Dream start turns to nightmare for Ruby as Benie crashes out

In the latter stages of his career in the saddle he may be but the joy of riding a winner at the Cheltenham Festival commands a broader-than-ever smile from Ruby Walsh, who didn’t have to wait long to make that familiar walk back to the winner’s enclosure.

In a sight we’ve become accustomed to, Walsh stood up in the saddle, turned to the crowd and waved his whip in the air in delight as he and Klassical Dream crossed the line clear of the field in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. It’s a sight we’ve been treated to six times in this race. From Noland all the way back in 2006, to consecutive wins from 2011 with Al Ferof, Champagne Fever, Vautour and Douvan, it’s a race that has been good to Walsh and, conversely, one in which he has been particularly good to punters. But this one was special. Ruby, who would not want to talk himself up, may disagree, but this was poetry from the saddle.