James Bowen quickly doubled his Cheltenham Festival haul after guiding 9/2 favourite Jingko Blue to a commanding BetMGM Cup success on Wednesday.

Backed into favouritism from a double-figure price in the morning, Bowen – who opened his Festival account in the final race on day one – was always in control aboard Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old as he made every yard.

A host of Irish challengers loomed, but Jingko Blue was never for catching as he stormed up the Cheltenham hill to give Henderson a third winner of the week.

“He’s not the most straightforward horse, he’s always a bit creeky, but he ran a good race in the Relkeel here on Trials day and to go and win a race like this he’s earnt his corn for the year anyway that’s for sure,” said the the Seven Barrows handler.

“It will keep Tony Barney (owner) quiet for at least a day, then on Friday, god knows what happens (with Jango Baie in the Gold Cup)!

“This horse just couldn’t jump fences and he was untidy enough over hurdles to be honest, but he was good today and it was a great piece of riding, because to make the running wasn’t in plan anything!

“Even James just said he ended up there and he’s actually quickened away at the end. Nobody else got into it in the end.”

HMS Seahorse, trained by Paul Nolan, was fatally injured in a fall at the final flight.