George causes shock in William Hill

Paddy Aspell partnered his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival as Chief Dan George recorded a 33/1 shock in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase.

Ogee (8/1) nodded badly on landing two out, where Bensalem fell while tracking the leaders, but the former was still just in front over the last.

However Chief Dan George soon struck the front, and the Jimmy Moffatt-trained gelding kept on well to hold the strong late challenge of The Package. The well-backed 9/2 favourite was sixth approaching the final fence but fairly flew up the final hill to get within a head at the line.

Ogee was a further length and a quarter back in third, with the Charlie Swan-trained Offshore Account (33/1) fourth. Some bookmakers pay each-way terms the first five in this race; The Tother One (14/1) was fifth.

Moffatt said afterwards: "When he ran round here over hurdles, it was to put him right because we had been held up with the frost."

"I wasn't surprised at all because he's a good horse but I never thought he was a back number as he's a Grade 1 winner over hurdles. Right now I've got a rush through my system like you wouldn't believe."