The Druids Nephew and Barry Geraghty lead them home© Photo Healy Racing
The Druids Nephew gave Neil Mulholland a first Cheltenham Festival winner in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase.
The progressive eight-year-old was always travelling strongly under Barry Geraghty in a prominent position and hit the front coming down the hill.
There were still a number of rivals going equally well at that stage, however, notably the well-backed Pendra who was attempting to provide owner JP McManus with a winner on his birthday.
The soon-to-be-retired Tony McCoy soon sent out the distress signals in the saddle though but there was no such alarm from Geraghty who took lengths out of the chasing pack approaching the last.
He took that flight in his stride and kept on well up the hill to score at odds of 8/1.
He was chased home by Irish raider Grand Jesture with Indian Castle running a gallant race in third, edging out Gallant Oscar with Pendra weakening into fifth.
The Druids Nephew holds an entry in the Crabbie's Grand National and was cut to around 16/1 for the Aintree showpiece.
Geraghty said: "He jumped nicely. Every time I gave him a squeeze, he quickened. It's only when you come here you realise what it means (to have a winner).
"Everyone wants to ride a winner so it's good to have got one on the board."
Mulholland said: "We've kept him for this for a while and thankfully it's paid off. Barry knows the horse now, he's ridden him in the past and the horse was in great order.
"I thought the horse was in the best condition we've had him in.
"It's very important for us. That's our 53rd winner since May, including the Flat, so we're delighted. Things are going well, but it's all about Cheltenham. This is our World Cup."
Of the Grand National, Mulholland added: "I'll have to have a word with Barry about it. I'm not going to talk it up now, it's all for another day and I want to enjoy this first.
"This has been the plan for a while. We gave him a freshener over hurdles as we knew he already had solid handicap form.
"When he ran behind Sam Winner here, we ran him not knowing if he would stay but he proved that day he did.
"Barry and I have been friendly for a long time so we have a good relationship and it helps having someone to bounce ideas off."
