Cheltenham Festival: Inglis Drever made Cheltenham Festival history with a record third success in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle today.
The 11-8 favourite, winner in 2005 and 2007, stormed up the hill he loves so much in the hands of Denis O'Regan to hold the persistent challenge of Kasbah Bliss, with Kazal third.
The nine-year-old, trained by Howard Johnson and owned by Graham Wylie, retained his stayers' crown in typically stout fashion, much to the delight of the packed grandstands.
As expected Lough Derg made the running with Hardy Eustace just behind and it was the latter, a dual Champion Hurdle hero, who went on at the fourth-last.
However, there was going to be no fairytale final Festival triumph for jockey Conor O'Dwyer as Hardy Eustace seemingly failed to stay the three miles.
Kazal made his bid for glory after the third-last but he was pursued by Kasbah Bliss, Inglis Drever and My Way De Solzen.
But there was no denying Inglis Drever, who jumped into the lead at the final flight.
He had to work though to hold French raider Kasbah Bliss (9-1) by a length, with the first two pulling seven lengths clear of Kazal (12-1).
Johnson enthused: "It feels great, he missed a year and he's come good again. All credit to the horse firstly.
"Andrea and Graham (Wylie) have been very good supporters for the yard and I'm pleased for them. It's just unbelievable."
The County Durham handler had mentioned the possibility of retiring Inglis Drever if he won a third World Hurdle but has yet to reach a decision.
Johnson added: "I'll have a word with Graham at the end of the season and if he's a chance of winning the Order of Merit I might think about going to Aintree, my lucky course.
"We might come back for one more next year but he won't have a lot more races. It was near enough the best training performance of my life."
O'Regan said: "What a horse! I can't believe it, it's a dream.
"He's a serious horse. I never panicked and I was never in any trouble. He just takes off. It was a good jump at the last and he did the rest."
Earlier the Paul Nicholl-trained Master Minded was a brilliant winner of the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Ridden by Ruby Walsh, the five-year-old made a mockery of his tender years to sluice up for owner Clive Smith, of Kauto Star fame.
The 3-1 second-favourite gained a decisive initiative halfway through the two-mile heat and barely touched a twig en route to a rousing success from last year's winner Voy Por Ustedes (5-2 favourite).
Fair Along, trained by Philip Hobbs, finished third, with the Dessie Hughes-trained Schindler's Hunt.
In the Ryanair Chase much fancied David Pipe-trained Our Vic was a comfortable winner under Timmy Murphy.
Earlier, Albertas Run, trained by Jonjo O'Neill and ridden by Tony McCoy, won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Grade One scalp represented a first victory for Tony McCoy since the injury which nearly denied him a place at the Festival.
Albertas Run executed a textbook round of jumping to cosily repel the challenge of Roll Along, with Battlecry finishing third.
"He's a great little horse," O'Neill said. "I was a little bit nervous about the ground, but when I saw him jumping so well early on I thought the ground couldn't be too bad.
"AP (McCoy) is a fantastic man to get himself back fit and well. We had hoped to get him back on a winner before today, but it's great to give him one today.
"He gave him a great ride. He's riding as well as ever, if not better."
Old Benny showed reservoirs of stamina to win the Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup in the opener.
Alan King's seven-year-old came into his own over this four-mile trip and had plenty left in the tank to defeat the David Pipe-trained Over The Creek at odds of 9-1.
Back On Line, trained by Venetia Williams, finished third.
CHELTENHAM RESULTS
12.30 PETER O'SULLEVAN NATIONAL HUNT CHASE CHALLENGE CUP
(AMATEUR)
1 Old Benny (Mr C Huxley) 9-1
2 Over The Creek (Mr J Guerriero) 7-1
3 Back On Line (Mr W Biddick) 8-1
20 ran
Also: 9-2 Fav Ornais, 66-1 Niche Market 4th
1.05 ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE CHASE (GRADE 1)
1 Albertas Run (A P McCoy) 4-1 Fav
2 Roll Along (T J Murphy) 20-1
3 Battlecry (P J Brennan) 25-1
11 ran
Also: 6-1 Silverburn 4th
1.40 JEWSON NOVICES' HANDICAP CHASE (LISTED)
1 Finger Onthe Pulse (B J Geraghty) 9-1
2 Barbers Shop (M A Fitzgerald) 12-1
20 ran
Also: 13-2 Fav Mr Strachan
2.20 SEASONS HOLIDAYS QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE (G1)
1 Master Minded (R Walsh) 3-1
2 Voy Por Ustedes (R Thornton) 5-2 Fav
8 ran
Non Runners: 1,2,4
2.55 RYANAIR CHASE (GRADE 1)
1 Our Vic (T J Murphy) 4-1
2 Mossbank (D N Russell) 4-1
3 Turko (R Walsh) 7-1
9 ran
Also: 10-3 Fav The Listener, 33-1 Knight Legend 4th
Non Runners: 6,9
3.30 3.30 LADBROKES.COM WORLD HURDLE (GRADE 1)
1 Inglis Drever (Denis O'Regan) 11-8 Fav
2 Kasbah Bliss (C Pieux) 9-1
3 Kazal (B J Geraghty) 12-1
17 ran
Also: 13-2 Blazing Bailey 4th
4.05 RACING POST PLATE HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE 3)
1 Mister McGoldrick (D Elsworth) 66-1
2 Gwanako (R Walsh) 9-1
3 Fundamentalist (P J Brennan) 28-1
4 Bible Lord (M D Grant) 6-1
22 ran
Also: 5-2 Fav Don't Push It
4.40 PERTEMPS FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE (LISTED)
1 Ballyfitz (P J Brennan) 18-1
2 Miko de Beauchene (R Walford) 7-1 Jt Fav
3 According To Pete (F King) 33-1
4 Mobaasher (R Walsh) 12-1
24 ran
Also: 7-1 Jt Fav Robin Du Bois
5.15 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP HANDICAP CHASE
(AMATEUR)
1 High Chimes (Mr J E Tudor) 14-1
2 Openide (Mr R O'Sullivan) 18-1
3 Burntoakboy (Mr T Weston) 12-1
4 Noir Et Vert (Mr R O Harding) 11-1
24 ran
Also: 7-1 Fav My Immortal
5.50 WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER STANDARD OPEN NH FLAT RACE
(G1)
1 Cousin Vinny (Mr P W Mullins) 12-1
2 Corskeagh Royale (Miss N Carberry) 7-1
3 Zaarito (D N Russell) 3-1 Fav
23 ran
Also: 80-1 Shoreacres 4th
Non Runner: 20