Jonjo O'Neill hailed jockey Richie McLernon after they teamed up to land their first winner at this year's Festival with Holywell in the Pertemps Hurdle.
Wearing blinkers for the first time, Holywell ended a run of four second places in a row under a well-judged ride from McLernon, deputy to champion jockey AP McCoy at O'Neill's Jackdaws Castle headquarters.
Holywell travelled easily through the race and, still going well on the home turn, powered to the front in the home straight and had only to be pushed out to win by a length and a half from Captain Sunshine.
O'Neill, hoping for a big run from Sunnyhillboy in tomorrow's Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, said he was delighted for McLernon, one of the mainstays of his yard in Temple Guiting and who rode his first Festival winner aboard Alfie Sherrin at last year's meeting.
"He's lovely horseman, a brilliant lad, and I'm thrilled to bits for him - he gave the horse a great ride," said O'Neill, who also saddled fourth-placed Shutthefrontdoor, ridden by McCoy.
"The horse travelled well and jumped well.
"I thought he might have gone to the front too soon, but the blinkers have helped him concentrate, and fair play to Richie, he kept him going. The other horse (Shutthefrontdoor) ran a blinder and he'll be a lovely chaser next year."
Holywell is owned by Gay Smith, probably best known as owner of one of O'Neill's best-ever hurdlers Black Jack Ketchum, who won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the 2006 Festival.
In his moment of joy McLernon was keen to acknowledge the hard work of O'Neill and the whole team at his Grand National and Gold Cup-winning stable only miles from Prestbury Park.
"He's a great trainer and a fantastic man to work for," he said.
"It's a great team to be part of at Jackdaws – everyone has played their part - and I'm over the moon."
