ROCK ON RUBY produced a giant-killing performance to win the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

But it was hardly the Ruby punters wanted as Hurricane Fly, the heavily-backed 4-6 favourite and reigning champion, could only finish third under jockey Ruby Walsh.

Rock On Ruby (11-1), ridden by Noel Fehily, gave Paul Nicholls his first victory in the Grade One contest, the showpiece race of the opening day of the four-day meeting.

Hurricane Fly, along with 2010 winner Binocular, was never able to mount a serious challenge as the seven-year-old stormed up the hill and beat the front-running Overturn by three and three-quarter lengths.

Nicholls said: “It’s absolutely awesome. I am speechless to be honest. As time went on, I fancied him more than the others.

“You need an older horse to win the race. He stays, Noel gave him a peach of a ride and I am delighted for the whole team.”

Willie Mullins, trainer of Hurricane Fly, said: “It was disappointing but we live to fight another day. Going up the far side I thought he should be able to move up easy and he didn’t do that.”

Although Hurricane Fly was beaten, punters were not too disheartened as Sprinter Sacre and Quevega justified their odds-on prices.

Sprinter Sacre (8-11 fav) was in a league of his own when demolishing the Racing Post Arkle field.

Cue Card and Al Ferof set the early pace in the two-mile contest and, when the latter’s challenge faltered after hitting a fence on the back straight, jockey Barry Geraghty let out the reins on the six-year-old Sprinter Sacre.

He finished seven lengths clear of Cue Card after a breathtaking display of jumping and recorded a milestone victory for trainer Nicky Henderson, who equalled the late Fulke Walwyn’s tally of 40 Festival winners.

“It is unreal what he can do,” said Henderson. “He is just a dreadful show-off and wants everyone to watch him.

“When he is jumping like that you just have to let him go and do it.”

On equalling the record, he added: “This is the horse I hoped might be the one. I thought he could be a bit special and he showed he was.”

Quevega continued to be untouchable in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle after winning the race for the fourth successive year.

Despite a dawdling pace, the 4-7 favourite, with Walsh in the saddle, shot through the pack to lead just before the final flight and sprinted away to beat Kentford Grey Lady by four lengths.

Making up for the earlier disappointment on Hurricane Fly, Mullins said Quevega could return next year to try for an unprecedented fifth win.

Earlier, Cinders And Ashes (10-1) got the Festival off to a flier when winning the opening William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Trainer Donald McCain’s horse, ridden by Jason Maguire, had an eventful passage throughout the two-mile contest.

He struck a number of obstacles – the fourth so violently he nearly knocked it out of the ground.

Despite also cannoning into the last, Maguire was able to keep the five-year-old on an even keel and drive him out to a length and a quarter victory over Darlan.

“He’s a very special horse and we really fancied him like mad,” McCain said.

Riguez Dancer did not add to West Witton trainer Ferdy Murphy’s tally of Cheltenham winners in the JLT Speciality Handicap Chase – won by Alfie Sherrin (14-1) – but it was still a memorable race for jockey Lucy Alexander.

It was the conditional jockey’s first ride at the Festival and, after being outpaced early, she rallied the eight-year-old to finish eighth.

Alexander said: “It was brilliant, a great experience. He jumped for fun and I really enjoyed it.”

Neither Murphy’s Going Wrong, nor The Panama Kid, trained by Malton’s Malcolm Jefferson, could figure in the closing Pulteney Land Investments Novices’ Chase as 13-2 favourite Hunt Ball took the honours.