Trainer Willie Mullins has dominated the first day of the Cheltenham Festival with four wins including a clean sweep for the stable in the Champion Hurdle.
Three of Mullins’ winners were ridden by Ruby Walsh who capped the day when he steered 4/5 favourite Faugheen to victory in the feature race.
Faugheen led all the way in the feature race to take his unbeaten record over hurdles to eight when he defeated Arctic Fire and Hurricane Fly.
“Willie is a genius and has a great team of staff around him,” Walsh said.”
“Faugheen is a wonderful horse. He has jumped better, he missed the second-last.
“It was a massive call not to ride Hurricane Fly. When you see what Hurricane Fly was doing at home, it was a big call to get off him.”
Before the main event, Mullins and Walsh combined to win the Novices Hurdle with Douvan and the Arkle Chase with Un De Sceaux.
“I don’t know if I’m the first to train the first three (in the Champion), but if I am it’s fantastic,” Mullins said.
“I was hoping one of them might win it.
“Faugheen was fantastic, Ruby was fantastic. He dictated the pace, did what he did when he wanted and quickened when he wanted.
“I thought Hurricane Fly ran a fantastic race throughout and Arctic Fire – I can’t see a rib on him yet, so I think there is far more improvement in him than the rest of them.”
Paul Townend rode Mullins’ fourth winner, Glen’s Melody, to win the Mares’ Hurdle in which her favoured stablemate Annie’s Power fell at the last obstacle.
Both the mare and Walsh escaped unscathed.
“It’s unbelievable to have four winners in one day,” Mullins said.
“I keep thinking this is not real and it won’t last forever, so I’m going to enjoy it now.”
“It’s been a super day. Douvan was great, Un De Sceaux was brilliant, Faugheen winning the Champion Hurdle was magic.
“At least Annie Power got up and there’ll be another day.”
