Coneygree, ridden by Nico de Boinville, won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his first appearance in jump racing's blue riband event Friday.

The Mark Bradstock-trained 7-1 shot fought off a late challenge from Djakadam, ridden by Ruby Walsh, who finished second at 10-1, and Road To Riches, the 8-1 chance, who was third.

– GALLERY: Gold Cup day at Cheltenham

Jonjo O'Neill-trained Holywell finished fourth at the showpiece event in the four-day Cheltenham National Hunt Festival.

The eight-year-old Coneygree, running for just the fourth time over fences, pushed out for an early lead and dominated the 22-jump field as the favourites fell by the wayside.

Irish trainer Willie Mullins just missed out on a first Gold Cup win with Djakadam after enjoying a sensational meeting with six winners on the first three days.

Former winner Tony McCoy finished ninth on Carlingford Lough, two places behind pre-race favourite Silviniaco Conti, with former winners Bobs Worth (2013) and Lord Windermere (2014) falling off at the back.

Silviniaci Conti fell in 2013 and finished fourth last year, but was the 3-1 favourite after winning his second King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

It was 19-time champion jockey McCoy's last Gold Cup before retirement – he  won it twice before with Synchronised in 2012 and Mr Mulligan in 1997.