RIVERSIDE Theatre got up in the final strides to give Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson a sixth winner of the meeting with a dramatic victory in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
Barry Geraghty galvanised the eight-year-old, part-owned by actor Jimmy Nesbitt, to deny Albertas Run a third successive win in the race.
Riverside Theatre, the 7-2 favourite, snatched the spoils by half a length from Albertas Run (10-1) with Medermit (8-1) another half a length away in third.
Henderson said: "That was some ride to get him home. You'd have to say he wants a step up in trip now.
"They went a hell of a gallop the whole way, it was too frenetic for our horse. I was stood with Jimmy watching the race and we thought he was going nowhere, it was all doom and gloom but you'd have to say Barry gave him an unbelievable ride.
"Although he's a very good looking horse he's extremely brave as well.
"We'll see if we run him again this season.
"You'd have to say he'd be a horse for the King George next season, he's run well in it before."
Former Cold Feet star Nesbitt added: “Nicky has done such an incredible job to bring him back like he has.
"The training performance at Ascot was extraordinary, but to have him in that nick today - to have that courage and battle like he did is incredible."
Meanwhile, Big Buck's made Ladbrokes World Hurdle history with a thrilling fourth successive victory in the stayers' championship.
The Andy Stewart-owned nine-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh, had to work hard to ward off Voler La Vedette to take his winning streak over hurdles to 16.
The 5-6 favourite battled on tremendously to win by a length and three-quarters from Voler La Vedette (20-1), with Alan King’s Smad Place (20-1) seven lengths away in third.
The win was as much a relief as joy for Nicholls, who had seen several of his horses run disappointingly since Rock On Ruby won the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.
Nicholls said: "I was getting a bit worried as we'd been totally out of form and out of luck since Rock On Ruby the other day, but this lad is all class.
"He had to fight today but he just keeps galloping, he's wonderful."
Barbury Castle trainer King is still waiting on a winner at this year’s Festival but was pleased with Smad Place’s third place.
He said: "He's run very well and I hoped he would put in a good performance.
"It was another marvellous performance by the winner. It's a good result for racing and it's nice to be a little part of it."
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