Klassical Dream was an emphatic winner of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The five-year-old powered through the soft ground in the Grade One Festival opener as jockey Ruby Walsh registered his 59th success at National Hunt's showpiece meeting.
Trainer Willie Mullins was also off to a winning start for Ireland as 6-1 shot Klassical Dream passed the post six lengths in front of Thomas Darby, making it a record sixth win in the race for the Closutton handler.
It is 24 years since the winning-most trainer in Festival history first landed the traditional curtain-raiser with Tourist Attraction (1995), since when he has struck gold with Ebaziyan (2007), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014) and Douvan (2015).
The runner-up and third Itchy Feet were both trained by Olly Murphy.
Walsh said: "He was always travelling, he jumped like a stag and stayed at it well.
"We looked at the forecast and plumped for this race. We were a bit anxious this morning when there was no rain, but it came in tankfuls."
Owner Joanne Coleman, who lost her husband last year, was delighted with the powerful display and poignant result.
"My husband passed away and never got to see him run. John's ashes are in my handbag. We brought him," she told ITV Racing afterwards.
