A round-up of the rest of the action from day one of the 2018 Cheltenham Festival as Willie Mullins brought up a treble and Mister Whitaker swooped under Brian Hughes.
Willie Mullins saddled his third winner on the opening day of this year's Cheltenham Festival as son Patrick steered Rathvinden to a thrilling victory in the National Hunt Chase.
The 10-year-old was among the market principals at 9/2 and was given a patient ride by Mullins junior, who was bidding for his second victory in the race following the success of Back In Focus five years ago.
The front-running Sizing Tennessee and Ms Parfois led the field into the straight, but Rathvinden was travelling ominously well in their slipstream and moved to the front after the second-last.
Ms Parfois ultimately refused to go down without a fight under Will Biddick, but the Mullins runner won the argument by half a length.
Sizing Tennessee was a long way back in third.
Rathvinden had to be dismounted after the line and was doused with water by the veterinary team. He did not return to the winner's enclosure, but walked back to the racecourse stables seemingly none the worse.
Mullins senior said: "I've just spoken to the vet and he said he's fine, just exhausted. He felt it was safer to take him back to the stables than the razzmatazz of the paddock.
"They'll just throw lots of water on him. He's taking the odd step, then a wobble. I imagine any athlete after four miles would be a little tired."
On the race itself, he said: "I was happy enough watching because I can tell by Patrick's body language how he's going. I thought he might win it easier but the second horse put up some fight.
"They pulled a long way clear and it was a good finish after four miles on that ground."
He added: "I'm delighted to have three winners, I'm just happier the horses are starting to perform. He could be a Grand National horse next year. He jumps and stays."
Mossback had to be put down after suffering a shoulder injury.
Patrick Mullins received a six-day suspension for using his whip above the permitted level and without giving his horse time to respond from the last fence.
🏇🏻 The Mullins hat-trick is complete!#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/DyNq6LK1Jj
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) March 13, 2018
Brian Hughes delivered Mister Whitaker in the final strides to beat Rather Be in a thrilling finish to the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase.
A winner for Mick Channon at the track in January, he scraped into the race as the 20th of the 20 runners. Settled in mid-division, Mister Whitaker's backers would not have been getting their hopes up as Rocklander led over the last, only for Jerry McGrath to sweep by on Rather Be.
Hughes had just managed to save a bit on Mr Whitaker (13-2), however, and in a driving finish managed to come out on top by a head.
Rocklander was just over three lengths back in third, with the well-fancied Barney Dwan fourth.
Henrietta Knight, who trained Best Mate to win three Gold Cups, bought the winner horse for Tim Radford, whose company Timico sponsor Friday's big race.
"It's so fantastic. It's the first horse I bought for Tim since Terry (Biddlecombe) died and it's such a thrill," she said.
"I know the feeling, I know the atmosphere. It's just magic. Brian was just perfect with him. I first saw this horse at the Costellos, the same place I bought Best Mate from. I saw him jump and I just loved the horse. He wasn't too expensive and he's such an athlete."
