Cheltenham Festival 2016 live: Latest results and odds as Ballyalton wins Novices Handicap Chase

The Champion Hurdle headlines Tuesday's action as Annie Power and The New One go head-to-head

Vautour will run in Thursday's Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival rather than waiting for Friday's Timico Gold Cup (PA)

The 2016 Cheltenham Festival begins with seven races pencilled in for Tuesday as the action gets underway with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, before the Champion Hurdle takes centre stage at 15:30. Follow the live action here.

For live coverage of Wednesday's action, click here

Tuesday’s racecard:

• 13:30: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - 1. Altior (4-1) 2. Min (15-8F) 3. Buveur D'Air (10-1)
• 14.10: Arkle Challenge Trophy - 1. Douvan (1-4F) 2. Sizing John (9-1)
• 14.50: The Festival Handicap Chase - 1. Un Temps Pour Tout (11-1) 2. Holywell (8-1) 3. Young Master (14-1) 4. Morning Assembly (10-1)
• 15.30: Champion Hurdle - 1. Annie Power (5-2F) 2. My Tent Or yours (10-1) 3. Nichols Canyon (15-2)
• 16.10: Mares’ Hurdle - 1. Vroum Vroum Mag (4-6F) 2. Rock On The Moor (66-1) 3. Legacy Gold (40-1)
• 16.50: National Hunt Chase - 1. Minella Rocco (8-1) 2. Native River (7-1) 3. Measureofmydreams (9-1)
• 17.30: Novices’ Handicap Chase - 1. Ballyalton (12-1) 2. Bouvreuil (14-1) 3. Double Shuffle (8-1) 4. Bridgets Pet (33-1)
• Favourite Double Shuffle third in final race of the day as Ballyalton finishes strong
• Minella Rocco wins the four mile National Hunt Chase, favourite Southfield Royale in fourth
• Annie Power takes Champion Hurdle victory after running the perfect race
• Favourite Douvan wins the Arkle Trophy Chase by seven lengths
• Altior sees off Min in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Follow the live action below...

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Read more Cheltenham Festival news:
Big bucks rule as Festival is hijacked by Pendleton
Is Victoria Pendleton ready for her biggest test?
The New One looks primed to prevent a Mullins monopoly
Cheltenham Festival day one: Who should you back?

The 2016 Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 15 March until Friday 18 March.

[15 March 2016 12:19 · Jack de Menezes]

Good afternoon and welcome to the Independent's Cheltenham Festival live blog, where we'll keep you up-to-date with the latest news, results and odds throughout the opening day's action.

[15 March 2016 12:53 · Jack de Menezes]

The story this morning has been the joint decision by trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci to run Vautour - pictured above - in Thursday's Ryanair Chase instead of the Gold Cup on Friday, based on an assessment of the gelding's condition.Read the full story by clicking the link above.

[15 March 2016 12:53 · Jack de Menezes]

[15 March 2016 12:56 · Jack de Menezes]

The news came as a big surprise given Vautour's standing as Gold Cup favourite, as our own Jon Freeman noted:

Owner Rich Ricci dropped a bombshell yesterday when disclosing on Channel 4’s The Morning Line that Vautour would miss Friday’s Gold Cup and run instead in tomorrow’s weaker Ryanair Chase.

Successful at the last two Festivals, Vautour was expected to start favourite in Cheltenham’s last-day showpiece, but punters and bookmakers were completely wrong-footed by the late switch.

“Vautour hasn’t been pulling up trees in his work,” Ricci explained. “The Gold Cup is very difficult – even at 90%. We don’t want to ruin him. If I’ve let punters down, I apologise. Hopefully, not too much damage has been done.”

Ricci will still be represented in the Gold Cup by last year’s runner-up Djakadam, while Vautour has been installed as odds-on favourite for the Ryanair.

[15 March 2016 13:35 · Jack de Menezes]

Supreme Novices' Hurdle

It's Charbel from Min, Supasundae and Petit Mouchoir. Altior runs fifth with Silver Concorde out the back.

[15 March 2016 13:35 · Jack de Menezes]

Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Three to go and Charbel still leads, but Min looks strong and clears the hurdle impressively. Two to go and Min hits the front! Here comes Altior though!

[15 March 2016 13:35 · Jack de Menezes]

Supreme Novices' Hurdle Altior hits the front at the last!

[15 March 2016 13:36 · Jack de Menezes]

Supreme Novices' Hurdle

ALTIOR WINS THE SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE!

[15 March 2016 13:38 · Jack de Menezes]

Altior pulled away beautifully with two to go, and by the last had a healthy lead that he stretched right up until the finish. The success means trainer Nicky Henderson ends his 24-year wait for a victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Nico de Boinville picks up his first victory of the Festival, continuing his success after riding Coneygree to victory in the Gold Cup last year.

[15 March 2016 14:14 · Jack de Menezes]

Arkle Challenge Trophy

Now comes Vaniteux on the outside of Sizing John, with Baltimore Rock coming on strong. Douvan is out in front by a length, with Vaniteux struggling to hold on...Vaniteux falls!