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Armaturk held off the fast-finishing Well Chief to win the Beards Jewellers Cup, the big race on the opening day of Cheltenham's Open meeting.

Arkle Chase winner Well Chief had been previously unbeaten in chases and looked to have no chance two out as Armaturk and Tysou battled for the lead.

However, under jockey Timmy Murphy, the 15-8 favourite put in a late challenge up the Cheltenham hill to eat into Armaturk's lead as Tysou faded.

But the line just came in time for Armaturk and his in-form jockey Christian Williams, who held on to win by a head.

Armaturk was trainer Paul Nicholls' second string in the race, the more-fancied Cenkos falling under Ruby Walsh early on the second circuit.

He was a bit sticky over the first few fences but it wasn't a bad run Martin Pipe on Well Chief

Nicholls said: "Armaturk has improved so much for having a breathing operation. I'm not sure where we will go now, but he absolutely has to go left-handed and I suppose the Castleford Chase (at Wetherby) could be a possibility."

There was a sting in the tail for Williams, who was fined �250 - as was Tony McCoy - for attempting to anticipate the start and causing a delay to the race.

And the 21-year-old conditional jockey's day ended on a worse note when he broke his collarbone after falling in the last race of the day.

Well Chief's trainer Martin Pipe was not too downbeat after seeing his horse just lose out to Armaturk.

"He was a bit sticky over the first few fences but it wasn't a bad run and he will improve a bit for it," said the champion trainer.

There was drama earlier when Spot Thedifference won the Sporting Index Cross Country Chase after favourite Registana took the wrong course.

The Czech-trained Registana, twice winner of the famous Velka Pardubica steeplechase in her native country, was going well in the 3m 7f marathon, which is run around a course in the centre of the Prestbury Park track.

Spot Thedifference (extreme left) tracks the leaders in an eventful cross country chase

But her German jockey Peter Gehm lost his way coming to the second last and the 9-4 favourite jumped the wrong obstacle, resulting in immediate disqualification.

Spot Thedifference, ridden by amateur JT McNamara, took full advantage to pip 50-1 shot Star Performance on the run-in to claim victory.

The winner, trained in Ireland by Enda Bolger, could now return for the inaugural cross-country chase at the Cheltenham Festival next March.

Stewards held an inquiry after the race and banned Gehm for 10 days.

The jockey admitted: "The horse did all the work, but I messed up. I walked the course, but I had the wrong track in my mind. I rode the way I thought it was."

But he added: "I'm not sure we would have won. The ground was a bit too soft for her."

Pipe completed a 14-1 double when even-money favourite Comply or Die won the Steel Plates and Sections Novices' Chase

Comply or Die remains a 12-1 shot for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in March.

Pipe's Marcel earlier clocked up a sixth straight win when claiming the Sharp Novices' Hurdle.

The horse, ridden by Timmy Murphy, triumphed by two-and-a-half lengths from Baby Run despite drifting in the market to start as a 5-1 chance.