Happy Diva, the only mare in a field of 17, won the most prestigious race of her career in Saturday's Grade 2 BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham, the main race on the first of two days of jump racing at the famous western England track.

The weekend was scheduled for three days, but Friday's card was cancelled because of excessive rain.

Happy Diva (14-1) won by a neck over 20-1 Brelan d'As. Ridden by apprentice jockey Richard Patrick, who claims three pounds, Happy Diva carried 157 pounds in the chase at 2 1-2 miles over 15 fences. Us and Them, trained by Joseph O'Brien, was the 166-pound highweight.

Happy Diva, trained by Kerry Lee, was brought down by a fallen rival in this race last year, four fences from the finish. She later won a listed mares' chase at Huntingdon Racecourse in January of this year. An 8-year-old mare by King's Theatre, Happy Diva has won 7 of 30 starts over obstacles, including 5 of 16 starts in chases.

The BetVictor Gold Cup had a purse of $206,400, the richest race this weekend.

Happy Diva was the first filly or mare to win the BetVictor Gold Cup since Lady Cricket in 2000. The race has been run under various sponsors' names in the interim.