Double for Walsh as Celestial scores

Ruby Walsh, victorious earlier on Fiveforthree in the Ballymore Properties, completed a high-profile Cheltenham double as Celestial Halo proved too strong for the well-fancied Franchoek in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

The 5-1 chance made just about all the running in the two-mile juvenile championship, but even-money favourite Franchoek loomed up as the pair jumped the penultimate flight together.

However, Celestial Halo was soon back in front on his own and stuck to his guns to grind out a two-and-a-quarter-length victory over Alan King´s runner-up.

Sabrina Harty´s Won In The Dark (16-1) ran a brave race to finish third, the same distance behind the front two.

Beau Michael nosed into an early lead as the tapes rose but Celestial Halo soon poked his nose in front and took the runners along at a good clip.

Despite the field bunching up briefly at the top of the hill, it was the eventual winner and hot favourite Franchoek who soon moved ahead on the descent.

Both horses were travelling strongly on landing over the second-last, but it was the Nicholls-trained Celestial Halo who grabbed the initiative on turning for home.

Franchoek would not go down without a fight, but despite McCoy switching him approaching the last, he could not muster the challenge required to get past his rival on the run to the line.

Won In The Dark was patiently ridden throughout and stayed on strongly up the hill, although he was not making significant inroads on the first two.