THEY MAY HAVE suffered disappointment in the opening race of the day but Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh dominated the opening day of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival yet again.
Claiming three of the four Grade One races on the card, including the Stan James Champion Hurdle, Mullins and Walsh made sure favourite backers went home mostly happy.
As the characteristic roar got the festival under way, Altior (4/1) put in an impressive performance of jumping and speed to claim the opening race of the 2016 Cheltenham festival for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
Race favourite Min (15/8) made a number of jumping mistakes over the course of the two mile Supreme Novices’ hurdle but would have been no match for Altior even if he had jumped cleanly as the winner claimed a seven length victory.
Altior’s stablemate, Buveur d’Air (10/1) stayed on well for third to claim a first victory in the race for Henderson since 1992.
However, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh didn’t have to wait long for their first win at Prestbury Park this year as Douvan eased to victory in the Racing Post Arkle Chase.
The 1/4 favourite never looked under pressure despite the best efforts of de Boinville and Vaniteux and when the latter fell late on Douvan eased to victory.
After Annie Power romped up in the day’s feature race, everything looked to be going wrong for Vroum Vroum Mag in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, her class told in the end as she quickened to take the final Grade One of Tuesday afternoon ahead of longshots Rock on the Moor (66/1) and Legacy Gold (40/1).
The race also resulted in the first fatality of the festival as The Govaness was put down following a fall at the last.
Elsewhere, in the day’s handicaps, Tom Scudamore guided Un Temps Pour Tout (11/1) to victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase while Minella Rocco (8/1) and Ballyalton (12/1) claimed the The National Hunt Handicap Chase and Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase respectively.
Results
1.30 – Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle
1. Altior 4/1
2. Min 15/8f
3. Buveur d’Air 10/1
2.10 – Racing Post Arkle Chase
1. Douvan 1/4f
2. Sizing John 9/1
2.50 – Ultima Handicap Chase
1. Un Temps Pour Tout 11/1
2. Hollywell 8/1
3. The Young Master 14/1
4. Morning Assembly 10/1
3.30 – Stan James Champion Hurdle
1. Annie Power 5/2
2. My Tent Or Yours 10/1
3. Nichols Canyon 15/2
4.10 – OLBG Mares’ Hurdle
1. Vroum Vroum Mag 4/6
2. Rock On The Moor 66/1
3. Legacy Gold 40/1
4.50 – The National Hunt Handicap Chase
1. Minella Rocco 8/1
2. Native River 7/1
3. Measureofmydreams 9/1
5.30 - Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase
1. Ballyalton 12/1
2. Bouvreuil 14/1
3. Double Shuffle 8/1
4. Bridgets Pet 33/1
More to follow…
