He's such a fantastic horse. His jumping overall is mustard. He could win an Arkle or a Champion Hurdle. It's a big relief as he's been favourite all year - it's great when it goes right. He travelled so well, we were so lucky to get him. He could go Champion Hurdle or Arkle next year, we'll have to see. He has run six times and has won them all very easily, so I don't know whether that was a career best. We've not schooled him over fences, but he will be mustard over them. We shouldn't get too bullish, too early. He has a fantastic attitude, is very sound and has got fantastic ability.

Defi Du Seuil

Seuil so good in Triumph

2.10

Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)(Class 1 ) of £95,000 2m 179yds

1st

Arctic Fire (GER) (1)

20/1

Tote £25.90 £5.10

2nd

L'ami Serge (IRE) (2)

25/1

£5.80

3rd

Ozzie The Oscar (IRE) (24)

50/1

£11.60

4th

Air Horse One (GB) (14)

10/1

£2.30

OFF 2.12. Time 4m. 25 Ran

Trainer W P Mullins

Jockey P Townend

Owner Wicklow Bloodstock(Ireland)Ltd

Breeder U GRUNING

CSF- £444.41
Tricast- £21744.21

NRs - Mick Jazz (FR) (NonRunner)

Full Result

Fire burns bright for Mullins in County

He had top weight but he had it for a reason and I went out with the mindset to ride him like the best horse, and thankfully it paid off. Donagh (Meyler, on Wakea) had a big lead but it's very hard to do round here, you don't get that much of a lead without doing a hell of a lot. At that stage I had no choice but to drop in, there was nothing I could do about it. It's a bit of a surprise for me, I fancied our other one, Renneti, as he'd been working well at home and I thought Arctic Fire could be a social runner!. But he's a class horse on his day, even with top weight he'd been dropped 6lb. He pulled so hard going down Paul dropped him right in, lucky enough he got a clear passage on the outside. It's fantastic for Paul and Nick Peacock, the owner. He chipped a bone when I was getting him ready for last year's Champion Hurdle and he has joint trouble all the time, he's a bit like me getting out of bed on a morning. Donal, who rides him at home all the time, knows him inside out and he tells me when he's right or not.

Arctic Fire

Fire burns bright for Mullins in County

2.50

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)(Class 1 ) of £125,000 2m 7f 213yds

1st

Penhill (GB) (9)

16/1

Tote £17.00 £4.00

2nd

3.5L

Monalee (IRE) (8)

8/1

£2.50

3rd

Wholestone (IRE) (14)

13/2

£2.20

4th

Constantine Bay (GB) (5)

12/1

OFF 2.51. Time 5m. 49.50 secs15 Ran

Trainer W P Mullins

Jockey P Townend

Owner Anthony Bloom

Breeder Newsells Park Stud & Equity Bloodstock

CSF- £128.09
Tricast- £920.30

Full Result

Penhill another for Mullins in Albert Bartlett

He was looking good all the way and two out we were expecting him to win, his hurdling was a lot better than it has been and he's got the pace. Racing over three miles has been the making of him, as it gives him more time for his jumping. I haven't had many Cheltenham runners, so it is very exciting. I've brought a lot of friends and they're all on at 16 and 20-1. It's not a race that has been lucky for us. It's been a great day for Paul with two winners. Penhill has class. We were trying to win with him over two miles, but he just couldn't handle the pace of top-class races over two miles. We put him up to three and he did it easily at Christmas, then we said we would go for this race. He will go to Punchestown now and he is a horse that could go back on the Flat. He could be a Melbourne Cup horse. Maybe he won't be good enough when we go back and try the Flat but we will see. He has got a typical profile for the horses we manage going back to the Flat. They are just going two or three miles an hour slower over three and it just gives his brain time to work and get him in the right order jumping.

Penhill leads Monalee over the last

Penhill another for Mullins in Albert Bartlett

3.30

Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)(Class 1 ) of £575,000 3m 2f 70yds

1st

Sizing John (GB) (12)

7/1

Tote £7.80 £2.30

2nd

2.75L

Minella Rocco (IRE) (7)

18/1

£5.10

3rd

shd

Native River (IRE) (9)

7/2

£1.80

4th

0.5L

Djakadam (FR) (4)

3/1fav

OFF 3.30. Time 6m. 36.30 secs13 Ran

Trainer Mrs John Harrington

Jockey R M Power

Owner Ann & Alan Potts Limited

Breeder Bryan & Sandra Mayoh, Eskdale Stud

CSF- £116.96
Tricast- £521.34

NRs - Empire Of Dirt (IRE) (NonRunner)

Full Result

Sizing John wins Gold Cup

It's our first runner in the race, the jockey's first ride and Jessie's first runner. I can't believe it, it was amazing how he jumped and travelled. Robert said he wasn't going to go down the inside, but he did. It's absolutely fantastic, my first runner in a Gold Cup. He was running over two miles, but it was Robert who said he would stay and he did. Thanks to everyone at home, it's all down to the team. I can't believe it, I've got to get a Classic now (on the Flat)!

Sizing John and Robbie Power

Sizing John wins Gold Cup

4.10

St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase(Class 2 ) of £45,000 3m 2f 70yds

1st

Pacha Du Polder (FR) (17)

16/1

Tote £19.10 £3.70

2nd

Wonderful Charm (FR) (24)

7/2

£2.00

3rd

Barel Of Laughs (IRE) (5)

100/1

£23.50

4th

On The Fringe (IRE) (16)

11/8fav

OFF 4.11. Time 6m. 42.90 secs23 Ran

Trainer Paul Nicholls

Jockey Miss B Frost

Owner The Stewart Family

Breeder Mr Hubert Honore, & Mr Pierrick Rouxel

CSF- £70.38
Tricast- £5584.58

NRs - Anseanachai Cliste (IRE) (NonRunner)

Full Result

Pacha leads Nicholls one-two in Foxhunter

Everyone always expects plenty this week, it's been an amazing week. Saphir Du Rheu in the Gold Cup (fifth) gave me an amazing buzz and for young Bryony to ride him like that is great. She's Jimmy's (Frost, Grand National winner) daughter and to give these young girls chances is great.

Pacha Du Polder (right)

Pacha leads Nicholls one-two in Foxhunter

4.50

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle(Class 2 ) of £65,000 2m 4f 56yds

1st

Champagne Classic (IRE) (12)

12/1

Tote £16.70 £3.50

2nd

2.25L

Verni (FR) (23)

25/1

£8.60

3rd

1.25L

Runfordave (IRE) (5)

9/1

£2.50

4th

0.5L

Coo Star Sivola (FR) (10)

13/2

£2.40

OFF 4.52. Time 4m. 55.80 secs23 Ran

Trainer Gordon Elliott

Jockey J J Slevin

Owner Gigginstown House Stud

Breeder Ronald O'Neill

CSF- £286.74
Tricast- £2854.83

NRs - Protek Des Flos (FR) (NonRunner)

Full Result

Elliott top trainer after Classic win

I was lucky the ride came up and I put a call in and got it, but then I got offered another ride and Gordon wouldn't let me off him. He travelled everywhere, jumped every hurdle and was a winner all the way really. Gordon's had an unbelievable week and it's a privilege to ride for him. It's been an amazing week. To beat Willie, with the strength he has - and he's an amazing trainer - is brilliant. It's a credit to the staff and the owners, I'm part of a team so we'll enjoy it. Coming over I was hoping for one and we won the first race with Labaik so everything else has been a bonus. It's unbelievable, we had three winners Tuesday and had a bit of a drink, too much so we haven't touched a drop since. When we get home next week we'll have a staff party. Apple's Jade winning was sweet, Cause Of Causes was special but winning the Martin Pipe race is great.

Gordon Elliott with old boss Martin Pipe

Elliott top trainer after Classic win

5.30

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)(Class 1 ) of £105,000 2m 62yds

1st

Rock The World (IRE) (4)

10/1

Tote £11.70 £2.90

2nd

1.75L

Gardefort (FR) (11)

20/1

£5.80

3rd

Theinval (FR) (14)

9/1

£3.10

4th

2.5L

Dandridge (GB) (10)

13/2

£2.40

OFF 5.33. Time 4m. 1.40 secs24 Ran

Trainer Mrs John Harrington

Jockey R M Power

Owner John P McManus

Breeder D Donegan

CSF- £201.72
Tricast- £1914.93

Full Result

Harrington and Power strike again with Rock

What a day. He was fantastic, that horse. He was third last year and he had a wind op after he ran here in the autumn. I couldn't run him at home as the ground was too heavy, so I gave him a couple of racecourse gallops. He loves quick ground, he absolutely loves it. He'a beautiful jumper. He's pinged the last and stayed on all the way up the hill. It's fantastic for me, I shall have a grin on my face for about a month.

Results Cheltenham Fri, 17th Mar, 2017

Defi Du Seuil

Arctic Fire

Penhill leads Monalee over the last

Sizing John and Robbie Power

Pacha Du Polder (right)

Gordon Elliott with old boss Martin Pipe

Rock The World (left)