Thisthatandtother wins Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy

Thisthatandtother, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh, won the Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy at Cheltenham today.

Thisthatandtother denied Fondmort in a thrilling finish to the new Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase.

Fondmort held a slight advantage after jumping the last, but the Paul Nicholls-trained Thisthatandtother (9-2), ridden by Ruby Walsh, battled on just the better up the hill and wore down Nicky Henderson’s charge in the last 50 yards to win by half a length.

Irish raider Rathgar Beau, who finished third, lost his winning chance with a mistake at the final fence when bang in contention.

Edredon Bleu and Seebald cut out the early running, with Fondmort and Thisthatandtother in close attendance.

Our Vic looked menacing, but two mistakes in quick succession on the second circuit knocked the stuffing out of the Martin Pipe-trained 7-4 favourite.

Mick Fitzgerald kicked for home on Fondmort after the third-last but he could not shake off Thisthatandtother, while Hand Inn Hand and Rathgar Beau were hot on their heels.

Rathgar Beau looked a real threat to Fondmort and Thisthatandtother coming to the last until Shay Barry almost went out the side door after jumping it, and he had to setle for third spot as the first two fought out a tremendous battle up the run-in.

Cheltenham 2.35 1 Thisthatandtother (R Walsh) 9-2 2 Fondmort (M A Fitzgerald) 9-1 3 Rathgar Beau (J R Barry) 9-2 12 ran Also: 7-4 Fav Our Vic, 20-1 Hand Inn Hand 4th