King holds off Story in cross country

Balthazar King emerged triumphant following a thrilling finish to the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

The 11-2 chance was one of a number of horses who took the wrong course round this cross-country circuit in December, but there were no such dramas on this occasion.

The Philip Hobbs inmate was jumping out of Richard Johnson's hands throughout the three-mile-seven-furlong prize and was never too far off the lead.

Wedger Pardy was the horse who led his rivals the wrong way in December, but this time Jacqueline Coward guided him round the course with aplomb and he was still bang there turning for home.

The 14-year-old A New Story, winner of this race in 2010, came from out of the pack to challenge at the final fence.

He and Balthazar King fought it out up the punishing hill and it was the latter who won the argument by a head.

Wedger Pardy ran an excellent third, with last year's hero Sizing Australia fourth.

Johnson said: "He seems to have really taken to the fences well. He ran well the last day until we got taken out.

"One thing he does is stay and he battled all the way to the winning post, so it's very good.

"He's a front-runner and I kept thinking we'd take it up in a minute. We went a good gallop all the way and he does stay very well which has helped him in the end.

"After last time I wondered if I should ride in it but this was great."

Hobbs said: "If he had won last time then he would have gone up in the handicap and might not have won today.

"He had a very bad fall at the course. He broke a bone in his cheek, so we knew he would have to have some time off.

"He jumped very well and he tries hard. It's a different race but they all count."