Bold Font strikes for Walsh
It was business as usual for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh as Cheltenham opened its doors for the winter with the dominant trainer and jockey combining for yet another big-race success.
Font's emphatic victory in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Hurdle was almost a dress rehearsal for the many more prestigious events at the Paddy Power and National Hunt Festivals which could fall the pair's way.
Nicholls earmarked the event as Font's target as early as late April and Walsh wormed his way through the field to reach the front at the top of the hill en route to an authoritative three-and-three-quarter-length victory.
"This was always the aim since he won at Wincanton - he had a breathing operation in the summer and I had to time it right to get him ready for this," said Nicholls of the 100-30 winner.
"He's still a novice and we could do anything with him really - I was even tempted to take out a Flat license to run him, but he's not really very well handicapped.
"He's actually in again here tomorrow. I could be tempted and will talk to the owners, but we won't do anything stupid."
Nearly all of jumping's big names were in action and Minehead trainer Philip Hobbs was able to strike twice.
Hobbs' Ring The Boss (even-money favourite), eighth in last March's Arkle Trophy on his second and previous start over fences, made a pleasing return in the Tiger Developments Novices' Chase.
As Razor Royale slithered to the ground when alongside at the second last, Ring The Boss was left clear and Tom O'Brien pushed him home to finish six lengths ahead of 100-1 shot Sternenzelt.
Hobbs said: "He jumped beautifully. Two and a half miles seems to be his ideal trip but if it was soft, I'd be happy dropping him back to two.
"I would imagine he will come back here in a month's time."
Ring The Boss is 25-1 for another shot at the Arkle with totesport and Cashmans.
Richard Johnson was on board the consistent, if not tremendously prolific Parsons Legacy (8-1), who collared Tony McCoy and the runway leader The King Of Angels at the final fence of the feature IG Index Handicap Chase.
The trainer continued: "Last season was a disaster - he was coughing and then lame so we pulled stumps.
"Ideally he wants further, so we now have the Badger Beer at Wincanton, back here for a race in a month or go for the Becher Chase at Aintree as we might consider the National later on."
Alan King's Dragon Eye relegated the Nicholls-trained 4-6 favourite Earth Planet to third with a stylish effort in the Lemington Novices' Hurdle.
"I'm not sure I've ever had a winner at the October meeting here, and this is our first proper runner who hasn't come fresh off the Flat," remarked King.
"We kept him to be a novice after he was brought down at Newbury and he doesn't look bad."
Simarian (8-1) gave Evan Williams' promising conditional jockey Donal Fahy a winner from his first Cheltenham ride as they stole the Victoria Garaipen La Mejor Apuesta Juvenile Novices' Hurdle from debutant Love And Glory on the line.
"He just stayed better than the others and there are a lot of juvenile races to come for him," reported Williams.
Mister Apple's (7-1) just scraped home in the V-IT Services Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase, while Dee Ee Williams (10-1) showed resilience to seize the day in an absorbing renewal of the Champagne Lanson Maiden Hurdle.
