Tony Martin's magnificent dual-purpose performer Quick Jack took the glory in the Guinness Galway Hurdle.
Since winning on the level at last year' s Festival at Ballybrit, the six-year-old has finished third in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, third in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and second to subsequent Gold Cup hero Trip To Paris in the Chester Cup.
Given his clear improvement on the Flat, he appeared nicely weighted on his return to hurdling and was prominent in the market at 9-2.
His supporters had few worries for most of the prestigious contest, with Quick Jack travelling powerfully in the hands of an ultra-confident Denis O'Regan.
He moved smoothly towards the lead rounding the home turn and although he got in close to the second flight from the finish, he was soon back on the bridle and took up the running from Shark Hanlon's stable star Hidden Cyclone.
Quick Jack looked set for comprehensive victory early in the straight, but his stable companion and last year's winner Thomas Edison came with a strong challenge, only to suffer a heavy fall at the final obstacle.
His exit left O'Regan's mount clear and the jockey punched the air as he passed the post two and a quarter lengths to the good.
Max Dynamite fared best of the Willie Mullins brigade in second, with Ted Veale, another Martin-trained runner, third.
Hidden Cyclone was fourth.
Winning owner John Breslin, who also owns Ted Veale, said: "What a ride. He gave him the best ride I've seen in the Galway Hurdle.
"He kept on the rail and came into the bend full of horse. Tony has done a fantastic job with him.
"He's a class horse. We've been unlucky in big handicaps like the Cesarewitch and the Chester Cup and the County Hurdle, but everything went right today.
"Denis gave him a peach and what can I say? It's the biggest day of my life. I'm very emotional. I never dreamed I'd win a Galway Hurdle."
Martin said: "It's wonderful. It was some feeling going to the last when I saw the two of them. Unfortunately poor Thomas Edison hit the deck, but it was great.
"Denis is one of the top five jockeys and they don't make mistakes. From a long way out you were just keeping fingers crossed nothing would go wrong as you could see he had a big shout.
"He (Quick Jack) had been very consistent all year and ran very well at Cheltenham when the ground was a bit soft.
"I don't race him very often as he's had issues and while he's entered at Sligo next week, he definitely won't be going there. We'll sit on the fence for a while, but the Greatwood Hurdle or the Cesarewitch are options."
He went on: "I feel sorry for Thomas Edison as he has had a lot of bad luck. No one was to blame only himself for today's fall but the main thing is he is OK. He was coming to challenge, the one in front (Quick Jack) had a bit in hand, but you never know."
O'Regan said: "I was delighted with him the whole way. He travelled and they went quick but then they steadied it again. I didn't want to get there as soon as I did but I had to go as the gap came when Hidden Cyclone came off and I had to go there.
"When I went upsides at the second-last, it was the only one he missed, because it was the first time he was in front thorough the race but I held him together to the last, and he jumped that well and away we went up the hill.
"Tony had him in fantastic form. I only got the ride last week. Tony rang and asked if I was coming over and I said I was and he said 'I'll have one for you in the Galway Hurdle, if you have your weight right, 10st 4lb, you can ride him'. So I did and thankfully it paid off.
"I've always wanted to win that race as it's iconic and I have now. I'm happy, especially with the prize-money being so good!"
Barry Geraghty, rider of the JP McManus-owned Thomas Edison, said: "I thought I was still in with a good shout. The horse was meeting it on a very long stride and it wasn't a day for leaving him to go in and take his time to pop it. So I gave him a kick into it but, unfortunately, it didn't work out."
