Irish must gird their loins in support of fancied raiders

IRISH punters could have been forgiven for thinking that Cheltenham bankers are a bit like London buses — you wait an age for one and then two pop up at once.

Irish eyes were were green with euro signs after 3-1 shot Back In Front's runaway win in the first, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and half an hour later Azertyuiop - with Ruby Walsh aboard - swelled wallets further after landing a mammoth one-million-pound gamble in the Arkle Chase.

J.P. McManus' Youlneverwalkalone also landed a minor gamble and finally delivered the sort of big prize he's often promised but never delivered as the opening day of three day extravaganza swayed this way and that.