Willie Mullins made history by training a record eight winners at a Cheltenham Festival when Killultagh Vic landed a thrilling victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old, ridden by Luke Dempsey, was all out to see off Noble Endeavour and grab the verdict in a terrific tussle up the hill.
Killultagh Vic (7-1) stuck on resolutely to score by a head, with another Mullins runner Roi Des Francs, the 3-1 favourite, four and a half lengths away in third. Kauto Grand Mogul was fourth at 33-1.
Mullins said: "I thought Luke gave him a great ride, he was beaten and then he pulled it out of the fire.
"It's his first ride for me, as far as I can remember. He was available last week so I booked him.
"We thought he was working well at home, but he's not a great jumper.
"Luke got him settled and then looked for some nicer ground, when he got some light at his hurdles he was good.
"Luke has been riding out of his skin recently and we were lucky to get him, a good jockey is a big plus in this race.
"I used to ride with his father, Philip, so I'm delighted to put him up on a winner."
Of his record achievement, he said: "It's been fantastic.
"It's so hard and competitive, but we've had such a fantastic spring. We've had no sickness with any of the horses and we've had a great preparation."
Dempsey said: "For the owners and Willie to put me up, it's brilliant. The last two weeks have been unbelievable, it's a great day."
On The Fringe stormed clear in the closing stages to run out an impressive victor of the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham.
Nina Carberry was content to bide her time for most of the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile trip as Carsonstown Boy helped set the pace, until bringing the Enda Bolger-trained 10-year-old into contention two out.
Once Carberry pressed the button the race was as good as over, with On The Fringe (6-1), owned by J P McManus, putting daylight between himself and the opposition.
He galloped to glory by 17 lengths from Following Dreams (50-1). Paint The Clouds, the 11-4 favourite, was another neck away.
Carberry said: "I'm so pleased for Enda and everyone, JT (McNamara) always believed in him and always said he would win this.
"He was so impressive today and showed us what he could do.
"I'm so pleased Enda and JP (McManus) let me back on him as I'm at Aidan O'Brien's now so I can't ride at Enda's as much as I used to."
Bolger said: "That was great, he's been threatening to do that but I wasn't expecting that kind of performance.
"He ran a great race at Leopardstown last time when he was just beaten by Prince De Beauchene, who is far from a hunter chaser.
"That was a good yardstick, he's gone and done it today and everyone is happy.
"If everything is fine we'll go to Liverpool."
Carberry added: "Last year there was something wrong with him and he finished very tired.
"I always knew he had the ability and Enda had him spot on today.
"I was happy all the way, tracked Paint The Clouds and we just got into a rhythm.
"He's proved everyone right now."
Wicklow Brave gave Willie Mullins a magnificent seventh victory at the Festival when springing a 25-1 surprise in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Paul Townend, riding his third winner during the four days, swept through the field to lead before the final flight as he put the race to bed in a matter of strides, turning one of the most competitive handicaps of the season into a procession as he won unchallenged by eight lengths.
Irish raiders dominated as Eddie Harty's Sort It Out was second, with Tony Martin's Quick Jack a length and a quarter back in third. Max Dynamite and Analifet, both trained by Mullins, were fourth and fifth.
Townend said: "I've always kept a bit of faith in this horse, because he has loads of ability.
"Things didn't go right for him last week (pulled up in Imperial Cup at Sandown). Just 12 months ago he ran a cracker in the Supreme, disappointed a couple of times and was then forgotten about.
"Willie is a genius of a man to turn him round like this, I got there three furlongs too soon, but he handled the ground better than I thought.
"I would have settled for just one winner, so three is magic."
Mullins said: "He just didn't get away on terms in his last two runs, so all the other horses were going up the weights and he stayed where he was.
"His work at home was good, but he missed the break on his last two runs.
"I gave Paul one instruction - get him away and see what he had."
Mullins, equalling Nicky Henderson's seven winners at a Festival, said: "I guess he was in the last four passing the stands first time and he just came wide the whole way and kept out of trouble.
"He had lots of petrol in the tank, came over to the near rail and just had to jump the last.
"He's not like that at home (awkward at the start). They were standing starts (at Newbury and Sandown) and that didn't suit him. This was a walking start and he had no problem.
"Today was a normal start and he jumped away fine."
