The enigma that is Un De Sceaux produced a sublime front-running performance to win the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday.

He was one of four winners on the day for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, who earlier took the JLT Novices' Chase earlier with Yorkhill and later won the Stayers Hurdle with Nichols Canyon and then the Mares' Novice Hurdle with Let's Dance.

Second in last year's Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, Un De Sceaux was making a belated step up in trip to two miles and five furlongs for the first time over fences, but despite a couple of hairy leaps, jumped on the whole with real authority under Walsh.

Walsh attempted to hold back the enigmatic nine-year-old through the early stages but in the end was forced to let him go to the front just before the fifth fence.

Well clear entering the home straight, the 7/4 favourite produced two flawless jumps at the final two fences and responded well to Walsh's urgings up the hill to win by an eased down length and a half from Henry de Bromhead's Sub Lieutenant (8/1) in second, with a further six lengths back to 40/1 shot Aso, trained by Venetia Williams, in third.

A delighted Mullins, registering his 50th Festival victory, just the second trainer to reach that landmark figure (Nicky Henderson, 58), said: "He is a super horse - that's what he is. He is an iron horse. He does that every day at home and my heart is in my mouth every morning watching him come up the gallops.

"That is a real racehorse there. To do what he does every day, I mean Ruby is only half in control half the time and you always wonder whether he will get home, but he just seems to find reserves from I don't know where. He is just everything you would want in a racehorse. He is brave, strong and sound. Probably coming up in trip now which made more use of stamina was a help as yes he is certainly very good on soft ground. I wouldn't want to go much further with him but he can go back to two miles.

Mullins added: "It was a fantastic race to win and Michael [O'Leary] and everyone were very gracious. But as I say in racing, you can't gloat over beating someone because they will come out in the next race and beat you. I just try to win - it is not about who you beat. I didn't realise it was my 50th winner at The Festival. That is nice to know."

"Un De Sceaux put in some spectacular jumps and then, when he came to the last, it was an extraordinary jump when he just took off. Ruby said that, if he hadn't have taken off, he would have ended up in the Hunter's Lodge because he would have been throw so far clear. He saved his best jump for the last.

Ruby Walsh was having his 54th festival winner here before adding two more wins to that tally, and said: "Un De Sceaux didn't half take me down the back. He attacked, he jumped and he stayed.

"He is a cracking little horse. He is so consistent and so honest. Virginie [Bascop, the yard vet] rides him herself every day and she and Willie don't let anyone else near him.

"He must be a joy for the O'Connells to own. I am sure Mr and Mrs O'Connell are at home watching. He so forward going and wears his heart on his sleeve.

Colm O’Connell, the owner’s son, was representing his parents and had double reason to celebrate as today was his birthday.

He said: "Un De Sceaux was wonderful today. I just want to say hello to my mother and father back home. We are here because they invested in this horse and the sport. It is wonderful.

"He is the horse of a lifetime. We tasted success so early and then defeat last year to a superstar. We are back with a bang now and it is a big bang.

"It has been a tough year for Willie and he has taken it great. He has the horses in great nick. I have been working for him since I was 17 and could stand here all day and eulogise. He is a friend, and has put an unbelievable shape on my life."

As for Un De Sceaux’s future plans, Mullins added: "I'll probably go to Punchestown with him. I'm not sure what race he will go for definitely but he could go for the two-mile Champion Chase there.