Shropshire horse racing trainer Sheila Crow was today celebrating joining an exclusive list of county Cheltenham Festival successes – and dedicated the victory to her late husband Edward.

The prolific-point-to-point handler enjoyed the highlight of her training career when her charge Cappa Bleu won the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase yesterday.

The 11-2 second favourite was always handily placed during the 3m 2f contest and ran on strongly up the Cheltenham hill to win less than an hour after Kauto Star had claimed an historic Gold Cup victory.

It was Crow’s first ever Festival triumph and a maiden win for Shropshire-born jockey Richard Burton in a race widely regarded as the ‘Gold Cup for amateurs.’There was also plenty of emotion attached to the victory, with Sheila’s husband Edward dying last July.”Edward always wanted to have a Cheltenham winner – we both did – and he told me just to keep training them as I was,” said Sheila, whose yard is based at Hadnall near Shrewsbury.”I am sure he was there with us yesterday, pushing the horse along. That was for Edward.”Although a prolific point-to-point winner, there had been doubts Cappa Bleu would make the field because of a failure to compete under Rules due to adverse weather.StunningBut his place at Cheltenham was assured on Sunday and he took full advantage with a stunning performance.”The race went perfectly,” added Crow. “He was a bit green when he got in front but he stayed on up the hill and Richard gave him as super ride.”I am so pleased for Richard because he is a very nice young man.”It was such a special day. We had champagne at Cheltenham and then came back to the yard.”I have a wonderful team here and it’s been a real team effort.”I’ve been training for a long, long time and this is certainly the highlight.”Despite suggestions that Cappa Bleu may now be sent to Welsh National Hunt trainer Evan Williams, Crow refused to speculate on the seven-year-old’s long term future.But she did confirm that the Foxhunters Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree next month could be an option.Burton, who was born in Shrewsbury but now lives in Cheshire, was delighted with his third Festival win.He said: “He’s a very special horse. It was such a good effort and I’m a bit tired.”He found plenty and stayed on well.”"I was worried about getting there too early but he was always going so well.”After getting there so easy though he didn’t want to go after the last but he knuckled down eventually.”Crow and Burton are both due back in action at the Garnons point-to-point in Herefordshire tomorrow.