Three and easy for Walsh on Quevega

Ridden confidently by Ruby Walsh, Quevega once again proved she is the queen of Cheltenham as she produced another imperious performance to complete a hat-trick in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle today.

The seven-year-old has been masterfully handled by Irish champion Willie Mullins, with this just her fifth competitive appearance since she won this race for the first time in 2009.

She showed she is more than capable of mixing it with the boys when landing the World Series Hurdle at last season's Punchestown Festival, and punters sent her off as the 5-6 favourite on this first start since.

Quevega hurdled fluently and looked as though she could pick up her rivals whenever she wished.

Sparky May ran a fantastic race in the hands of Kieren Burke, with the jockey performing heroics at the very first flight, and she led the field down the hill.

But Quevega was laughing at her rival turning for home and despite a slight blip at the final flight, she stormed up the run-in for a 10-length triumph.

The victory capped an incredible day for Mullins and Walsh, with the pair both gaining their first victory in the Champion Hurdle with Hurricane Fly.

Walsh had also struck gold on Al Ferof in the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Mullins said: "I thought we were a gallop short this year, but she certainly won very easily. It was extraordinary how she won. It's just a magic day. Ruby's been just fantastic.

"Ruby loves her and they fire off one another. He rode her with such confidence.

"We entered her in other races but why look for something else when there is a race in Cheltenham you'll be favourite for?

"To me, this was always the plan as the race is tailor-made for her. We might go to Aintree with her now, as she hasn't had too much racing.

"She could go for the two-and-a-half-mile race against the boys, and she will almost definitely go to Punchestown again.

"The owners are racing people rather than breeders, so if she's able to gallop next year, I'd imagine she'll come back."

Walsh said: "She's a super mare, she travels super and apart from the last there were no scares.

"She has so much class, she settles a lot better now and lobs away. She's a perfect ride."

Bensalem avenged his luckless defeat of 12 months ago with victory in a thrilling Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase.

Alan King's 5-1 chance was travelling powerfully when falling two fences from home in last year's renewal of the competitive handicap, but made no mistake this time around.

There were only four in with a chance turning for home and the fall of the front-running Great Endeavour meant just three were left in contention.

Bensalem engaged in a titanic tussle with Carole's Legacy after the final fence and it was the former who emerged triumphant.

Winning rider Robert Thornton said: "I'm certain he would have won last year and I'm so pleased he's done it this time. This really makes up for last year."

King added: "This has been a great team effort and it's such a thrill that he's come back.

"Last summer he got travel sickness, pneumonia and then pleurisy. One of the vets wanted to put him down, but our vet said he's a special horse and we should continue."

Henry de Bromhead's Sizing Australia held off cross-country specialist Garde Champetre to take top honours in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase.

Favourite Maljimar travelled ominously well but as his petrol tank quickly dropped to zero, it was Sizing Australia (13-2) who took up the running and set sail for home up the final hill.

Five-time course winner and top-weight Garde Champetre went in pursuit but was unable to reel in Sizing Australia and Andrew Lynch, who held on for a length and a quarter triumph.

De Bromhead said: "It's brilliant and he deserved it. He's been placed a few times and it's great to get it for Alan and Ann (Potts, owners).

"He got hampered last year but we didn't make enough use of him and that was my fault.

"I told Andrew to ride him however he wants today and it just shows you should leave it to the jockey!"

Garde Champetre's trainer Enda Bolger said: "He's run his heart out and it just shows how tough he is. He had a lot of weight today. It looks like there's plenty of life in him yet."

The Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase brought proceedings to a close and it was Ferdy Murphy who secured his 10th Festival victory as Graham Lee swept through late on board 10-1 shot Divers.