Cheltenham latest: Mullins takes three from three as The Nice Guy wins Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

On the final day of the 2022 festival, all eyes will be on the Gold Cup, with Rachael Blackmore hoping to take the plaudits aboard A Plus Tard.

Three races run before that, however, with a total of seven races on Friday's card.

Winner: The Nice Guy (Willie Mullins) - 18/1

THE NICE GUY makes it 3️⃣ on the day for @WillieMullinsNH winning the @albert_bartlett Novices' Hurdle!#TheFestival pic.twitter.com/vrfNltGPWq

— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 18, 2022

Winner: State Man (Willie Mullins) - 11/4

State Man continued the dominance of trainer Willie Mullins and piled on the misery for bookmakers at Cheltenham when powering up the hill to land a competitive renewal of the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle.

The inexperienced five-year-old, who fell in a maiden hurdle at Christmas and gained his first success in a Limerick maiden last month, was sent off the 11-4 favourite under Paul Townend.

His rider was cool under pressure, making stealthy headway down the hill and being produced between the last two flights of hurdles.

SO good from STATE MAN