Willie Mullins' Vauban (6-4 favourite) came out on top of an Irish clean sweep in the JCB Triumph Hurdle – Grade One opener on the final day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
The big three of Vauban and the Gordon Elliott-trained duo Pied Piper (7-2) and Fil Dor (9-2) came to the final flight almost together in the two-mile contest with the eventual winner just in front.
Under Paul Townend, the Susannah and Rich Ricci-owned four-year-old, wasn't entirely fluent over the last but kept his advantage. And as all three powered up the hill towards the line, the classy Vauban was the quicker and went on to score by two-and-a-half lengths from Fil Dor (11-2), who just edged out Pied Piper by a neck.
