Spectroscope triumphant

Barry Geraghty booted home his fourth winner of the meeting when Spectroscope (20/1) edged out Well Chief (7/1) in an eventful JCB Triumph Hurdle on Thursday.

The race was just starting to unravel on the far side when Old California took a horrible fall, causing carnage and hampering or bringing down a handful of horses who could not avoid the stricken animal. Old California died instantly after the fall.

Well Chief and Tony McCoy were clear of the trouble and set sail for home in aggressive style but the eventual winner began to reel him in and was level halfway up the run-in.

Geraghty pushed and kicked and his partner responded superbly to take the prize by a head with 11/2 favourite Golden Cross five lengths further back in third.

"The horse was brilliant and he is a tough lad," said the successful jockey.

"He jumped great throughout, winged the last and I knew that I had Tony's horse halfway up the run-in.

"I was lucky with the faller but there were no problems from there to home."