Red-Letter Day For Ruby

Ruby Walsh enjoyed a fantastic afternoon at Cheltenham as the Irishman rode a near 68-1 four-timer ? while trainer Paul Nicholls also gained a near 22-1 treble.

Favourite backers got off to a great start as 7-4 chance Katchit gained top honours in the opening Ryman The Stationer Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

And just over 30 minutes later, the Cheltenham faithful had further cause for celebration as Denman justified odds of 4-6 to remain unbeaten over fences in the Jim Brown Memorial Novices' Chase.

Paul Nicholls' charge generally jumped well but hit the fourth and 10th fences hard.

He quickened up smartly before the home straight, however, and was always doing just enough to hold runner-up Don't Push It by three-quarters of a length.

The winner veered markedly left after the final fence but survived a subsequent stewards' inquiry into possible interference.

Stan James trimmed the winner for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and go 9-2 favourite (from 5).

They also cut Don't Push It to 8-1 (from 16) for the same event.

VC Bet make Denman a 5-1 shot (from 6), while Coral took an alternative view and pushed him out to 7-1 (from 6).

Paul Nicholls said: 'He's done it well and will learn more from today than he has from any other race as he won all his hurdle races on the bridle.

'Ruby was delighted with him and he jumped well although he was novicey early on when he was tanking.

'He didn't come on at all for Exeter and barely changed weight so I have no doubt that he will come on for this.

'He will keep improving as he is still amazingly green and if he stays right he will go to Newbury two weeks tomorrow.

'It's hard to work him at home so we need to run him to get experience and improve his fitness.'

Nicholls secured the second leg of his treble, and Walsh the third leg of his four-timer, when Star De Mohaison (6-4 favourite) made a winning reappearance in the Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle.

Last season's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase hero took advantage of a lenient handicap mark to win by eight lengths from Jockser, with Calusa Charlie a further three and a half lengths away in third.

The five-year-old's success also completed a memorable day for owner Sir Robert Ogden, who earlier won the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup with Exotic Dancer.

Of the winner, Nicholls said: 'He won well and it is pleasing as physically he has improved so much.

'Obviously he is in good heart and form and Ruby purposely went to the good ground a bit wider. That is just what we wanted as he is in such good heart.

'He's in the Hennessy Gold Cup and I'll talk about it with Barry (Simpson, Ogden's racing manager) in the next fortnight.'

The winner received a quote of 8-1 (from 10s) for that event with Ladbrokes, while Betfred are just half those odds at 4-1.

Simpson added: 'Ruby was very, very confident that going left-handed at Newbury will be a bonus and his participation depends on the weights and how much they rise.

'If we think that he is a Gold Cup horse, he should be running in the Hennessy with whatever weight and should do extremely well.'

Katchit, the 7-4 favourite ridden by Robert Thornton, earlier asserted his superiority up the famous hill to land a neck victory over Freeze The Flame (3-1).

Winning trainer Alan King said of the three-year-old, who was cut to 14-1 (from 33s) for the Triumph Hurdle by Paddy Power: 'He is a grand horse ? he travelled and jumped well.

'He has loved the ground since day one and that makes such a difference with these juveniles.

'I was going to make hay with him until the better juveniles came along but I might just start taking him seriously now.

'I have got a good team of juveniles but he is the only one who has gone and done it so far.'

Sent off at 2-1, Tipperary All Star was the third consecutive favourite to oblige and provided Walsh with the second win of his four-timer when scoring in the Letheby And Christopher Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Despite carrying joint top-weight of 11st 12lb, the winner cruised to a four-length success over Bonchester Bridge, with Classic Croco a further 14 lengths away in third.

Michael Halford, trainer of the winner, said: 'Ruby is a wonderful rider. He rode the horse the same way in Punchestown and he came into the ring today and we said why change anything?

'He was a good horse on the flat but to say I was disappointed was an understatement.

'It's taken him a long time to get it together and I hope that he can keep progressing now.

'He could come back to run at Ascot before Christmas in a handicap and if he keeps progressing, I would like to bring him back here in March for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.'

The winner was introduced into the betting for that race by William Hill, who go 25-1.

The concluding Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase went to 9-2 co-favourite My Will, who completed a great day for Walsh and Nicholls.

He stayed on dourly to score by half a length from Idle Talk, with third-placed Run For Paddy 10 lengths further back.

The winner was given a 20-1 (from 33-1) quote for the Hennessy by Paddy Power, who also cut the runner-up to 12-1 (from 16s) for the Newbury race.

Walsh said: 'It has been a flipping great day ? I've had four winners at a few places but not at Cheltenham.'

(C) PA Sport