It seemed amazing after the build up, the excitement and the sadness that there were still four races to go. The Christie's Foxhunter 'Chase is run over the same course and distance as the Gold Cup before it. It is the highlight of the year for amateur riders. This year it was won by Cavalero, a horse now aimed at the Grand National. His jockey Alex Charles-Jones, an equine artist, didn't believe he could win until he reached the last fence, having spent most of the race nearer to the rear of the field.

Norman Williamson had a slight compensation for not being on board Looks Like Trouble when the Venetia Williams trained Samakaan took the Grand Annual Chase ahead of Joe Tizzard and Green Green Desert, despite being hampered by loose horses.

Stormyfairweather became only the second horse of the Festival to reclaim his title from last year. In the Cathcart 'Chase he was ridden beautifully by Mick Fitzgerald, who was having his fourth win of the meeting. The eight year old led from start to finish, although many tried to take him.

The final race, though I will admit to being rather hazy on the finer details by this time, was won by J.P. McManus' 'supposedly' second string horse, Master Tern. I say supposedly because although he was wearing J.P.'s second string colours, the five year old was sent off 9/2 favourite. In fact the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle proved a good finale to the day's racing as it provided the most closely fought finish when Tony Dobbin just managed to keep the youngster's neck ahead of Andy Thornton and Danegold.

Guinness is very prominent at an event the Irish have always made their own

It had seemed a long day, but one full of excitement. For next year my resolution is to see more of the off-course entertainment. The Guinness Village, with all its Irish bands and entertainers, the tented arcade behind the Village full of excellent places to spend money, and The Cheltenham Experience where it is possible to sample the feel of riding a horse at race on the Equicisor - apparently it gives on-lookers quite a giggle too!

And so to bed. Having consumed rather more than my fair share of bubbly and having worked a night shift I was more than ready for it. After all, I had to get my beauty sleep to be at my best for all the St Patrick's Day parties!

The author quaffing a glass of the limitless champagne

About the Author and Photographer Helen Revington was born in Tennessee, U.S.A "a long time ago". Her passion for horses is life-long and she started riding aged three. Nowadays she lives in Gloucestershire, England and has to juggle her life between being a full time Registered Nurse, working for various equestrian publications and trying to train her young horse. Her work has been published in Horse and Hound, Dressage magazine and Eventing Magazine, indeed it is in the field of eventing that she tends to specialise. Her photographs have not only been published in magazines but also in books such as The Olympic Eventing Masterclass and Cross-Country Masterclass. Helen has competed in many equestrian disciplines and has had successes in ridden and in-hand showing, Carriage Driving, Show Jumping and Eventing. Her young horse "All Systems Go", known to friends as "Buttons" will hopefully begin pre-novice eventing later this year. Stephen Sparkes is also an experienced rider and has competed in Eventing for "...a good few years." His long time equestrian partner, Just For Fun, is now in semi-retirement but he has a young horse by the Thoroughbred stallion Golden Heights who he hopes to event in 2001. Known to his friends as Winston "Sparkes Will Fly" is already 17 hh and looks set to end up with his head in the clouds. Both Helen and Stephen are available for photographic work and can be contacted at photo@revspark.demon.co.uk or at: 15, Kitesnest Lane Lightpill, Stroud Gloucestershire GL5 3PQ or by phone/fax on: 01453 758685