Looking back is seldom a good idea and anyone following yesterday’s top tips may be forgiven avoiding my predictions for day three!

13:30 Novices’ Chase 2m 4f £100,000                 Texas Jack

14:05 Final (Handicap Hurdle) 3m £80,000      Shut the front door

14:40 Ryanair Chase 2m 5f £275,000  Menorah

15:20 World Hurdle 3m £275,000  Reve de Sivola

16:00 Byrne Group Plate (Handicap Chase) 2m 5f £90,000   Hunt Ball

16:40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase 3m 1f 110y £60,000  Chartreux

17:15 Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 7f £50,000  Outlaw Pete

Yesterday was made all the more brilliant by one horse. Steeplechasing star Sprinter Sacre thrilled the Cheltenham Festival with a sensational 19-length win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The brilliant seven-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson, cruised around the two-mile contest and left talented runner-up Sizing Europe trailing.

“Sprinter Sacre’s win was unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like it. The British people love a champion – and he’s a champion.”

Former Grand National-winning jockey Bob Champion

“It does make you speechless. Sprinter Sacre is scary. He has that aura about him and is totally and utterly unique.”

Winning trainer Nicky Henderson on BBC Radio 5 live

Sent off the 1-4 favourite, the handsome gelding – nicknamed The Black Aeroplane – was the shortest-priced Festival winner since Arkle won his third Gold Cup at odds of 1-10 in

The candle of illuminating jump racing has passed to Sprinter Sacre and he was given an appreciative ovation from punters at the Gloucestershire track.

Lord Windermere wos the RSA Chase after Boston Bob fell at the last

The day began much as it had panned out on Tuesday’s opening day with champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins masterminding yet another victory, in the John Oaksey National Hunt Steeplechase for amateur riders.

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This time his son Patrick was in the saddle, as he brought favourite Back In Focus past leader Nina Carberry on Tofino Bay. It was a fourth victory at the 2013 Festival for the trainer.

Mullins also won the day’s final race when Ruby Walsh rode Briar Hill (25-1) to victory in the Champion Bumper.

It was Mullins’ fifth winner of the meeting and the fourth for Walsh at the halfway stage of the Festival.

And a jockey who looks set to have a future at the top teamed up with a potential 2014 Champion Hurdle contender in The New One to claim the Neptune Hurdle.

Sam Twiston-Davies was given a rousing reception in the winners’ enclosure by fans who were cheered by a win for his father Nigel, who trains just 12 miles from the course at Naunton.

However, the trainer nearly missed his son’s big moment. “My guts rebelled and I was in the loo for most of the race. Luckily I extricated myself for the final hurdle. I am a very proud dad – he would not have been happy had I missed the whole race!” said Nigel.

Flaxen Flare, ridden by Davy Condon, was a big-priced winner at 25-1 for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott in the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, while trainer Alan King had a one-two with Medinas (33-1) and Meister Eckhart in the Coral Cup.

Related articles

• Cheltenham day two – Tap’s top tips! (henrytapper.com)
• Cheltenham Tips on Ladies Day as punters pile into Sprinter Sacre offer in Champion Chase (footybunker.com)
• Cheltenham Festival: Sprinter Sacre can join racing royalty (metro.co.uk)
• Sprinter Sacre enhances reputation at Cheltenham, wins by 19 lengths (3news.co.nz)
• Sprinter Sacre supreme in Champion Chase at Cheltenham Festival (guardian.co.uk)