Cheltenham Festival 2015: Cole Harden wins World Hurdle ahead of Saphir Du Rheu and Zarkandar

Warren Greatrex and Gavin Sheehan celebrate victory

Cole Harden ridden by Gavin Sheehan clears a fence on the first lap on their way to winning the Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Getty)

Cole Harden made every yard of the running to win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham for Warren Greatrex and Gavin Sheehan.

Allowed an easy time of things at the head of affairs, the six-year-old looked a sitting duck as all the market leaders stacked up behind him.

However, having had a breathing operation after his last run, Sheehan had saved plenty for the famous hill and a good leap at the last kept him three lengths clear.

Paul Nicholls' Saphir Du Rheu gave chase but he was three and a quarter lengths down at the line, with his stablemate Zarkandar the same distance back in third after a jolting mistake at the second-last cost him any chance of victory.

It was a first Festival success for trainer and jockey, coming at 16-1.

Greatrex said: "We've just won a Grade One and beat the best, so we're here, aren't we?"