Gaspara wins last race of day one

Gaspara rounded proceedings off on day one of the Cheltenham Festival by putting her rivals to the sword in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Having won the Imperial Cup just three days previously, Gaspara earned the father and son combination of Martin and David Pipe a £75,000 (€109,700) bonus by spread-eagling the field under an aggressive Andrew Glassonbury ride.

The 4lb claimer made just about all the running and kicked his mount clear some way from home.

She began to tire late on but kept up the gallop to score by five lengths from the running-on Altilhar (12-1).

Back in third was Laustra Bad, who came within a neck of landing a one-two for the Pipe yard, while 50-1 outsider Zilcash ran a huge race under top weight to take fourth.

David Pipe said after saddling the winner, who is owned by his father: ``It's great and Andrew gave her a fantastic ride.

“The plan was to jump out and make it but we thought they might go a quicker pace than that.

"Andrew just found himself there and made the right decision to stay there.”

Glassonbury added: “She just kept finding and she’s really tough.

“David said she probably wants two and a half really as she stayed so well at Sandown on a stiff track.

“I just let her bowl along and it’s just super. I’m over the moon.”