Vroum Vroum Mag bags Ruby Walsh Cheltenham hat-trick on Tuesday

Vroum Vroum Mag produced a fantastic performance to land the OLBG Mares' Hurdle and give Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci a day one Cheltenham Festival treble.

Just 40 minutes or so after her stable companion Annie Power had brilliantly won the Champin Hurdle, Vroum Vroum Mag was equally impressive as she landed odds of 4/6.

Bidding for her ninth win from as many starts since joining Mullins, the market leader raced in midfield early on, before gradually easing forward under a typically confident Walsh ride.

She received a bit of a nudge at the third-last but it did not put her off her stride and she was on the heels of the leaders with two to jump.

Runner-up, Rock On The Moor (66/1), had taken over from Desert Queen in front by then, but the winner elicited a gasp from the huge crowd as she moved effortlessly into the lead between the final two flights.

And, having hopped over the last, she eased clear on the run-in to beat Rock On The Moor by two and three-quarter lengths, with half a length back to another outsider in the shape of Legacy Gold (40/1), who gave the Irish a one-two-three.

It was an amazing eighth straight win in the race for Mullins, who used to dominate with the great Quevega and has now unearthed another champion mare in the shape of Vroum Vroum Mag.

Walsh reported: "This is a really good mare, but we didn't really know how good she might be.

"I got plenty wide down the back, but she travelled really well. Once the gaps opened when we straightened up, it was all over. It's been a great day for us.

"She's very different to Annie Power. She's a very placid individual. In the summer when they are out in the field she won't move any more than she has to. Annie is all business, walking around, and Maggie is standing in the middle looking at her."

Mullins added: "Her work during the week was awesome and we all wondered whether we had put the right mare in the Champion Hurdle!

"We just thought coming here today, barring traffic problems or a fall, she would win, as her work was just fantastic.

"My only worry was that she might have left the race behind with that particular piece of work. I can't remember what she worked with but it was awesome. Everyone who saw it thought so.

"Ruby was cruising at all stages and was just left to try and find a position. It was an armchair ride in the end. She could come back here for this race next year. She's very versatile and she falls asleep with you when you ride her at home. Ruby thought at one point last year that she could be a Grand National horse as she's that laid back. We thought she'd be a big chasing type but she keeps surprising us."

And Ricci said: "She could be a Gold Cup mare, but we took her over hurdles this year and we never thought she'd do this.

"I think she'll be back over fences next year, as I think she looks more like a chaser. Jumping is her strength, as she jumps for fun.

"Someone described this mare as a big buxom brunette, and that fits the bill, whereas Annie Power is more of tomboy."

Jessica Harrington expressed her delight at Rock On The Moor's effort under Robbie Power.

The trainer said: "I'm absolutely delighted with her, she was actually sick when she came back from Doncaster because she didn't travel back at all well, so we kept her for here.

"The owner, Richard Irwin only bought her three weeks ago because her previous owner died and she's the first horse I've had for him, so it's great," she said. "She had good form last year and she was entitled to run here. We were just beaten by a better horse."

Looking to the future Harrington continued: "She will go to Punchestown - I'm not sure for which race, but that's where she will be aimed."

Unfortunately there was a very sad postscript to the race because The Govaness suffered a fatal injury when falling at the last, having been disputing second place after putting in a fine performance.