Fergal O'Brien expressed deep pride after having trained Jennys Surprise to an emotional victory in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown.
O'Brien's eight-year-old mare was ridden by Brodie Hampson, whose father, Mark, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Jennys Surprise ran in Mark Hampson's colours for the day and won the three-mile chase for military amateur riders by a length and a half as the 5-4 favourite.
O'Brien said: "It has to be one of the most emotional winners I've ever been involved with, it was very special.
"We only played a small part in it. The Yes No Wait Sorries Partnership, who own the horse, leant him for the day, but it's great to be a part of it.
"It wasn't just the story off the track that was great, the race itself was.
"The mare didn't look like winning, really, but Brodie kept pushing away and it was a dramatic win.
"She was only a novice in against handicappers and Brodie never gave up.
"I'm delighted, it's a great story to be involved with."
Harry Fry will aim for a repeat win in the Grade One Mares Final at Fairyhouse in Easter as Jessber's Dream booked her ticket with an easy win at the Esher circuit.
Successful with Bitofapuzzle last year, Fry will bypass Cheltenham with the Weatherbys GSB Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner, who was beaten in a Listed event at Warwick on Saturday yet dominated this Grade Two.
"Noel (Fehily) said that Saturday's race put her spot-on for today!" joked Fry.
"I don't think we'll enter her for the new Cheltenham race - the plan is the Grade One at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday that we won with Bitofapuzzle."
Fehily was also on board Nicky Henderson's Protek Des Flos in the David Lindon & Co Novices' Hurdle but the 2-7 favourite hardly enhanced his Triumph Hurdle claims with a workmanlike triumph.
Fairy Rath (15-2) returned to winning ways for Nick Gifford in the "Ubique" Handicap Chase to book a return to Aintree.
"The Topham is his aim again, in which he ran so well last year and was beaten by a very good horse (Rajdhani Express) of Nicky Henderson's," Gifford told Racing UK.
"We needed a win to make sure he got in again so at least that is off our back now."
