Kim Muir winner Any Second Now bridges big festival gap for Ted Walsh

Any Second Now's victory in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase wound back the clock for trainer Ted Walsh, who won the race twice as a rider in the 1970s on Castleruddery and Prolan.

The third winner at Cheltenham on the day for owner JP McManus, 6-1 shot Any Second Now, who was winning for the first time over fences, won by three and three-quarter lengths under Derek O'Connor, who was landing his fourth festival success.

Walsh, whose previous training success at the meeting had come 22 years earlier, when Commanche Court won the Triumph Hurdle, said: "Any Second Now has some good form over shorter trips but found it easier today being ridden that way over a longer distance.

"Derek gave him a brilliant ride. Derek, Jamie [Codd] and Patrick [Mullins] are worth 7lb in any amateur race here. You need all the help you can get here and Derek was marvellous on him all through the race.

"Cheltenham is magnificent, pure magic. I've been racing all over the world, but there's nowhere like Cheltenham.

Derek O'Connor: 'Any Second Now jumped and travelled very well. We had a great passage all the way'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"This place is on a planet of its own. It seems to get better here every year. Some places lose their charm but everything they've done here has improved it."

Regarding future plans for the winner, Walsh said: "We'll wait a bit before deciding. He's only seven, so there might be another day or two in him. He might be a horse for a National one day."

O'Connor said: "Any Second Now jumped and travelled very well. We had a great passage all the way and he was game from the last and kept galloping away."

Kilfilum Cross finished second, with The Young Master three and a half lengths adrift in third.Measureofmydreams, the 3-1 favourite, made mistakes and finished eighth.

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