It didn’t start the way they wanted but Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh had a spectacular day to remember at Cheltenham, claiming three big prizes on day one of the Festival.
5:30 Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase
1 Ballyalton (IRE) 12/1
15 Bouvreuil (FR) 14/1
14 Double Shuffle (IRE) 8/1
3 Bridgets Pet (IRE) 33/1
The last race of the day saw huge money placed on favourite Aloomomo towards the start of the race, but many punters were ultimately disappointed. He travelled well throughout the early running alongside Double Shuffle and Killala Quay.
But Brian Hughes timed his run to perfection towards the last three fences and with Aloomomo struggling to last the pace, the 21/1 shot made it a successful day for Irish trainers, and sealed the win for Ian Williams.
4:50 National Hunt Chase
1 Minella Rocco 8-1
2 Native River 7-1
3 Measureofmydreams 9-1
4 Southfield Royale 5-1 fav
A gruelling renewal of the National Hunt Chase went the way of Jonjo O’Neill’s Minella Rocco. Despite looking sluggish for much of the early going, Irish jockey Derek O’Connor produced the horse in the final stages to outlast the few rivals who finished the four-mile slog around Prestbury Park. Both Katie Walsh, aboard Measureofmydreams, and Nina Carberry on favourite Southfield Royale, were in contention and stayed on to place behind the fast-finishing Native River.
4:10 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
1 Vroum Vroum Mag 4-6 fav
2 Rock On The Moor 66-1
3 Legacy Gold 40-1
Annie Power’s triumphant switch to the Champion Hurdle made little difference to Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh as they won yet another edition of the Mares’ Hurdle with Vroum Vroum Mag. Unlike earlier victories for Annie Power and Douvan, Walsh held his mount back in the early going before producing a sensational burst for home in the closing stages to leave her rivals in her wake. Jessica Harrington’s Rock On The Moor stayed on well for a big-priced second ahead of Legacy Gold.
3:30: Stan James Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
1 Annie Power 5-2 fav
2 My Tent Or Yours 10-1
3 Nichols Canyon 15-2
Who needs Faugheen? With the defending champion and second string Arctic Fire both ruled out, Willie Mullins gambled on drafting Annie Power into the Champion Hurdle and it paid off handsomely. Ruby Walsh delivered a typically composed ride to guide the mare to the front, where she was never headed and kept well out of bother. The New One, Nichols Canyon and My Tent Or Yours kept her company but never looked like threatening as Annie Power ran out a convincing four-length winner and put last year’s final fence Festival collapse behind her.
2:50 – Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
1 Un Temps Pour Tout (Tom Scudamore) 12-1
2 Holywell (Richie McLernon) 8-1
3 The Young Master (Sam Waley-Cohen) 14-1
4 Morning Assembly (Davy Russell) 10-1
Fav: Out Sam 13-2
A gruelling renewal of this race ended up a two-horse race as Un Temps Pour Tout battled it out with Holywell over the final three fences. With the rest of the field trailing behind, it was the David Pipe trained Un Temps Pour Tout who dug deepest as 2014 winner Holywell failed to repeat that victory for Jonjo O’Neill.
2:10 – Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade 1)
1 Douvan (Ruby Walsh) 1-4 fav
2 Sizing John (JJ Burke) 9-1
7 ran
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh got off the mark when the week’s biggest banker, Douvan, romped home in the Arkle. The red-hot favourite travelled well and jumped cleanly, and although he was challenged by Nicky Henderson’s Vaniteux, he never looked troubled and was left to coast to a seven length triumph when his rival fell at the second last. Sizing John stayed on for second for Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead.
1:30 – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
1 Altior (Nico de Boinville) 4-1
2 Min (R Walsh) 15-8 Fav
3 Buveur D’air (N D Fehily) 10-1
14 ran
Nicky Henderson’s Altior (4/1) stormed home from 15/8 favourite Min, who made a couple of jumping errors at vital times. A great result for the bookies, killing off an awful lot of the big Willie Mullins accas in one swoop. Buveur D’air came home third but it’s a result and race that will leave many needing to dust themselves and come up with a new betting strategy.
