Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Silver Streak failed by a neck to catch the bottom weighted Nietzsche in the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (writes Brian Lee).

The race was worth more than £56,000 to the winner.

Ridden by stable jockey Adam Wedge, five-year-old Silver Streak, a 12-1 chance in a field of 20 runners, seemed to be catching the 20-1 chance on the long run to the winning post,  but the task of giving 1st, 5lbs to the winner was just too much.

“The horse ran a great race and I thought he was going to get there,” said trainer Evan Williams. “The race I wanted to win was the Welsh Champion Hurdle, which he won. But we were beaten fair and square today.’

“We are not worried about the ground, but the handicapper will probably step us up in the handicap races. 

“We will probably dip our toe into a conditions race somewhere.” 

Welsh rider Lorcan Williams riding the top weighted Old Guard took third place and another Welsh rider, Pembrokeshire’s James Bowen, won the Open National Hunt Flat race on the Colin Tizzard trained Master Debonair.

The Welsh point-to-point season starts on Sunday with the Curre & Llangibby Hunt Steeplechases at Howick, near Chepstow.