Weather drama fails to dampen the spirits as jumps fans get their fix

After England had raised the blood pressure with a herculean effort to put New Zealand to the sword in Yokohama, a nice relaxed afternoon at the home of jump racing would have satisfied the majority.

But you cannot have racing at Cheltenham without drama and it did not take clerk of the course Simon Claisse long to give those who braved the elements a few unwanted palpitations when calling an impromptu inspection less than an hour before the first race on Saturday.

With the return of 'proper jumping' had come the return of 'proper jumping weather' and after more than an inch of rain, puddles had started to gather on the hallowed turf.