Norman Williamson finished second on Rhinestone Cowboy

But he appeared to hamper the heavily-backed favourite inside the final furlong as he came under challenge.

Norman Williamson had already switched Rhinestone Cowboy wide when held up in traffic coming down the straight.

And as he pulled level with Pizarro, Spencer's mount hung right and appeared to squeeze him against the rails.

The horses brushed again inside the final 100 yards before Pizarro crossed the line a neck in front.

The bell for a stewards' inquiry sounded immediately and legions of favourite-backers howled their displeasure when the incident was replayed.

But the judges decided that any interference had not affected the result and Pizarro kept the race.

Full result 1740

1. Pizarro (JP Spencer) 14-1
2. Rhinestone Cowboy (N Williamson) 5-2 Fav
3. Back In Front (C Swan) 12-1
Also: 4. Thisthatandtother (TJ Murphy) 8-1

1705 - Mildmay of Fleet Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (two miles, four furlongs, 110 yards)

Martin Pipe saddled the first two home in the Mildmay of Flete as Blowing Wind beat favourite Lady Cricket in the final strides.

The 1998 County Hurdle winner came with a late run to see Tony McCoy denied at the finish yet again in this Festival.

Blowing Wind was Martin Pipe's second winner

Its Time For A Win ran third for Irish trainer Willie Mullins with Strong Run fourth.

McCoy took Lady Cricket to the front at the third last as second favourite Foly Pleasant began to crack behind him.

Its Time For A Win went with him but McCoy's trademark driving finish looked set to prove decisive.

Blowing Wind, however, was mounting a late challenge on the stands side and chased down Lady Cricket relentlessly.

Ruby Walsh brought the 25-1 shot through to head McCoy inside the final 50 yards and took victory by a length and a quarter.

Full result 1705

1. Blowing Wind (R Walsh) 25-1
2. Lady Cricket (AP McCoy) 5-2 Fav
3. Its Time For A Win (DJ Casey) 16-1
Also: 4. Strong Run (P Carberry) 14-1

1630 - National Hunt Chase Cup (four miles)

A superbly judged ride from JT McNamara gave Rith Dubth a narrow win in the amateur riders' marathon.

McNamara produced the 10-year-old late to beat Timbera by a head after travelling well throughout the four-mile race.

Irish challenger Silver Steel finished third with French-bred horse Oa Baldixe fourth.

Rith Dubth needs to be held up and brought to the front as late as possible.

And McNamara followed those instructions perfectly to give Istabraq owner JP McManus his first winner of the day.

Favourite Mister Bigtime had lost touch with the leaders by the final turn, when Rith Dubth and Timbera made the decisive move.

Both horses ran on well but McNamara proved the better judge when swooping late to touch off the third favourite.

Full result 1630

1. Rith Dubh (Mr JT McNamara) 10-1
2. Timbera (Mr DN Russell) 8-1
3. Silver Steel (Mr AP Crowe) 12-1
Also: 4. Oa Baldixe (Mr AJ Martin) 9-1
Fav: Mister Bigtime (Mr P Fenton) 6-1

1555 - Royal & SunAlliance Chase (three miles, 110 yards)

Hussard Collonges held off a strong finish from Tony McCoy on Iznogoud to land the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

McCoy began to nibble away at Russ Garritty's lead on the run-in at the end of a gruelling three miles.

But the 33-1 shot stayed on to become the longest priced winner in 74 runnings of this novice chase.

Hussard Collonges wins under jockey Russ Garritty

Chives, another 33-1 outsider, finished third with Frosty Canyon fourth.

Coming to the second last, however, it looked like the prize would be heading for France.

With market leader Colonel Braxton making little impression in mid-division, Pau-trained Japhet looked to be travelling well in third.

Benoit Gicquel had given the five-year-old a smooth ride but the partnership came unstuck with a spectacular fall at the second last.

That left Hussard Collonges and Iznogoud to fight out the finish.

The winner struck for home first and held off the late challenge of McCoy.

Full result 1555

1. Hussard Collonges (R Garritty) 33-1
2. Iznogoud (AP McCoy) 14-1
3. Chives (R Guest) 33-1
Also: 4. Frosty Canyon (D Gallagher) 8-1
Fav: Colonel Braxton (N Williamson) 4-1

1515 - Coral Eurobet Cup Hurdle (two miles, five furlongs)

Trainer Martin Pipe found his first winner of the Festival in its ninth race when Ilnamar ran away with the Coral Eurobet Cup.

The former chaser slipped the field turning for home and galloped 12 lengths clear by the time he cleared the final hurdle.

Second favourite Joss Naylor pulled him back to eight lengths by the finish with Master Tern third under Tony Dobbin.

But while Pipe finally got off the mark, champion jockey Tony McCoy suffered another disappointment.

His mount Golden Alpha started favourite but failed to settle and never mounted a serious challenge for the lead.

Full result 1515

1. Ilnamar (R Greene) 25-1
2. Joss Naylor (L Cooper) 13-2
3. Master Tern (A Dobbin) 8-1
Also: 4. Stromness (R Thornton) 12-1
Fav: Golden Alpha (AP McCoy) 11-2

1435 - Queen Mother Champion Chase (two miles)

Flagship Uberalles justified his favouritism for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with a game victory under jockey Richard Johnson.

Native Upmanship crept up to take second from outsider Cenkos.

And defending champion Edredon Bleu stayed on after looking well beaten to finish fourth.

Richard Johnson celebrates his victory

Softening ground overnight saw Flagship Uberalles supplant Edredon Bleu at the top of the betting, starting at 7-4 while his rival drifted from 3-1 to 5-1.

But the new favourite had plenty to do coming round the final turn as leaders Cenkos and fellow outsider Latalomne went for home.

However, Latalomne came to grief at the second last and Cenkos began to tire as Johnson brought the 1999 Arkle winner to challenge.

Flagship Uberalles, third in the last running of this race, galloped ahead on the run-in and battled up the hill to take a convincing victory.

However, Johnson paid a price for his driving finish in the stewards' room afterwards.

The winning jockey was banned for four days for excessive use of the whip.

Full result 1435

1. Flagship Uberalles (R Johnson) 7-4 Fav
2. Native Upmanship (C O'Dwyer) 9-1
3. Cenkos (TJ Murphy) 66-1
Also: 4. Edredon Bleu (AP McCoy) 5-1

1400 - Royal & SunAlliance Novice Hurdle (two miles, five furlongs)

Polish-bred hurdler Galileo produced an emphatic finish to win the opening race on the Festival's second day.

Irish raider Over The Bar held on to edge out 66-1 shot Lanzerac in the photo for second.

And the Martin Pipe-Tony McCoy team got off to another losing start when favourite Classified could only manage fourth.

Tony McCoy rode beaten favourite Classified

Lanzerac had made the early running before Classified and Over The Bar moved into prominent positions on the second circuit.

Galileo, winner of the Polish St Leger, had won his hurdles debut by powering away from the field on the run-in at Kempton 18 days earlier.

And he repeated the trick here, hitting the front over the last and running on to put several lengths between him and Over The Bar by the finish.

But, as on the first day, there was tragedy.

Second favourite Rouble had to be put down after slipping on the downhill stretch of the first circuit and breaking both forelegs.

Keen Leader also suffered a crashing fall when challenging at the second last.

He brought down Ballyhampshire Boy and Tarxien with him, but all escaped unscathed.

Full result 1400

1. Galileo (JM Maguire) 12-1
2. Over The Bar (N Williamson) 14-1
3. Lanzerac (P Flynn) 66-1
Also: 4. Classified (AP McCoy) 5-1 Fav