Cheltenham Festival: Tears for Ricci while Un De Sceaux set to deliver for Mullins again

Her only two defeats have come at the meeting but owner Ricci and trainer Willie Mullins have never given up hope that she could make Festival history and she duly delivered with jockey Ruby Walsh to become to first mare since 1994 to win the Champion Hurdle.

"I'm glad she did it for herself," said Mullins.

"I don't think I have ever seen Rich enjoy a winner more, he's a mess right now and not just his suit.

"I didn’t expect her to do anything like that and I'm delighted to have a mare as good as that."

Mullins delivered three winners on the first day of the meeting - as he did last year - and will have high hopes for Un De Sceaux, who will go to post as favourite in today's feature Betway Champion Chase.

Mullins, with 44 career wins at the meeting, has never won a major chase at the Festival - and this could be his best chance yet.

The horse won last year's Arkle Chase in style and has been victorious in 14 of his 16 races, including impressively on his last appearance at Ascot.

"He's such an exciting horse," said Walsh, a three-time winner in the race.

"He was great here last year, great in his last race and he'll give you everything because he's such an honest horse."

But Dodging Bullets, last year's winner, is well priced to repeat the trick and become the first horse to defend their crown since Master Minded in 2009.

The Paul Nicholls trained horse has not had perfect preparation, after suffering from a splint injury and was a well beaten second in a comeback race at Newbury.

Connections aren't exactly making encouraging noises, Frankie Dettori, who bred him, isn't even here and assistant trainer Tom Jonason is far from bullish.

However, 10/1 still looks a tempting each way price, if you were impressed by last year's win.

"It looks a tough shout to say he'll win," said Jonason. "But if he returns to near his best then he's in with a good shout. Preparations haven't been ideal, we've be really against the clock with him."

Selections: 1.30 Yanworth, 2.10 No More Heroes, 2.50 Politologue, 3.30 Dodging Bullets (e/w), 4.10 Balthazar King, 4.50 Missy Tata

Sportsbeat 2016