Hughes breaks his duck on Hawk High

Yorkshire toasted its first Cheltenham Festival winner of the week when Hawk High swooped in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

Trained in Great Habton by Tim Easterby, the Trevor Hemmings-owned four-year-old sprang a 33/1 surprise to provide rider Brian Hughes with his first ever Festival success.

Clarcam's fall two flights out caused plenty of mayhem, a consequence of which saw Orgilgo Bay gain a definitive lead, but Hawk High was not to be denied as a tidy jump at the last sealed the deal.

Katgary, who had been hindered by Clarcam's fall, stayed on to take second spot, three-quarters of a length in arrears. Orgilgo Bay was third, while Keltus was also a slightly unlucky fourth.

Easterby said: "Delighted. It's the best place in the world to have a winner. He's a very decent horse and he needs a confident ride. He won on heavy at Warwick but he didn't seem to handle anything right at Haydock. I don't know why."

Hemmings said: "The jockey suited the horse. We were delighted to get Brian Hughes, who rode him very well."