Chapoturgeon takes day's first race at Cheltenham

The Paul Nicholls-trained Chapoturgeon ran out a wide-margin winner of the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham today in the hands of Timmy Murphy.

The 8-1 chance travelled strongly throughout the two-mile five-furlong contest and cruised through to take up the running before the turn for home.

Murphy still had plenty underneath him running down to the final fence and after jumping it in style, he powered up the hill to score decisively from Isn't That Lucky.

Crescent Island was always up with the pace and stuck to his guns well to finish third, while Irish raider Northern Alliance stayed on late in the day to claim fourth, although nothing had a chance with the nine-length winner.

Another leading fancy, Naiad du Misselot, was never travelling and jumping with any fluency and was eventually pulled up once his chance had gone.

It was a first success at this year's Festival for Murphy and powerhouse owner David Johnson.