Ruby Walsh partnered a record-breaking sixth winner as American Trilogy spreadeagled the field in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The rider has been in electric form this week with wins aboard Master Minded in the Champion Chase and Big Buck's in the World Hurdle among the highlights.

That pair are both trained by Paul Nicholls, as is American Trilogy who was sent off a 20-1 chance to bounce back to his best.

The Ditcheat team has hoped he would develop into a Supreme Novices' Hurdle candidate earlier in the season and although those plans have not come to fruition, victory in this Grade Three provided more than adequate compensation.

Khyber Kim set off at scorching pace with first-time blinkers but was never going to be able to keep up that gallop.

Plenty emerged with serious chances coming down the hill, not least Gloucester and Sky Hall who both looked to be going seriously well.

However, Walsh was tracking in behind and absolutely oozed confidence, kicking on and powering away from his rivals by 11 lengths.

Stradbrook ran on for second with Cockney Trucker third and Nortonthorpe Lad fourth.

Dave's Dream, who was chasing the £75,000 bonus on offer after winning last Saturday's Imperial Cup, ran with credit to finish sixth.

Walsh said: "It's great to have ridden six winners. It's not something you think you are ever going to do.

"I've had some tremendous rides and I'm so lucky to ride for people like Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins, champion trainers in their respective countries. To ride for them is an honour.

"When he ran at Ascot I said he'd win the County Hurdle when I got off him. He ran away with me there and ran a lot better than people thought, and he's bolted in today."

Nicholls added: "That's another down to Ruby. He got off him at Ascot last time after two and a half miles on heavy ground and said he'd win the County Hurdle if we got him right.

"Two miles on good ground and he was right.

"We've probably been running him on the wrong ground. We put the blinkers on last time at Ascot but he ran too free, the ground was wrong and the trip was too far. Everything was just right today."

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, who owns Stradbrook, said: "He was disappointing at Sandown last weekend but came out of the race in good form which was why we turned him out again.

"The good ground here suited him, as did the fast pace, and he was able to pick them up."

Of Sunnyhillboy, he added: "AP (McCoy) said he jumped and travelled but just didn't get home for whatever reason."

Philip Hobbs said of Cockney Trucker: "We are delighted with that as he probably wants even better ground and further.

"I hope he'll get another couple of runs this season as he hasn't been too busy because we've been waiting for better ground."