Ga Law a poignant Cheltenham winner for a group of friends in Paddy Power Gold Cup

Ga Law swooped fast and late to snatch the spoils in a pulsating Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Only fourth with two fences to jump, the well-backed 5-1 shot stormed up the hill under Jonathan Burke to nab French Dynamite. The runner-up held a useful advantage at the final fence, but appeared to lose concentration as the pack gave chase.

Yet it took almost all of the run-in for the Jamie Snowden-trained Ga Law to master his brave rival by three quarters of a length.

It was a poignant result for the chaser's owners The Footie Partnership and trainer Jamie Snowden, whose Cheltenham Festival winner Present View finished third in the 2014 renewal.

The syndicate is named after their late friend Nick Foot, who loved attending race meetings at Prestbury Park.

"There were six of them that always used to come to Cheltenham, year in, year out," Snowden said.

Ga Law (left) charged home to defeat French Dynamite in the feature race (PA)

"Nick Foot died of cancer and they set up this partnership with the idea of coming back here hoping to win a big race at Cheltenham and here it is."

Ga Law's co-owner Michael Wainwright, managing director of Gold Cup sponsors Boodles, added: "We came here with Nick for many years and it's just a great shame he's not here today – he would have become a grandfather two days ago."

The front pair finished three lengths clear of Midnight River, who filled out final place in the £160,000 handicap chase.

Ga Law's rider Burke doubled up when Queen's Gamble (9-4f) routed the opposition in the Listed mares' bumper.

In the Grade 2 Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial, Banbridge (11-8f) jumped for fun to earn quotes of 12-1 for its namesake at the 2023 Festival.

Successful at last year's showpiece event, JJ Slevin's mount was unfazed by pace pressure and bounded clear by six lengths.

Racing results in full from Cheltenham on Saturday

12.35

1 Scriptwriter 4-1

2 Perseus Way 25-1

3 War Correspondent 11-2

1.10

1 Anightinlambourn 5-1

2 Punitive 14-1

3 Malina Girl 11-2

1.45

1 Banbridge 11-8f

2 Tommy's Oscar 5-2

2.20

1 Ga Law 5-1

2 French Dynamite 5-1

3 Midnight River 15-2

2.55

1 Annual Invictus 12-1

2 Fontana Ellissi 6-1

3 Sidi Ismael 11-1

3.30

1 Unanswered 2-1f

2 Wiseguy 5-2

3 Bourbali 16-1

4.05

1 Queen's Gamble 9-4f

2 Bonttay 100-30

3 Fortuna Ligna 40-1