Tony McCoy (right) comes through and wins at a frosty Chltenham

Can't Buy Time won a thrilling Victorchandler.com Handicap Chase at Cheltenham's New Year's Day meeting.

With five withdrawals from the main event because of ground concerns, Tony McCoy pushed his mount at the finish to beat Private Be and Mister McGoldrick.

Timmy Murphy rode Seven Is My Number beyond only rival Pigeon Island to win the earlier Dipper Novices' Chase.

After freezing temperatures overnight, the course needed two inspections before the meeting got the go-ahead.

The cards at Exeter, Catterick and Fakenham had already fallen victim to the weather.

With a number of jockeys and trainers expressing their concerns about the going, the Dipper was subject to several non-runners, including favourite Punchestowns.

606: DEBATE the amount of non runners I think is disgusting jejquade

Murphy rode David Pipe's horse Seven Is My Number to a comfortable victory in a race that involved just two runners.

A crowd of more than 20,000 at the meeting at Prestbury Park witnessed a dramatic finish to the £50,000 Grade Three Victorchandler.com Handicap Chase.

In a wide open contest, Fit To Drive fell four fences out, bringing down I'm So Lucky and Hold Em, to leave Can't Buy Time, Chapoturgeon and Mister McGoldrick all within a chance with one to go.

But Jonjo O'Neill's horse came through, holding off strong-finishing Private Be by two and a quarter lengths, ahead of Mister McGoldrick by a further two and a half lengths.

A delighted McCoy said: "He is a genuine horse and a good jumper."

Frost covers were used overnight, with temperatures dropping below -5C degrees, and an initial ground inspection at 1000 GMT proved to be inconclusive.

But a second look at 1130 - just 90 minutes before the meeting's scheduled start - showed significant progress.

Cheltenham spokesman Andy Clifton said the ground was "soft, heavy in places".

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