Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh off to winning start at Cheltenham Festival

The trainer-jockey partnership of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh got their 2015 Cheltenham Festival off to a winning start this afternoon in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Pre-race favourite Douvan was a little keen early on, but once the five-year-old had been organised by Walsh, he finished strongly down the home straight to claim the victory.

"I had trouble reading what I'd said about this horse but he was doing what we said, he showed us what he was bringing us at home," Mullins told Channel 4 after the race.

"He's one of the best horses I've brought over to this festival. He looks like a chaser but those sound like famous last words to me."

It proved to be an Irish 1-2-3, with Shaneshill and Sizing John finishing second and third respectively.