Cheltenham Festival 2016 live: Vautour powers to Ryanair Chase victory as Ruby Walsh defends Gold Cup withdrawal

Vautour pulled clear two from home to leave the rest of the Ryanair Chase field in its wake

Ruby Walsh celebrates after riding Vautour to victory in the Ryanair Chase (Reuters)

Vautour justified the late decision to bypass the Timico Gold Cup by running away with the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Scoring at the Festival for the third time in a row, the even-money favourite was giving trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh their sixth winner of the 2016 meeting.

Village Vic did the majority of the donkey work until Walsh asked Vautour to go about his business after the fifth-last fence.

Road To Riches, who was also switched from the Gold Cup, tried to serve it up to the Rich Ricci-owned Vautour but it cost him second place.

Ruby Walsh on Vautour leaps over the final fence on his way to victory in the Ryanair Chase (PA)

Six lengths away, Valseur Lido snatched the runner-up spot for Mullins and Gigginstown House Stud by half a length from Road To Riches, also carrying the colours of Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary.

Al Ferof ran a creditable race in fourth.

Walsh said: "We went a good old gallop, he travelled well and jumped like a buck.

"He lengthened his stride off the bend and while he was tight at the last two, he was deadly at them.

"He's a pleasure to ride - we've had a fair battle with him since Christmas, but he was spectacular today."

Ruby Walsh aboard Vautour as he jumps a fence on his way to victory in the Ryanair Cup (PA)

On his well-being leading up to the meeting and the decision to swerve the Gold Cup, Walsh said: "If you were watching him at home I'm not sure you'd even have run him in the Ryanair.

"He worked half all right on Saturday morning, I wouldn't say he worked well. If you'd watched him up until then - I'd written him off in my mind, but Willie gets it right doesn't he?"

Ricci said: "I feel odd, to be completely honest. I wanted the horse to run in the Gold Cup, but of course I'm delighted to win. We just wanted to do the right thing for the horse."

More to follow...

PA