DORSET ended the 2024 Cheltenham Festival without a winner as much-fancied Gidleigh Park failed to mount a challenge in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Harry Fry’s charge was unbeaten in four starts but, after travelling towards the back of the pack, never got going on heavy ground and finished sixth.

It meant Sam Ewing and Stellar Story pounced in the very last stride to inflict agony on The Jukebox Man.

The Ben Pauling-trained 18-1 outsider, who is owned by Harry Redknapp, had led the field along from flag fall in the hands of Kielan Woods, with Gordon Elliott’s shock 33-1 winner amongst those to track the pace setter.

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The sedate early gallop saw plenty in with chances as the runners descended towards two out, but one by one they dropped away as Woods upped the tempo aboard The Jukebox Man and made his bid for home.

Pauling’s charge held the advantage running down to the last, but the six-year-old got in tight and gave Ewing and Stellar Story a glimmer of hope and they took full advantage, rallying to reel in the brave runner-up in the shadow of the post.

Gidleigh Park did finish strongly up the hill but the winner was long gone.

Earlier, Fry’s other two chances of the day, Altobelli and Gin Coco, did not start the County Hurdle.

Dorset’s best finish across the four-day event went to west Dorset trainer Anthony Honeyball, who on day one claimed fourth in the National Hunt Chase thanks to Kilbeg King.