HARRY Fry’s Bitofapuzzle landed third spot and came within a neck of causing an upset in the Mare’s Hurdle on the inaugural day of the Cheltenham Festival yesterday.

Travelling well throughout under Noel Fehily, she stayed on impressively up the hill to be narrowly denied in a photo finish with Glens Melody and Polly Peachum.

Elsewhere on the card, Fry’s Jollyallan was outpaced and failed to sparkle in the curtain-raising Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Stablemate Mendip Express came 17th of 21 finishers in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase, while Colin Tizzard’s Theatre Guide weakened to 11th place.

Tomorrow at Prestbury Park, the ever-competitive Coral Cup (2.40pm) includes Fry’s Activial, a progressive sort who comes to the race by way of a third place in last month’s valuable Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury.

Later in the afternoon, the Tizzards will saddle seasoned campaigner Hey Big Spender in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (4.00pm).

Echosport also spoke to Mosterton’s Anthony Honeyball, who saddles two runners with chances later in the week in the shape of Regal Encore and Chill Factor.

Commenting on his yard’s form, he said: “We’ve had four winners in February, gone past our biggest prize money total, and we’re going to beat our best ever winner’s tally too.”