Altior burst the bubble of Min with a decisive success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Nico de Boinville‘s mount enjoyed a dream passage through the race and kicked for home after turning into the straight before powering clear of Min and stablemate Buveur D’Air.
Min had been sent off the favourite to provide the Ruby Walsh–Willie Mullins–Rich Ricci combination with a fourth consecutive win in the Supreme, but he had no answer to the surge of Altior.
Charbel ensured there was a generous gallop to the 2m contest as Walsh sat in second place on Min, who had travelled keenly in his previous two starts over hurdles.
The well-backed favourite made a mistake at the third when standing too far off the flight, but quickly regained his momentum and ranged up alongside Charbel coming down the hill to the third last.
De Boinville also started to bring Altior through to challenge and there were almost three in a line jumping the second last, where Min was slightly awkward.
An expectant roar from the crowd greeted Min on the turn for home, but he was quickly put in his place by Altior, who jumped precisely over the last and galloped on strongly up the hill to win by seven lengths.
Min held on for second from Buveur D’Air, who stayed on from towards the rear of the pack to provide Nicky Henderson with first and third in the Supreme after several near misses in recent years.
