Whiteoak got back up to pip Refinement in a thrilling race for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The opening race on the final day of the Festival provided a pulsating finish with Jason Maguire on Whiteoak (20-1) mugging Tony McCoy on Refinement (10-1) in the last stride for a short-head verdict.
Refinement only took it up from Whiteoak on the run-in but Donald McCain's runner rallied in the dying strides as Refinement drifted towards the centre of the track to force her head in front on the line. Chomba Womba, the 100-30 favourite, was two and a half lengths back in third.
Donald McCain said aftertwards: 'She got there too soon to be honest, as she only just does enough in front.
'We've always thought she was very decent but obviously we didn't know she was quite up to this. We did know she would travel and just thought she wasn't quite sharp enough over the first couple for the two-mile novices' (Supreme).
'She probably shouldn't have been beaten all year if I'd done my job properly so I'm absolutely delighted,' he told Racing UK.
