The pair flashed past the line almost inseparable, but Samcro rallied when he had to and won by barely a whisker - officially a nose - with admirable veteran Faugheen just a length behind in third.

The 2-1 shot, ridden by Paul Townsend, held off the challenge of Saint Calvados to secure the victory, with A Plus Tard rounding off the top three.

Simply The Betts proved that it's simply the best on Thursday with victory in the Stable Plate at Cheltenham Festival. 

The Champions League and Europa League could be suspended as UEFA consider action to combat the spread of coronavirus after domestic football in Italy and Spain was shut.

The third day of the Cheltenham Festival - St Patrick's Day - is set to be another thrilling one with the mighty Paisley Park in the feature race. Follow the action as it happens right here with Sportsmail.

Glamorous women turned heads in vibrant colours and standout coats as they arrived at Cheltenham Racecourse this morning.

Sportsmail's racing experts Robin Goodfellow, Peter Scudamore, Ken Pitterson and Jane Mangan share their tips for day four of the Cheltenham Festival featuring the Gold Cup.

The backing track as Paisley Park faded out of contention in the Stayers' Hurdle was the 'Sound of Silence' in the packed grandstands, but the seven-strong Racing For Fun syndicate didn't care. 

An estimated 70,000 racegoers are expected to flock to Cheltenham Racecourse (pictured) as PM Boris Johnson continues to refuse banning mass gatherings to combat coroanvirus.

SPECIAL REPORT BY KATE MCGREAVY: The Cheltenham Festival is in full swing. But what is all the fuss about? Sportsmail went behind the scenes to find out what makes the annual event so special.

The actress, 45, looked effortlessly chic in a cream coat and pink headband as she cosied up to her banker beau at the races on Thursday, amid rumours they've secretly got engaged.

The TV presenter, 44, oozed glamour as she attended day four of the Cheltenham Festival alongside Victoria Pendleton on Friday.

Saint Roi landed a gamble to continue a superb Festival for connections with a convincing victory in the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Smile singer, 34, looked effortlessly chic in a long tartan trench coat and a pair of black trousers.

The festival has gone ahead despite fears of the deadly virus which has decimated this weekend's Premier League football and international rugby fixtures.

Monkfish was victorious in the Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham after squeezing through on the line in a thrilling race. Latest Exhibition and Fury Road took second and third spot.

Willie Mullins revealed his delight after Al Boum's Gold Cup success saw him win his first four races at Cheltenham Festival on Friday. His incredible feat would've commanded odds of 2179/1.

The reality star, 25, was effortlessly chic in a stylish tartan cape as she watched on the races from the balcony with Ollie, 32.

Zara and Mike Tindall beamed and stood with their arms wrapped around each other as they posed for photos at the start of a final day of fun at the Cheltenham Festival.

It Came To Pass caused a mighty 66-1 upset in the St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup at Cheltenham. It was a family affair, as the winner is trained in County Cork by Eugene O'Sullivan.

Guests turned up the glamour as they arrived for the final day at the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire today, brushing aside coronavirus fears. 

Indefatigable won the final event at the Cheltenham Festival after pipping Pileon in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle. There was a long pause as the crowd eagerly awaited.

The final day of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival - Gold Cup Day - is here. What a week it's been on the track so far. Follow all the live action from the seven races with Sportsmail.

If anyone doubted whether Paul Townend had the ability and the nerve to take over from the most successful jockey in Cheltenham Festival history, they know now.

For 30 years Steve Packham has been dreaming of owning a winning horse at Cheltenham, only for the reality to be snatched away from him in a couple of seconds.

Autumn, 41, and Peter Phillips, 44, appeared to be on good terms as they enjoyed the final day of the Cheltenham Festival together - despite announcing their split last month.

Arriving ahead of the Gold Cup today with his wife Zara Phillips, the Queen's eldest granddaughter, Tindall said: 'Do I feel that cancelling everything is going to solve it? I'm not entirely sure.'

Jamie Moore said he was still 'distraught' on Friday after the cruel episode in which he was unseated from Goshen with the Triumph Hurdle in the bag on the last day of the Cheltenham Festival.

SPORTS AGENDA: It would appear to have been a week of cock-ups by sporting authorities. UEFA sent out a tweet announcing that it would still be 'Euro 2020' next year, before backtracking. 

Trainer Nicky Henderson is formulating a plan to send Champ back to jumping school with former trainer Henrietta Knight ahead of a potential shot at the biggest jumps prizes next season.

Racing Post will temporarily stop publication of their daily newspaper for the first time since its inception in 1986 due to impact on the sport from the deadly coronavirus pandemic.  

The racing event came under criticism at the time for allowing thousands of racegoers to huddle together, risking a spread of the virus. Over 250,000 people attended the Cheltenham Festival.

The Cheltenham Festival may feel like a lifetime ago but here SAM TURNER (Robin Goodfellow) has highlighted six horses which look likely to make an impact at next season's Festival.

Andrew Parker Bowles has revealed he has coronavirus and believes he contracted it at the Cheltenham Festival (pictured, the Duchess of Cornwall's ex-husband with Princess Anne).

The world-famous Cheltenham racing festival in Gloucestershire went ahead last month despite fears over the spread of the virus which was then in its early stages in Britain.

Cheltenham Festival organisers have defended their decision to go ahead with the meeting after fears were raised that the mass gathering of people helped spread the coronavirus

Cheltenham Festival went ahead two weeks before the lockdown, but there was a debate at the time if it should be scrapped after other sporting events were called off.

IAN HERBERT: Looking back now, those last few innocent days in the Cotswolds seem extraordinary - faintly comical you might even say, were it not for the gravity of all that followed.

Retired champion jockey Sir AP McCoy said horse racing had followed UK government advice to go ahead last month with the Cheltenham Festival that saw 250,000 people gather over four days.

David Hunter, professor of population health at Oxford, condemned the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' attitude among ministers, while scientists have repeatedly pressed the 'panic button'.

It has emerged that Philip Davies and Caroline Nokes received eight tickets between them from sports betting company GVC Holdings, which owns Ladbrokes and Coral, for the event.

Racing has faced criticism for staging Cheltenham just before the coronavirus shutdown, but the sport should be 'proud' if it is the first to re-start when restrictions are eased by the Government..

NHS figures show the local hospital trust in Gloucestershire has had 125 patients die from COVID-19, nearly double the amount recorded in Bristol, 58, Swindon, 67, and Bath, 46.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust has recorded 125 deaths from the disease so far, more than double those in nearby Swindon with 67, Bristol on 58 and Bath on 46.

Cheltenham Festival went ahead just 10 days before lockdown measures were introduced by the government and experts want an inquiry to see if it caused a spike in positive tests in Gloucestershire.

67-year-old landlord Alexander Grierson died after contracting coronavirus during the Cheltenham festival. Calls are being made to investigate why the races went ahead.

Two of this season's successful Cheltenham Festival riders are maintaining their lockdown fitness by partnering some of Ireland's most choicely bred and speediest thoroughbreds.

We had a 25 hour delay to Mexico, we applied for compensation and were told it was on its way via BACs, then a few days later Thomas Cook folded. Will I get it?

I asked Virgin if it would cancel my partner's phone if I sent it back. It said I couldn't cancel until December 2018 as it was in my name, so I would have to continue to pay for the two phones.

The cost of my car insurance with More Than increased dramatically to £325. On a comparison site, I found More Than cover for £214. I chose this and paid by credit card.