds of 7-2.

For Non Stop hung on gamely for third, a further three and a quarter lengths adrift, with last year's winner Riverside Theatre fourth after flying up the hill.

Joe Tizzard said: "People think that when he gets taken on his jumping falls apart, but he was so relaxed in front that it didn't matter that Jason (Maguire, on Champion Court) was beside me. He did it well.