Judge failed to separate the pair in a pulsating finish!

After two miles and a furlong around the Cheltenham new course, the judge failed to separate Quantock Hills and Teriferma, leaving brothers Sean and James Bowen to share the spoils in the opener at Prestbury Park.

James Bowen looked to have the prize in the bag when Warren Greatrex-trained Quantock Hills produced another fine leap at the last to move into what looked like a decisive advantage, but his brother Sean was having none of it and conjured a late rally from an 18/1 chance Teriferma, who finished with a real flourish to force a photo finish crossing the line.

Gavin Cromwell's Irish raider Total Look, who was sent off the 11/8 market leader on the back of a smooth winning debut success at Navan last month, finished a neck behind in third after racing freely in the early stages.

"It's a bit of a family affair for the Bowens, and our fellow is a lovely horse," said Warren Greatrex. "He never ran on the Flat and he's just inexperienced really. He travelled through the race very well and I think he's got a very bright future.

"He just wandered when he hit the front – it's a big place when you come here for the first time.

"I thought we'd won initially and then I thought we were beat. He was on his own, so he had nothing to run with, but he's a good horse, I'd say.

"He could be a horse for the Boodles (Juvenile Handicap Hurdle). I think he'll be better on softer ground; he looked the winner from a long way out and we've just got there a bit too soon really, I suppose."

He added: "That's two runners and two winners at Cheltenham this season for us now – I might not come back! Obviously, what happened to Abuffalosoldier at the last meeting was very sad, but he won and showed everyone what he could do that day. It's part of the job, unfortunately."

Fellow winning trainer, Jack Jones, who won the race last season with An Bradan Feasa, said: "Very happy, it's a bit of a strange feeling having a dead-heat, but I suppose it's a winner, isn't it?

"It was very pleasing. I think if he'd finished second, if he'd dead-heated or if he'd won outright, he was probably the one to take out of the race from where we were and how we hit the line.

"It's funny because we actually underbid on Quantock Hills in France, which is very strange, and for the two Bowen boys to be dead-heating as well.

"We've had our horse two or three months now and he's been very straightforward. We won this race last year with An Bradan Feasa, who would be a bit more of a thinker I suppose, whereas this lad is a gent.

"Sean said he jumped a bit big, and we were slightly on the back foot. He missed three out and was a bit further back than ideal due to his jumping, but the way he's finished, you'd rather be coming up that hill than slowing up and I'm delighted.

"I thought we were massively overpriced. He'd won two hurdle races and finished second with a big weight, so I don't know how we've gone off at 18-1.