Racing: Paul Carberry had to endure finishing second in the Champion Hurdle, and in the opener on Wild Passion, but there was no such endurance test for his 20-year-old sister, Nina, who re-wrote the Cheltenham record books with success on Dabiroun in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

After a disastrous start for the Irish, the newly installed races at the end of the day provided a hugely upbeat finish as Spot Thedifference also carried the JP McManus colours to a brave success in the Sporting Index Cross Country Chase.

He was a popular 4 to 1 shot, but it was the unconsidered 20 to 1 outsider Dabiroun who bounded up the hill to provide trainer Paul Nolan with his own first festival winner in the last.

However, Nolan, whose Accordion Etoile was fourth in the Champion, had no hope of competing for the attention that was justly focused on Dabiroun's jockey.

Ratoath-based Carberry was riding just her 22nd winner in all, but this put the seal on a reputation that was already soaring. It was her first festival ride and only her second at Cheltenham. That ended up with her being unseated at the first, but she joined an elite group here with only the fourth success for a woman rider at the festival.

"That is a dream come true. I came here to enjoy myself but this is unbelievable," said Carberry, who will ride the fancied Karanja in today's bumper.

She is the latest member of her family to win at Cheltenham, and her triple-Gold Cup winning father, Tommy, gave her advice before going out.

"Dad advised me but I always felt I had them covered. I heard someone shout 'Go on Nina, you have it won', so I thought I'd better get on with it," added the 5lb claimer. "Paul was unlucky today. Hardy Eustace was just too hardy."

Spot Thedifference had to carry topweight in the inaugural running of the gruelling marathon that twisted around the Cheltenham infield for almost four miles. But despite being last at half-way, top amateur John Thomas McNamara galvanised Spot Thedifference through the field to lead at the last and beat Luzcadou by two and a half lengths.

It was a third course win for the horse, who continued the run of success by trainer Enda Bolger in these unique races.

"He's in the National but he will probably run instead in the La Touche at Punchestown and try for the €50,000 bonus for winning both races," said Bolger. "His owner is stuck for a few quid!"

It was a good end to a day that started badly for the visitors. Wild Passion did best of the Irish novices in the Supreme but he had nothing left to cope with the late run of Arcalis, who provided Galway's Graham Lee with a first festival winner.

War Of Attrition could trail in only seventh in the Arkle behind the winner, Contraband, who gave Martin Pipe and owner David Johnson a fourth success in the race.

"He jumped super and travelled great, but on this ground, in this company, two miles is probably a bit sharp for him," reported War Of Attrition's jockey, Conor O'Dwyer.

Watson Lake did best of the Irish in fourth, but an afternoon that provided nothing but frustration for Paul Carberry will be unforgettable for his little sister.