Relief for Morrison after Third Wind survives stewards' inquiry to edge Pertemps

Thursday: Pertemps Final, Cheltenham

Hughie Morrison was made to sweat over landing his second Cheltenham Festival winner as, moments after Third Wind edged out Alaphilippe in a pulsating finish to the Pertemps, the dreaded bing-bong of a stewards' inquiry was called.

The front pair came close in the closing stages but the stewards deemed Third Wind, sent off a 25-1 chance and ridden by Tom O'Brien, had not caused sufficient interference to the second-placed horse and the placings remained unaltered.

In the moments leading up to the announcement of the stewards' decision, Morrison labelled the inquiry "needless" and said he would appeal if the placings were turned around.

Speaking in the winner's enclosure, Morrison said: "I thought it was pretty needless. I don't like these situations but I don't think there was any need for an inquiry to be honest. If they turn it around, we will appeal.

"We were definitely the winner on merit and we hardly interfered with the second horse. He carried us left for some of the finish. It's difficult to celebrate when you don't know. We can enjoy it, hopefully, in a minute."

He added: "We didn't come here expecting anything. We came here for a day out. He was fourth off the same mark here two years ago and couldn't win. He's a very good horse on his day and these are his conditions – soft ground and a good gallop.

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle: full result and race replay

"Tom rode a spectacular race. We told him to jump positively because, if you jump off at the back, he'll end up right at the back. Tom took the brave route. He said he always thought he was going to get there and that he won easily. When he hits the front, he doesn't do much."

In the opposite corner of the winner's enclosure, Fergal O'Brien, trainer of the runner-up Alaphilippe, was magnanimous in defeat.

He said: "The best horse won on the day. We'll take our defeat. We couldn't have asked any more from Paddy [Brennan] or the horse. They left nothing out there. You could run that race another ten times and it could go either way.

"I thought we were going to finish fourth coming down to the last but then he locked on and I thought he'd win from the back of the flight. I'm pretty gutted. This was the plan for a long time and it nearly came off."

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