Cheltenham Festival 2017 – Fayonagh comes from nowhere to win the Champion Bumper and give Jamie Codd and Gordon Elliott a double on the day
FAYONAGH came from the clouds to land the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
Gordon Elliott's mare was a 7-1 shot and though she badly missed the start, the six-year-old fairly flew home under star amateur Jamie Codd and was ultimately well on top at the line.
The victory completed doubles on the day for Elliott and Codd following the earlier success of Cause Of Causes in the Glenfarclas Chase and takes the trainer's tally to the week to five with two days to go.
Elliott said: "Five winners in two days? I can't believe it."
The Mags Mullins-trained Debuchet filled the runner-up spot, a length and a quarter away, with Nicky Henderson's Claimantakinforgan best of the British in third.
Elliott added: "In fairness to Jamie Codd, he bought the mare and he recommended that she be trained by me, so many thanks to him.
"When she hit the hill she was last - she's something else.
"I was worried about the ground. We were going to go to Sandown the other day but I said to the owners that she's won a LIsted race so we may as well go to Cheltenham.
"I can't believe it."