Cheltenham 2013: Hurricane Fly wins Champion Hurdle

Hurricane Fly became the first horse for 38 years to regain the Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham as jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins celebrated an opening-day treble.

The 2011 winner looked to be struggling at one stage, but Walsh allowed him to recover and claim a stunning two-and-a-half-length win over defending champion Rock On Ruby.

"He's a cracking little horse," said Walsh. "He showed another side to him today and that was guts."

Countrywide Flame was third and Zarkandar fourth as Irish supporters saluted victory for Mullins' 13-8 favourite.

Walsh and Mullins also combined to lead Quevega into the record books as the mare became only the second horse to win at the Cotswold course for the fifth successive year.

The 8-11 favourite powered past Sirene D'Ainay in a late surge to win the Mares' Handicap and move alongside Golden Miller who won five straight Gold Cups in the 1930s.

Walsh also produced one of his best ever rides at the meeting when winning the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Champagne Fever (5-1).

Earlier, Simonsig won the Arkle Chase for Nicky Henderson, giving the Lambourn trainer his 47th career victory at the meeting.

Henderson, who became the Festival's most successful trainer when he surpassed Fulke Walwyn's 26-year record last year, extended his tally when amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen led Rajdhani Express to victory in the Novices' Handicap Chase.

Hurricane Fly had disappointed in third when favourite for a second win 12 months ago, but has bounced back in style this season and emulated Comedy of Errors in 1975 by claiming back the champion crown.

Rock On Ruby ran a fine race in second and looked a potential winner when the favourite slipped back, causing groans among the large Irish contingent in a 60,000 crowd.

Almost 60,000 spectators braved the freezing weather to watch the opening day's action

But Walsh was shrewd enough to give the nine-year-old, known simply by fans as 'The Fly', a breather and his mount flew round the home turn and surged clear up the straight.

"He deserves to be a dual winner in the Champion Hurdle because horses like him are hard to find," he added.

"I can't say I was overly confident - from the word go he didn't travel as well as he can.

"He made a mistake or two, but he's as tough as nails. He pinged the last and I'm glad he got it back to show everyone he's a true champion hurdler."

It was yet another Ruby Tuesday for all-time Festival leading jockey Walsh, who stood at 36 career wins after the latest Champion Hurdle triumph.

Racing was delayed by 35 minutes to allow frost on the ground to thaw out, and Walsh wasted no time in setting about his task, judging the pace perfectly on Champagne Fever.

Walsh gave the Mullins-trained horse a bold front-running ride and kept enough back to deny his rival and friend AP McCoy, on warm favourite My Tent Or Yours, up the demanding Cheltenham hill.

Simonsig secured the second consecutive win for a grey when landing the Arkle Trophy Chase.

Victory looked assured when Overturn blundered three from home and Simonsig's jockey Barry Geraghty looked round to see no apparent dangers.

However, he was forced to push the 8-15 favourite out to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths from 33-1 chance Baily Green.

Bottom weight Golden Chieftain sprang a 28-1 surprise when winning the JLT Specialty Chase by 10 lengths for trainer Colin Tizzard.

Jockey Brendan Powell junior, whose father won the Grand National on Rhyme n Reason in 1988, demonstrated he could be a rider with a big future as he neatly guided the eight-year-old round.

Amateur Waley-Cohen, son of Cheltenham chairman Robert Waley-Cohen, urged Rajdhani Express (16-1) to victory by a neck from Ackertac in the day's final race.

Sam Waley-Cohen, who celebrated the birth of his first child, Max, on Sunday, will again partner Long Run in the Gold Cup in Friday, hoping for a repeat of the pair's 2011 victory in the Festival showpiece.

"They say good things come in threes, so fingers crossed," he said.

"I'm so pleased for Rajdhani Express. He jumped so beautifully - he just goes orbital and it's just the most incredible feeling.

"You come to Cheltenham and you don't dream you're going to win these races - it's magical."

CHAMPION HURDLE RESULT

Horse; jockey; trainer

1 Hurricane Fly (Ire); Ruby Walsh; Willie Mullins 13-8F

2 Rock On Ruby (Ire); Noel Fehily; Harry Fry 11-2

3 Countrywide Flame; Denis O'Regan; John Quinn 16-1

Full results from the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival