Nicholls back on top after treble

Paul Nicholls regained the lead in the trainers’ championship with a 599-1 treble on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

He had started the day off just over £50,000 (€73,000) adrift of Martin Pipe, but wins from that hardy perennial Earthmover in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase, St Pirran in the following Grand Annual Challenge Cup and Sporazene in the concluding Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle put the Ditcheat handler back on top.