Thistlecrack confirmed his position as the stand-out in his division as he comfortably won the Ryanair World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Travelling beautifully throughout for Tom Scudamore, the Colin Tizzard-trained eight year-old led two out and shrugged aside the brave Alpha Des Obeaux to be crowned the champion three-miler.

Cole Harden made the running but he could not reproduce last year's heroics as Thistlecrack stormed past.

The even-money favourite stormed up the hill to pull seven lengths clear of Alpha Des Obeaux.

Festival regular Bobs Worth - winner of the Gold Cup in 2013 - plugged on for third place some 22 lengths away, with Cole Harden fourth.

Scudamore said: "I've spent my whole life running around in these races, nearly getting there, and finally I've got a horse like this. It's unbelievable, I never realised it could be so easy!

"I always had lots of confidence in my fella, once we jumped the last it was all over. That was fantastic, what a racehorse. I think it's fair to say he's the best I've sat on.

"I wouldn't mind jumping a fence on him, but he's very good over hurdles. Wherever he goes, I'll be following him, that's for sure."