DAY one of the Cheltenham Festival proved to be a triumph for the bookmakers with the first five favourites beaten, jockey Ruby Walsh coming to the rescue of backers by winning the last race on the 6/4 favourite Quevega for Irish trainer Willie Mullins.

There was no luck for the Barbury Castle yard of Alan King, whose runner in the Champion Hurdle Medermit, finished seventh.

King’s Bensalem looked in the shake up when crashing out at the last but one fence in the William Hill Trophy.

Broad Hinton trainer Andy Turnell’s Bible Lord finishing down the filed in the same race.

Lambourn handler Nicky Henderson added another winner to his Festival tally when Binocular came back to form to win the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle ridden by champion jockey AP McCoy.

Less than a month ago it looked like the six year old would miss the race due to a muscle problem but the trainer thought his charge was back to his best, which possibly coincided with the faster ground.

Bookmakers were keen to quote some short prices for a follow up next season.

The meeting started badly for punters with the much-touted Irish banker Dunquib finishing third in the Supreme Novices Hurdle.

In Friday’s Gold Cup, the weather could take a hand if the forecast rain turns the going very soft.

Many think softer conditions would suit Denman but with the present ground riding pretty fast it would need a fair drop of rain to stop a Kauto Star victory.

Kempton takes centre stage on Saturday with the all-weather Winter Derby the feature race on a valuable card.

The Group Three event run over one mile two furlongs has attracted some useful looking entries for the £100,000 prize.

Wiltshire trainer Richard Hannon has entered his useful four-year-old Soul City, while top jockey Kieran Fallon has been booked to ride Fiery Lad for trainer Luca Cumani.

However the selection is for the Henry Cecil trained Tranquil Tiger to make it three wins from the last three outings.

The Listed Spring Cup, run over seven furlongs, is likely to be another competitive affair with John Gosden’s new stable jockey William Buick on board Kona Coast and Martin Dwyer riding the Marcus Tregoning-trained Haadeeth.

Trainer Tom Dascombe, who recently moved from Lambourn to the north to train soccer star Michael Owens horses, runs Classic Colori and is a tentative selection.

Jumping fans are catered for with meetings at Uttoxeter, Newcastle and the new Welsh course at Ffos Las.