CONEYGREE’S spectacular display of front-running saw him become the first novice to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for 41 years.

Captain Christy, back in 1974, was the last to achieve the feat but Coneygree (7-1) made virtually every yard of the three and a quarter mile stamina test to beat Djakadam by a length-and-a-half.

It was a courageous display of riding from jockey Nico de Boinville, who fired his mount to the front and ensured the hard-galloping eight-year-old repelled all challengers.

Only his fourth outing over fences, Coneygree was bred by the late Lord Oaksey and gave trainer Mark Bradstock just his sixth winner of the season.

A delighted De Boinville said: "It's the best feeling ever, I'm lost for words. I never thought they shouldn't have run in this, it was a great plan.

"The weather gods were looking down on us and the ground was ideal. He's so deceptive, even when he gets in tight he's brilliant. It's all thanks to the Bradstock family, it's a great family effort.

"I must thank the owners and the Bradstocks for keeping the faith in me. These horses only come once in a lifetime."

Bradstock added: “It’s wonderful. It won’t sink in for a while but it is great. We have done it before in smaller races and we will still keep doing it but it is obviously fantastic to do it on the big stage.

“Coneygree is a gorgeous, gorgeous horse.”

Bradstock’s wife Sara, daughter of Lord Oaksey, said: "He is not here, but he's here in spirit. I'd been saying to people, when we win the Gold Cup we'll win the lottery, it's that amazing.

"It's only his fourth run over fences, but he had so much time off and he's wise in his own way."

On His Own, runner-up a year ago in the Gold Cup for Newcastle-based owner Graham Wylie, ran another huge race and finished fifth but there was disappointment after Black Hercules, sent off the 5-2 favourite in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, failed to feature.

Nicky Henderson claimed his sixth JCB Triumph Hurdle – and celebrated a 1-2-3 in the £120,000 Grade 1 contest – after Peace And Co (2-1 fav) was delivered to perfection.

Barry Geraghty’s mount was crawling all over the field after the second last, but the pair still had to fight off a determined challenge from stablemate Top Notch up the hill to the finish.

Peace And Co had plenty in the tank, though, and got up by a neck with Hargam, Henderson’s third runner, four lengths further back in third.

The trainer said: “They have looked the top three (four-year-olds) all the way through the season. They had to come here and do that.

“They were that good – any of them would have won it in their own right. It’s bad luck you have to go and beat up your own troops.”

Peace And Co could now be targeted at next year’s Champion Hurdle and Henderson added: “He would jump a fence if he had to but I don’t suppose he will be doing that for a while.”

Killultagh's victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle gave Irish trainer Willie Mullins his eighth winner of the Festival - a new record eclipsing the seven Nicky Henderson enjoyed in 2012.