Walsh-Mullins axis wins 3 races at Cheltenham Festival (The Associated Press)

The prolific jump-racing combination of jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins got off to a successful start at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday by claiming three winners, including Annie Power in the Champion Hurdle. The combination’s first triumph came with Douvan in the Arkle Challenge Trophy before Annie Power won the day’s feature race by 4 1/2 lengths to become the first mare to win the Champion Hurdle since 1994. Vroum Vroum Mag then completed a treble for Walsh and Mullins by winning the Mares’ Hurdle.