At last! Vaughan enjoys overdue first Cheltenham winner after years of trying

If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.

Tim Vaughan had tried to win a race at Cheltenham 151 times – but to no avail. He had been close, with no less than 14 seconds, but finally he managed to earn his chance to stand in front of the number one pole in the course's famous winner's enclosure as Master Dancer rattled home under champion jockey Richard Johnson to break Vaughan's hoodoo – much to the trainer's relief.

Master Dancer wins the handicap hurdle and gives trainer Tim Vaughan a first Cheltenham winnerCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"With my record at Cheltenham it's a bit of a surprise," he joked. "It's got to the point it's all everyone winds me up about and you think I can't do any more, I'm trying me best, you know.

"It's long overdue and I'm delighted for the staff at home because it's not just me everyone winds up, they get it all the time as well. It's nice to get it off our back at long last."

On the achievement itself he added: "It's lovely, it's great really, and to have Dickie on it was special, if I was ever going to have it here it's nice he's on board – and it's his only ride here today so it's a good job I got him. We've been together a long time."

Vaughan saddled three in the race, the same race in which Charlie Longsdon broke a similar streak last year, with his other two runners finishing 16th and 17th.

Vaughan's only saddled more runners in his career at nine other venues and victory leaves Ascot as the only jumps course in Britain at which he has had runners but not a winner (0 from 25). His best strike-rate comes at Kelso, where he has saddled six winners from 13 runners.

Master Dancer may have been Vaughan's first Cheltenham winner, but he was also his 657th winner over jumps in Britain.

Harvey earns Arkle quote with hard-fought chase debut win over Sceau Royal

It would not be a surprise if, come March, North Hill Harvey, Sceau Royal, Ballyhill and Movewiththetimes all line up against each other at the Cheltenham Festival.

If they do it will be advantage North Hill Harvey, who got the better of Sceau Royal in a ding-dong finish to the first really exciting clash between multiple top novices this season.

North Hill Harvey (right) wins the novices' chase at Cheltenham for Dan Skelton ahead of the Alan King-trained Sceau RoyalCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The six-year-old won the Greatwood Hurdle on his first start last season and then was kept fresh for the festival, but trainer Dan Skelton revealed he would have a more active campaign this winter.

"I know what I got wrong last year and he's always been a horse who would be better over a fence. Harry gave him a sensible ride and I'm delighted with that. We could bring him back here for the Arkle Trial in November."

Paddy Power inserted him at 33-1 in their Arkle betting, while others were more impressed with quotes given as low at 16-1.

Tough Momento off the mark in the Ballymore Novices' for Keighley

Local trainer Martin Keighley won the first Cheltenham race of the 2017-18 season, with his talented young mare Brillare Momento grinding out victory in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle under Aidan Coleman.

The six-year-old loses her novice status at the start of November and Keighley's wife Belinda confirmed the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, named in honour of her husband's mentor David Nicholson, come March was the long term goal.

Credit: Alan Crowhurst

She said: "What a tough mare. We're off the mark at Cheltenham this year and there's only been one race – I can't quite believe it. She's a lovely mare and our dream, eventually, would be the David Nicholson, she'd need to improve again, but she loves Cheltenham as much as we do."

Paddy Power inserted Brillare Momento at 33-1 in their betting for the OLGB-sponsored Mares' Hurdle.

And there was double delight for the Keighleys, who also won the closing race on the card, with 33-1 shot Bobble Emerald in the Experience The Theatre At The Festival Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

The Harry Stock-ridden nine-year-old benefited from a loose horse carrying him across the track into the late-charging 11-2 joint-favourite Man Of Plenty and Keighley said: "He's a very genuine horse and he's a tough horse to pass.

"I thought the handicapper had had his say, but we get an extra 3lb for holding Harry's licence and the loose horse has helped us a bit – it caused all the interference – so I don't think there'll be a problem with the stewards."

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