There were upsets this afternoon on day three of the Cheltenham Festival, with Special Tiara the big winner in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
A poor run from the Willie Mullins trained Douvan, who was heavy favourite to win and most bookmakers had him at odds of 2-9, gave Special Tiara the chance to streak home.
Special Tiara led from the front and took the victory in emphatic fashion.
"We're just so pleased for everyone involved, it's amazing," said trainer Henry de Bromhead after the race. "He seemed in great form coming into it. I nearly said it to our head lad Davy Roche at home 'God this fella seems better'. But I decided not to.
"He seemed in good form, but it's hard to believe with Douvan and everything else. Amazing.
"For our lad it looked amazing and tries his heart out. No other horse deserves it more in my opinion. I thought he jumped the slickest he's ever jumped.
"Often you jump a bit high, but he was a bit slick today... Any day you win a Grade One in Cheltenham it's an amazing day."
Gordon Elliot also had reason to rejoice. He celebrated his fifth winner of the festival this afternoon in the final outing of the day when Fayonagh finished in stunning fashion to claim the Champion Jumper.
Elliott spoke to Stuart Machim after the race and was asked whether the race looked lost at the top of the hill.
"It did, when he pulled her out and hit the hill, she was class," he said.
"I was worried about her on this ground to be honesty with you. We were going to go to Sandown the other day and we said to the owners she had listed wins so we'd have a go at a Grade One.
"Five in two days, it's brilliant I can't believe it."
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