That's my boy! The Hobbit star James Nesbitt can't contain his joy as his horse wins the Peterborough Cup

PUBLISHED: 16:19 EST, 13 December 2013 | UPDATED: 17:00 EST, 13 December 2013

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Actor James Nesbitt was thrilled on Thursday when his horse won the Peterborough Cup.

The Northern Irish star, 48, yelled and whooped in delight as Riverside Theatre passed the finish line at the Huntingdon Racecourse in Cambridgeshire.

Looking the part in his green jacket, The Hobbit actor was thrilled to see his horse pass Champion Court and Captain Chris.

Come on! James Nesbitt cheers as his horse Riverside Theatre romps home to victory at the Peterborough Cup on Friday

Nesbitt told The Guardian: 'We've had such a good time out of him and he doesn't owe us anything at all, but you still can't help but have that visceral sickening knot. It was sensational.'

The horse's first win in nearly two years clearly boosted James' optimism, who joked: 'I'm free on Boxing Day,' as he alluded to the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

However, Riverside Theatre's trainer Nicky Henderson said: 'The King George certainly wouldn't strike me as the obvious thing to do, but as Jimmy says, he's got nothing else to do that day.'

Who's a beautiful boy! James checks on his horse after winning the Peterborough Chase

Yes! James goes through the emotions as he watches the race

Riverside Theatre won the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival back in March 2012.

The success comes after a difficult few months for the former Cold Feet star, who revealed he had separated from his wife Sonia Forbes-Adams in October.

Despite their split after 19 years of marriage and two children together, they remain on good terms.

Something for the trophy cabinet: James holds the Peterborough Cup

They attended the Berlin premiere of The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug on Monday as a family with their daughters Mary and Peggy.

The blame for the separation had been placed on Nesbitt's hectic work schedule, which saw him play
Bofur in Peter Jackson's Lord Of The Rings prequel - a job that was primarily based in new Zealand.

The couple - who met on a world tour of Hamlet in 1989 - tried to make their long-distance relationship work, with Sonia and both daughters relocating to be with Nesbitt down under.