King and Newman triumph in the 4 miler

Midnight Prayer claimed top honours in the Terry Biddlecombe National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham for trainer Alan King and amateur rider Joshua Newman.

The 8-1 chance moved sweetly throughout the four-mile test and was one of a number of horses still in with a chance as the field rounded the home turn for the final time.

Leading fancy Shotgun Paddy did not jump as well as the winner, although he appeared to have been produced to win by Derek O'Connor approaching the last fence, but

Midnight Prayer jumped the obstacle the better of the pair and dug deep on the run to the line to prevail by a neck.

The eyecatcher of the race was the Willie Mullins-trained Suntiep, who was dropped out last for much of the journey by the trainer's son, Patrick, but flew home to pick up minor honours in third.

King said: "He was always in the right position and Josh gave him a beautiful ride.

"My thoughts are with the owner-breeder John Reynolds. He's 85 or 86. He got rushed away just an hour before the race with a massive heart attack. We just hope he's going to be all right."