Whiteoak wins Mares Hurdle

Whiteoak got back up to pip Refinement in a thrilling race for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The opening race on the final day of the Festival provided a pulsating finish with Jason Maguire on Whiteoak (20-1) mugging Tony McCoy on Refinement (10-1) in the last stride for a short-head verdict.

Refinement only took it up from Whiteoak on the run-in but Donald McCain's runner rallied in the dying strides as Refinement drifted towards the centre of the track to force her head in front on the line.

Chomba Womba, the 100-30 favourite, was two and a half lengths back in third.

Gaspara took the field along at a sensible pace but she was being stalked by Chomba Womba as they came down the hill.

The market leader, who had been going ominously well, went on before the last where Whiteoak had moved into a challenging position.

She led at the last and looked like winning nicely until McCoy galvanised Refinement to get her nose in front 100 yards from home.

However, Whiteoak was not finished with and she found reserves to claim the first running of the race named after training legend Nicholson.

McCain said: "She got there too soon to be honest, as she only just does enough in front.

"We've always thought she was very decent but obviously we didn't know she was quite up to this.

"We did know she would travel and just thought she wasn't quite sharp enough over the first couple for the two-mile novices' (Supreme).

"She probably shouldn't have been beaten all year if I'd done my job properly so I'm absolutely delighted," he told Racing UK.

"Cloudy (Lane) won here last year but we've had a good hiding with some of our other runners since - I could get used to the place again now!"

Refinement's trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "She did everything right and can be a bit lazy sometimes.

"She hit the front just before the line but maybe a stride too early. She'll probably go to Punchestown now."