Racing:Edward O'Grady, the leading Irish trainer at the Cheltenham Festival, stamped his mark on the track four months earlier than usual as Tranquil Sea ended Ireland's barren stretch in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
Twenty nine years had elapsed since Bright Highway obliged as the 5-1 favourite for the visitors and Tranquil Sea also justified his position at the head of the market to carry the prize back across the Irish Sea.
The seven-year-old was a Grade One-winning novice over timber but after a promising start to his chasing career last autumn his form dipped and never looked like adding to O'Grady's 18 Festival wins when down the field in the Jewson last March.
The Jewson winner, Chapoturgeon, reopposed but it was with Tranquil Sea the Saturday punters sided and a late flurry of cash sent him off the 11-2 favourite.
While Chapoturgeon unshipped Timmy Murphy at the midway stage, Tranquil Sea shimmered on the outside of the pack under Andrew McNamara and was moving ominously well when taking closer order at the top of the hill.
He freewheeled his way into the lead and looked every inch the winner from well before two out.
Paul Nicholls' Poquelin came to give chase but was flattered by the near five-length margin he was beaten into second, with Hold Em just losing the runner-up prize on the climb to the line.
O'Grady admitted it was not one of the strongest runnings of the Paddy Power since its inception as the Mackeson in 1960, and added that "nothing stood out and if anything was an up-and-coming horse it was him."
He continued: "I looked up the three Irish horses who won this race and they were fantastic horses. Fortria, Bright Highway and Skymas and I'd only love if this fellow could aspire to the same level.
"He looked top class as a novice hurdler but two days after he won his Grade One novice hurdle he was being led out in the paddock and he got spooked by a pigeon.
"He got away from the lad, ran back into the yard and fell down.
"We thought he had broken his shoulder so he stood in his stable for three months.
"He was brilliant on his first start last year but maybe because he hadn't had a full summer at grass he trained off very quickly.
"He did come back very well in the spring and I thought he was unlucky here in the Jewson and again unlucky when he ran at Punchestown.
"This race was always on the agenda as I did think he was better value for his place in the Jewson as I thought he should have been second or third and that gave us a good shot.
"Today was the immediate target so I'll think I'll sit back now and not rush anywhere.
"I would hope he will make a Ryanair horse and that is where I will aim him. We can always step up or down after that but I don't think he is a Champion Chase horse - and don't think he is good enough for that either."
Paddy Power make Tranquil Sea a 6-1 chance behind 7-2 favourite Voy Por Ustedes for the Ryanair Chase, and O'Grady added: "It has been a while since I won a race here.
"I'll have to put it right in March and I'm fed up with not winning a race here."
McNamara added: "He did everything right - he jumped well and travelled well. He handled the ground better than I expected.
"He travelled brilliantly, he got tired on the run in but travelled so sweetly."
Poquelin had been made favourite for the race after scooting up at the track last month but was uneasy through the week and drifted with the wet weather forecast.
Nicholls said: "He has run a blinder on this ground. At one point I thought he was going to pick them up but he couldn't get there.
"He doesn't want to be running on this winter ground so I will put him away for the Ryanair Chase."
Hold Em had been steadily nibbled at from 33-1 down to 14s and his trainer Keith Goldsworthy said: "I stuck my neck out in the week when I said he was the standout each-way bet and thankfully the lads were on.
"He looked a million dollars and it was a brilliant run on probably the worst conditions he has encountered.
"This is his trip and his course, so he'll be back here next month for the Boylesports."