Cheltenham Festival Day 3 live updates: Pippa Middleton steals the show

A bumper afternoon of racing was enjoyed by tens of thousands of people on the third day of Cheltenham Festival.

An afternoon of high emotion was capped by Big Shu winning the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase.

The final race of the day had been delayed by more than 40 minutes after amateur jockey JT McNamara suffered a bad fall in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase and had to be airlifted to Frenchay Hospital.

Day three was honorary St Patrick's Day at the racecourse and punters were hoping for a touch of luck.

Meanwhile, a smattering of celebrities were seen enjoying the day including Pippa Middleton, who was with wealthy banker friend Tom Kingston.

Other stars spotted soaking up the atmosphere were James Nesbitt, Jeremy Kyle and ex-footballer Tony Adams.

You can recap all of the action with our live updates below.

6pm

Big Shu has won the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase, the final race on the third day of Cheltenham Festival.

5.45pm

Jockey JT McNamara is being flown to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol for treatment by air ambulance.

The final race of the day is yet to run.

5.25pm

Stewards have announced that the Cross-Country Handicap Chase will be run at 5.40pm after an injury to jockey JT McNamara.

JT McNamara had a bad fall from Galaxy Rock in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase.

4.55pm

The winner of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase was Same Difference.

Racing editor Jonathan Herbert had picked Super Duty for the win.

4.50pm

More updates from our reporter at the scene:

Among the revellers in the Guinness Village was Charlton Kings musician Jeremy Steffen, aged 61.

He said: "I'm having a fantastic time. I bet lots of money on Monday and Tuesday then realised how much I was spending so instead I bought myself a new coat, a new hat, a pair of boots and this ukelele.

"Now I'm loving the atmosphere. The Irish are having a whale of a time.

"Last night I took my guitar and we had a ball, singing along to their protest song The Fields of Athan and Rye.

"I just got bought a pint of Guinness by a young lady I played for and earlier on I was given a free portion of chips for singing one of my songs.

"Who needs betting, when you've got music?"

4.30pm

More updates from our reporter at the scene:

Bookies enjoyed another bumper day at the festival.

Ian Sanderson, manager at Betfred, said: "We've done very well today, like we always do at Cheltenham Festival. It's a great crowd here.

"We've had a fantastic day, the crowd have been brilliant and there's been a great atmosphere, with people coming from all over - and lots of Irish too!"

4.25pm

Irish cheer was flowing freely in the Guinness Village as thousands of racegoers made the most of the festival's St Patrick's Day craic.

Bar manager Mica Sheldon, 21 from Cheltenham, said she was expecting her staff to pour some 12,000 pints of the famous Irish stout today, double the amount drunk on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Punters were getting through around 15 kegs of the black stuff - each containing 88 pints - per hour, she said.

Enjoying her first time at Cheltenham Festival, Mica said: "We're expecting to be busy tomorrow as well but today's going to run it a close second.

"The atmosphere is amazing, people are playing music, singing and dancing. Everyone's having a great time and if you ask any of the staff they will say it's the best bar you can work on."

4.15pm

Update from our reporter at the scene:

Julie Baynham, 48, from Bristol, was one of the punters to back Solwhit, the winner of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle race.

Part of a syndicate of nine friends, she shared in a winning prize of £350.

She said: "Me and the girls had a good feeling about Solwhit and he didn't let us down.

"Our winnings have paid for our tickets and travel and we've got a bit left over for a bottle of champagne to celebrate."

3.40pm Byrne Group Plate - Result

1. Carrickboy 50-1

2. Vino Griego 11-1

3. Tartak 20-1

4. Hunt Ball 8-1

3.20pm

Ladbrokes World Hurdle result

1. Solwhit 17-2

2. Celestial Halo 40-1

3. Smad Place 9-1

3pm

Former England rugby player Mike Tindall spoke to Channel 4’s Clare Balding on the chances of Monbeg Dude’s in tomorrow’s Gold Cup race.

“He has been phenomenal for us this year,” he said.

“If it doesn’t work out he could run on Saturday but if he can run tomorrow he will, as we all want to see him go.”

Ryanair Chase (2.40pm) - Results

1. Cue Card 7/2

2. First Lieutentant 2/1

3. For Non Stop 12/1

2.30pm

Fashion watch: prize for the best Wednesday outfit is between a man in a purple velvet suit and 24-year-old Irishwoman Margaret Connolly from Mulligan.

She said: "I have had a great reaction to the outfit. If it was yesterday I'd be freezing but today the sun's out, which is grand."

2:05 Pertemps Final - Result

1. Holywell 25-1

2. Captain Sunshine 11-1

3. Jetson 10-1

4. Shutthefrontdoor 6-1

1:30 Jewson Novices Chase - Result

1.Benefficient 20-1

2.Dynaste 11-8 Fav

3.Changing Times 100-1

12.47pm

An excited flutter went around Cheltenham Racecourse when Pippa Middleton - sister of the Duchess of Cambridge - arrived for the racing at Cheltenham today.

She looks splendid in a mustard military style London Tori coat by Katherine Hooker.

Update from our reporter at the scene:

The Cheltenham track is looking great this morning with the sun shining.

Excitement is building among a group of students from Bristol - Claire Heming, 22, Tasha Taylor, 21, Emily Fowler, 22, Ian Dickinson, 22.

Ian Dickinson said: “This is our first time at the races. We’ve got a great view of the track and we are looking forward to the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.”

12.45pm

Traffic update at the racecourse: offials say the south car park is now full. Drivers will be directed to an alternative.

12.40pm

A racecourse spokesman has estimated that there are 50,000 people at the venue today - slightly down on the 53,000 drawn in yesterday to see mane attraction Sprinter Sacre gallop to victory.

12.30pm

From our reporter at the scene:

Actor James Nesbitt, whose horse Riverside Theatre runs in the Ryanair Chase at 2.40, said: "horses are more highly strung than actresses."

He added: "There are very few sports where we are all here from every walk of life to celebrate the sport we love and not just the individual."

Daytime TV host Jeremy Kyle has also been spotted near the parade ring.

12.15pm

Football pundit Chris Kamara has been seen soaking up the atmosphere at Prestbury Park.

11.30am

From our reporter on the scene at Prestbury Park:

The Irish atmosphere was welcomed to the racecourse with a fiddler on the balcony above the main gate and a leprechaun crafting inflated shamrocks for festival-goers.

Among the punters was a group of 12 from Reading in Berkshire led by 48-year-old Simon Preston who is visiting the Festival for his 10th time this year.

He said: “We have got a mixed bag of English, Irish and Scots with us today. The brandy has already been flowing this morning and we’ll be looking forward to getting stuck into the pints of Guinness later.

"We’re going to have a great day in the sunshine and I can’t wait for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle because I predict that we are going to have a new winner today.”

Colin McMann from Cardiff said: “It’s a wonderful sunny day for racing and I’m hoping to win a lot - especially on the sixth race.”

Julie Gillon from Cheltenham said: “It’s my third year here but I’m still a bit of an amateur but it’s sure to be a great day. I’m very excited.”

11am

CROSS-COUUNTRY COURSE FAILS INSPECTION.

The cross-country course will be inspected again at 2.15pm after failing to pass an inspection at 11am.

If the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Handicap Chase cannot go ahead today, course officials plan to run it as the final race on an eight-race card tomorrow.

However the official announcer has said the main course for hurdles and chases is good, good to soft in places.

10.40

Police say there is currently disruption to traffic on Libertus Road in Cheltenham due to taxis stopping irresponsibly. Officers are on their way there to move them on.

Traffic on other routes is believed to be moving smoothly.

Police are urging motorists to get into the spirit of the day.

A Tweet said: "If you’re travelling to the Races on the A40 to Prestbury today give our police biker an extra big smile – It’s his 40th birthday today!"

10.30

Former England football captain Tony Adams is reportedly set to be heading to the races today.

10am

Police say all routes to the racecourse are currently running smoothly as thousands people people converge on the town for the third day of the festival.

9.30am

Rumours are circulating that Pippa Middleton may be attending Cheltenham races today.

9am

After receiving seven reports of pick pockets operating at the racecourse yesterday, police are advising punters to keep their cash safe.

Superintendent Neil Mantle said: "We take reports of pick pockets on the course very seriously.

"I would ask those coming to the festival over the next couple of days to think about where they put their winnings and valuables and to make sure they keep them safe throughout the day."

8.30am

Racecourse chiefs have confirmed racing will go ahead as scheduled at Prestbury Park after the course survived an early morning inspection.

The decision is subject to a further inspection at 11am.

8am

Sub-zero overnight temperatures have left an early frost this morning meaning chiefs at Prestbury Park are due to hold a course inspection at 8am.

Results of the inspection will be published here as soon as they are released.