Ruby Walsh recorded his 50th career Cheltenham Festival success when lifting Black Hercules home in the JLT Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Never far off the pace, the 4-1 co-favourite showed plenty of grit and determination as he gave Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins their fifth win at the meeting this week.

But there was high drama as the field got on its way when Zabana unseated Davy Russell ahead of a standing start, appearing to be cannoned into by Outlander and carrying on loose with the rest of the field.

Bristol De Mai made most of the running, but faced a strong challenge after both Garde La Victoire and Outlander came down at the fourth-last.

L'Ami Serge came through strongly and was upsides Black Hercules at the final fence, with Bristol De Mai and Three Musketeers just behind.

Black Hercules proved the strongest up the hill as he landed the spoils by three lengths from a rallying Bristol De Mai. L'Ami Serge was a length away in third.

Mullins said: "I thought he was gone at the second-last - he seemed to be wavering around a bit.

"But once Ruby got him balanced, he just powered up the straight.

"He would have been too free in the four-miler, so that's why we changed (target)."

The trainer said Walsh was "different gravy".

He told BBC Radio 5 live: "He's the best jockey I've ever had riding for me. For the first time I saw him as an amateur, he was different gravy.

"My last winner (as a jockey) was beating him a short head and when I hung up my boots, I said, 'That's enough'. I always knew he'd be going for the top - he just oozed class."