Brave Ballyandy beats Battleford in Bumper

Ballyandy inched home in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper to give both trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and his jockey-son Sam doubles at Cheltenham.

In a typically hard-fought and messy 23-runner race, Ballyandy (5-1) got the verdict by a nose from the Willie Mullins-trained Battleford (25-1).

Mullins saddled the other placed horses, too, with Bacardys (16-1) finishing third and Castello Sforza fourth.

The winning trainer had earlier been successful with Blaklion in the RSA Chase, while the rider had struck 40 minutes earlier on Diego Du Charmil in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

Sam Twiston-Davies said: "To quicken up the way he did was a hell of a performance.

"At the last set of wings I was flying. I couldn't believe the way he picked up - it was phenomenal.

"He's a hell of a horse and we're very lucky to have him."

Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "It's lovely. When your boys are riding it's double the excitement.

"What a good horse to gallop on - he's very good.

"He'll go hurdling next year."