Francois Doumen and his son Thierry lit up the monsoon that was the opening day of Aintree yesterday, but even though their big-race double was brilliant, it just seemed to confirm what a huge loss the Cheltenham Festival has been.

First Gold's 10-lengths demolition of Britain's best stayers in the Martell Cup was almost frighteningly impressive, but the trainer couldn't deny a touch of wistfulness.

"I want to be diplomatic, and the Martell Cup is one of the best races in Britain, but the Gold Cup is the Gold Cup and we missed it," Doumen said.

Not that the Frenchman was complaining. The colossal price tag that JP McManus removed from First Gold's neck after the King George had looked a little tarnished when the horse was beaten at Newbury, but yesterday agonisingly proved what those with fancy ante-post odds on First Gold for the Gold Cup had suspected.

"The pressure is off!" Doumen said while proving his diplomatic skills, after such an ultraslick show, by not rubbing the noses of those who had doubted his son's ability in the past.

Doumen jnr contented himself with "the horse was in great form today", but his father stressed: "Thierry rides him with such confidence. He keeps saying the horse is a champion and he rode him like that today."

JP McManus was not present to see his new superstar, but his trainer confirmed the Gold Cup substitute, the Tote Champion Chase, at Sandown on Whitbread Gold Cup day as a likely target for First Gold, "providing JP wants to go".

The young rider proved he can ride a winning race from behind also as Bilboa crushed the opposition in the Glenlivet Four-Year-Old Hurdle, running over 20 lengths clear of Azertyuiop. The mare is as low as 12 to 1 for next year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle but first will race at Auteuil later this season. However, Doumen described the 12 to 1 as "an interesting price for her".

The star of the Foxhunters was undoubtedly trainer Caroline Bailey, who saddled Gunner Welburn and Secret Bay to take the first two places. It's 19 years since Bailey's father, Dick Saunders, won the Grand National on Grittar.

Aghawadda Gold just held off a late storm by Tony McCoy on Wahiba Sands to take the Red Rum Handicap Chase, but Martin Pipe did hit the mark in the opener with the Tom Scudamore-ridden Carlovent.