
Gold Cup: Native River won the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup, jump racing's blue riband event, after an epic duel for more than two circuits with pre-race favorite Might Bite.

Long overdue: Winning jockey Richard Johnson, 40, saluted his "fantastic horse" -- trained by Colin Tizzard -- after winning his second Gold Cup 18 years after his first on Looks Like Trouble in 2000.

Triumphant Jack: Irish jockey Jack Kennedy, 18, secured his fourth win of the week, riding Farclas to victory for trainer Gordon Elliott over hot favorite Apple's Shakira in Friday's JCB Triumph Hurdle. Elliott was the Festival's top trainer with a record-equaling eight wins.

Pain barrier: Teenage jockey Harriet Tucker said she dislocated her shoulder on the final jump on Pacha du Polder in the Foxhunter Chase. That didn't stop her holding out for her first ever Cheltenham victory and second in a row for the horse.

Maiden victory: Earlier in the day, Harry Cobden won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle on Kilbricken Storm for his first ever Cheltenham Festival victory.

History maker: On Thursday, the 12-1 shot Penhill, ridden to victory in the Stayers' Hurdle by Paul Townend, put trainer Willie Mullins level with Nicky Henderson on the all-time list for most Cheltenham wins.

Ryanair Chase: Chestnut gelding Balko Des Flos, ridden by Davy Russell for trainer Henry de Bromhead, produced another shock in the Ryanair Chase, overcoming odds-on favorite Un De Sceaux.

Triumphant teen: Kennedy secured another win at Cheltenham Thursday, riding Shattered Love to victory in the JLT Novices' Hurdle.
![<strong>Team effort: </strong>"She's done it so easily today!" said Kennedy, who became the Festival's leading jockey with the win. "Thanks to Gordon [Elliott] and the team, they've been so good for me."](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/180315150311-jack-kennedy-riding-shattered-love-cheltenham-racecourse.jpg?q=w_4928,h_3280,x_0,y_0,c_fill/h_447)
Team effort: "She's done it so easily today!" said Kennedy, who became the Festival's leading jockey with the win. "Thanks to Gordon [Elliott] and the team, they've been so good for me."

Top class: Even favorite Altior, trained by Nicky Henderson, defied an injury scare earlier in the week to confirm his status as one of the best of his generation with victory in Wednesday's showpiece Queen Mother Champion Chase.

World's apart: Nico de Boinville and Altior struggled with the heavy ground but surged clear at the end to win by a distance.

Turning heads: The Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall, an Olympic silver medal-winning equestrian rider, is a regular visitor to the Cheltenham Festival

He's behind you: Jockey Mark Walsh drives 20-1 shot Bleu Berry (right) past Topofthegame en route to victory in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle.

Cheers of the crowd: Jockey Davy Russell celebrates winning on impressive favorite Presenting Percy in the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase, a Grade 1 race and possible launch pad for a future Gold Cup campaign.

Steam age: Racegoers arrive in style on the historic Merchant Navy class Penisular and Oriental steam train at Cheltenham Racecourse station.

Here come the girls: Hats and high fashion are the order of the day on Ladies' Day at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Royal occasion: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is another noted racing fan in the royal household.

Tiger line: Cheltenham stalwart Tiger Roll (left, maroon/white) won his third career race at the Festival with victory in the Glenfarclas Steeple Chase.

Irish eyes smile: Samcro, ridden by Jack Kennedy, trained by Gordon Elliott and owned by Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, confirms his billing as "banker of the Festival" with victory for Ireland in the opening race, the Novices' Hurdle, Wednesday.

Packed house: Wednesday is Ladies Day at the Festival and the grandstands were crammed for another thrilling day of National Hunt racing.

Champion hurdler: Buveur D'Air, ridden by Barry Geraghty, lived up to favorite tag as he scored a second straight Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, the feature race on day one of jump racing's showpiece Cheltenham Festival.

Ladies first: Lizzie Kelly rode Coo Star Sivola to victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

Launch pad: Favorite Footpad, ridden by Irishman jockey Ruby Walsh, triumphed by 14 lengths in the Arkle Chase on day one. Walsh, who broke his leg in November, has been the top jockey at the Festival 11 times, due in large part to his partnership with Irish trainer Willie Mullins.

Light and shade: Success for some, despair for others as punters pack the Cheltenham grandstands for the 2018 Festival.

Curtain up: The 2018 Cheltenham Festival opened to the traditional roar from the massed ranks of punters who watched Summerville Boy win the opening Novice's Hurdle.

Cheesy grin: Summerville Boy echoes the feeling of the jump racing world as another Cheltenham Festival gets under way in the English Cotswolds.