Horse of moment makes it nine on the trot as he blows away top-class contenders in field

Tackling two and a half miles for the first time over the larger obstacles, he was a 1-3 favourite to beat a top-class field

Peter Bowen could yet retain the John Smith’s Topham Chase today. He saddles two fresh horses, ready to contribute to their stable’s return to form.

The gauntlet that was left lying on the ground at Cheltenham is to be picked up at Aintree.

While some sprinters manage to look relaxed in action, he always looked frantic, almost fanatical

Bradley Wiggins retained fourth place in the Tour of Catalonia but lost ground on the leader, Daniel Martin, in a frantic finish to stage five.

The Italian held the record for 17 years

Team Sky rider finishes sixth after splitting pack

The 11-4 favourite outstayed Tony McCoy and Sir Des Champs

We can only imagine how long ago five years seems to brilliant trainer

The rest of the card was mostly attrition for the punters

The Festival has lost none of its intensity since expanding to a fourth day in 2005, but those who counselled that "less is more" may yet feel they had a point when they contemplate today's card. Elevated to the Thursday centrepiece, the Ladbrokes World Hurdle has hitherto borrowed lustre first from Inglis Drever, who won three times in four years, and then from Big Buck's, whose record-breaking spree of 18 wins has incorporated the last four runnings.

He bestrides the whole meeting, much its most feasible colossus. True, only the desperate or deranged will actually be tempted by the available odds, but nobody goes to a coronation to sell ermine. And the sort of show you get from Sprinter Sacre tends to be its own reward.

Odds-on favourite is headstrong and jumps poorly before claiming Arkle Chase victory