Briar Hill delivers an eight success in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper for Willie Mullins

Willie Mullins claimed the Weatherbys Champion Bumper for an eighth time courtesy of Briar Hill.

The five-year-old (25-1) trounced his rivals under Ruby Walsh with a withering late run around the outside of the field.

Mullins was securing his fifth winner at this year's Cheltenham Festival, and Walsh his fourth.

Runner-up Regal Encore (7-1 joint-favourite) fleetingly looked the biggest danger along the straight, but the Graham Wylie-owned Briar Hill bounded up the hill to score by seven lengths.

Golantilla finished third for the Tony Martin team. 

Walsh said: "I got a bad break and got knocked down, but it worked out.

"When I gave him a smack he took off - he was very impressive.

"He's no 'flash harry' at home but you don't mind when they do it on a racecourse.

"It was a bit of a surprise but a nice surprise. It looked a strong enough race on paper, and he's somewhere related to Boston Bob and we have always classed him as a chaser down the line rather than a bumper horse.

"I think all the championship races here are won by good horses."

Briar Hill is next season likely to be campaign as a staying hurdler.

Mullins, who had three runners in the race, added: "I thought I had a chance, but I didn't think it would be with this one.

"If you rated the three horses, he would probably have been bottom of them all, so it's a nice surprise.

"We'll think about Punchestown. He'll go down the novice hurdling route and I see him being an Albert Bartlett horse."

Regal Encore's trainer Anthony Honeyball said with a smile: "I'm pleased for Ruby and Willie - they really needed it.

"I'm delighted with the run but he's still a bit keen and needs to be held up.

"Hopefully in time we'll be able to ride him a bit further up with the pace."