The day belongs to Fitzgerald

Not content with the Gold Cup, Mick Fitzgerald dominated the rest of the day, too, with Katarino in the Triumph Hurdle and Stormyfairweather in the Catchcart contributing to a magnificent 636 to 1 treble.

It enabled Fitzgerald (28), to land the leading rider's title comfortably with four winners, and introduced a much-needed pinch of predictability to proceedings.

When Charlie Swan sent the joint favourite Le Coudray past the wayward-running Lady Rebecca in the Stayers Hurdle, the Irish prepared to roar him home; and they did so until the last 50 yards when the 40 to 1 shot Anzum shot past to win by a neck.

"It just shows you don't know what is around the corner. I never thought he'd win a race like this," said Richard Johnson, who was riding his first festival winner.

Le Coudray was carried wide entering the straight by Lady Rebecca, which Swan admitted, "didn't help much. He got the trip alright, but he idles in front and that other yoke flew home."

There was an Irish success with Space Trucker in the Grand Annual, who brought the Irish festival total to five with a strong late run under Shay Barry and win by a length and a half. It was a first Cheltenham festival winner for Barry and trainer Jessica Harrington who laughed:

"I thought he was in trouble at the top of the hill but my hands were shaking so much I probably wasn't in complete control of myself! Space Trucker hasn't had that light a weight on his back for a long time. I told Shay not to appear until the last moment and he got him jumping brilliantly."

It was primarily Fitzgerald's day, however. Katarino proved a worthy favourite in the Triumph Hurdle, although for most of the trip Fitzgerald was hard at work on the Nicky Henderson horse. Henderson later said it was Katarino's jumping that kept him in it, and he jumped to such effect that he had too much in reserve up the hill for the Irish pair Balla Sola and Afarad.

"I don't think Aintree would suit him but Punchestown next month is a possibility. Then we might pop to France for a 100,000 race in June," said Henderson.

Fitzgerald and Henderson proved their irresistible form when Stormyfairweather arrived on the outside of Potentate and Edelweis Du Moulin in the straight and had too much finishing toe on the run in.

"A day like this is something I shall never forget," said Fitzgerald, who thankfully for the amateurs was not eligible to ride in the Foxhunters. Ben Pollock on Castle Mane took full advantage to win from the 1996 winner and favourite Elegant Lord.

At a meeting when the layers had much the better of things, it was almost that the last favourite, Decoupage in the County Hurdle, should find one too good. Sir Talbot proved impossible to reel in once Timmy Murphy shot him clear on the turn in.