Mullins on the board as Douvan cruises to Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham

Douvan made virtually all the running as he justified the status of a first-day banker with an effortless victory in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

Vaniteux tried to put it up to the Willie Mullins hotpot at the second-last but made a bad mistake, giving Nico de Boinville no chance of staying in the saddle. Baltimore Rock came down independently at the same fence when at the rear.

Ruby Walsh had barely moved a muscle on Douvan and the 1-4 shot, owned by Rich Ricci, bounded clear of the opposition to give connections quick compensation for the defeat of Min in the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

The always-prominent Sizing John (9-1) was second, seven lengths adrift. Ricci said: “He’s just very good isn’t he, he’s very, very exciting. It’s effortless, isn’t it — he’s got everything.

“He’s certainly the best we’ve had.”

Altior gave Nicky Henderson his first win in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle since Flown in 1992 when proving too good for Mullins' Min in the curtain-raiser.

Min was expected to give Mullins his fourth successive win in this race but Altior (4-1) shattered those dreams and also hopes of a short-priced four-timer for Ireland’s champion trainer with a breathtaking performance.

Charbel made the running with Min on his heels until the race began in earnest three out, where Nico de Boinville ranged up on Altior on the outside.

The race soon developed into a duel between the top two, but Altior asserted at the final flight and galloped on strongly up the hill to defeat the 15-8 favourite by seven lengths.

Henderson also took third place with Buveur D’Air (10-1), who made up a lot of ground and was just a length and a half away.

Un Temps Pour Tout put up a determined performance to land the Ultima Handicap Chase at 2.50pm.

The David Pipe-trained seven-year-old got the better of Holywell, the winner of this race in 2014, after a good battle from three out.

There was little between them turning for home with two to jump, but Un Temps Pour Tout (11-1) pulled away up the hill under Tom Scudamore to win by seven lengths.

The Young Master was nine lengths back in third, with Morning Assembly fourth.

Scudamore said: “We had a dilemma at the beginning of the week which race to go for — we chose the right one.

“This hasn’t been a season to remember by our standards, but the last few weeks we’ve managed to get it back on track.

“He’s a French Champion Hurdle winner, he’s got plenty of class. He put the race to bed pretty quickly.”