Annie has the boys after her

Stephen Mullen reviews Day One

Arkle champion when winning for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins at 1-4. It was Mullins’ second consecutive win in the race, following Un De Sceaux’s 2015 victory. Mullins said: “Where do you go next? You’d think about the Champion Chase, of course. He stays as well – and he settles. He is a Gold Cup horse.” Walsh said of the winner:“He’s a brilliant work horse and has always shown a great mentality.He is so clever over a jump,and makes jumping fences feel like hurdles.”

RESULT

1) Douvan (Susannah Ricci)Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-04 RubyWalsh 1/4 Fav 2) Sizing John (Ann & Alan Potts Partnership) Henry de Bromhead IRE 6-11-04 Johnny Burke 9/1 3) Fox Norton (B Dunn) Neil Mulholland 6-11-04 Richard Johnson 33/1

TEMPS TOUT GOOD FOR RIVALS

Un Temps Pour Tout finally got his act together over fences at Cheltenham to land the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase by seven lengths. The 11/1 shot was always travelling well under jockey Tom Scudamore and the writing was on the wall a long way from home as both the winner and eventual runner-up, Holywell, were tanking while the rest of the field laboured. “That was quite a finish,” said trainer David Pipe.“I thought we were losing the battle a bit with Holywell at one stage. Tom’s given him a great ride. We had a long discussion with the owners as to which race we would go for – we had been hoping to go for the RSA Chase at

one point.”

RESULT

1) Un Temps Pour Tout (Professor Caroline Tisdall & Bryan Drew) David Pipe 7-11-07 Tom Scudamore 11/1 2) Holywell (Gay Smith) Jonjo O’Neill 911-12 Richie McLernon 8/1 3) The Young Master (Dajam & The Old Masters) Neil Mulholland 7-11-05 Mr Sam Waley Cohen (3) 14/1 4) Morning Assembly (Clipper Logistics Group Ltd) Pat Fahy IRE 9-11-09 Davy Russell 10/1

POWER SURGE IN CHAMPION HURDLE

Annie Power made amends for her fall at the final flight in last year’s OLBG Mares’ Hurdle when running away with the Stan James Champion Hurdle. The 5/2 favourite made most of the running and saw off her rivals one by one with a commanding performance, powering up the hill to record a four and a half length victory from 10/1 shot My Tent Or Yours. Annie Power clocked a course record time of 3 mins 45.10 secs. TrainerWillie Mullins was also delighted as it not only gave him his 43rd Festival winner, but he also emulated his father