The first race of the Gold Cup day at the Cheltenham Festival went the way of favourite backers.
Vauban was heavily backed to go off the 13/8 favourite for the Willie Mullins stable and in the hands of Paul Townend.
Having taken over the lead approaching the final hurdle, the Rich Ricci-owned horse looked in trouble when making a mess of the last, but he accelerated once again to power clear of the Gordon Elliott duo of Fil Dor and Pied Piper.
