Cheltenham Festival: Day Three live results

15:20 – World Hurdle
Cole Harden’s (14/1) fine front running denied 5/1 favourite Saphir Du Rheu to give Graham Sheehan his first-ever Festival winner, while Zarkandar’s stumble at the second last cost the 6/1 shot, though he recovered to take third as Nicholls got both his key horses placed ahead of McCoy on At Fishers Cross. Dedigout was a non-runner.

Just the small matter of the World Hurdle up next. Zarkandar v Saphir Du Rheu for Paul Nicholls here.

AP McCoy gets off the mark with 16-1 chance Uxizandre who runs then ragged from the front… pic.twitter.com/fVU1SRyaU4

— Racing Tips Today (@racingtips2day) March 12, 2015

Take a bow, even after being Champion Jockey 19 times!

UXIZANDRE wins the Ryanair Chase! pic.twitter.com/uFipnxEPMP

— Sportlobster (@sportlobster) March 12, 2015

14:40 – Ryanair Chase
AP McCoy rode Uxizandre (16/1) round from the front here, ahead of 5/1 shot Ma Filleule and with 5/2 favourite Don Cossack in third. Almost Vautaur-esque!

Now it’s Grade One time, the Ryanair Chase no less!

Nicky Henderson: "A big relief to get one on the board. Andrew Tinkler is not at the back of the room – he's been at the front for years."

— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) March 12, 2015

We should think it is! The 16th time’s the charm probably won’t catch on as a popular phrase…

Call The Cops pings the last to win the Pertemps Final for owner @morgyracing, Nicky Henderson and Andrew Tinkler pic.twitter.com/g3yIOIlA84

— PA Stables (@PA_Stables) March 12, 2015

14:05 – Pertemps Final
Call The Cops (9/1) comes in for Nicky Henderson, and finally at the 16th attempt he’s got a Festival winner this year. Unique De Cotte (14/1) was second, and the other places went to The Tourard Man (20/1 and Henryville (50/1).

AP McCoy saw 8/1 joint-favourite Regal Encore fade, while Closing Ceremony didn’t even close, as that horse was a non-runner.

On with the next race, the Pertemps Final!

“I thought it was a spectacular performance.” http://t.co/rY7QGuA8pq pic.twitter.com/gNVy2O7oBl

— Racing Post (@RacingPost) March 12, 2015

What a piece of racing!

A spectacular round of jumping, ears pricked out in front, that's the way to do it! VAUTOUR hoses up in the JLT #CheltenhamFestival

— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) March 12, 2015

13:30 – JLT Novices’ Chase
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh just cannot quick the winning habit. Vautour (6/4 favourite) obliterated the rest of an eight-horse field to take this third day opener at the Festival with the biggest victorious margin so far.

Apache Stronghold (7/1) was a distant second ahead of Valseur Lido (9/2). The Tullow Tank was a non-runner.