O'Faolains Boy rescued a quiet season for Rebecca Curtis with a nail-biting victory over smad Place in the Rsa Chase at Cheltenham.
Curtis struggled with a virus through the wet winter, but as the weather turned so did the form of her horses and it was o'Faolains Boy who signalled a return to better times when winning the Reynoldstown Chase at ascot.
Winners of that contest tend not to fare exceptionally well in the staying novice championship, albertas Run excepted, but Barry Geraghty was keen to maintain the partnership.
Having finished fourth behind stablemate at Fishers Cross at this meeting 12 months ago, his class was there for all to see and at the beginning of the season he looked a prime candidate.
However, the health of Curtis' string meant he had a less than ideal build-up to the meeting and he was sent off a 12-1 chance.
The admirable smad Place, placed in two World Hurdles, jumped the last marginally in front but Geraghty, fresh from his Champion Hurdle win on Jezki 24 hours earlier, was not to be denied and prevailed by a neck.
Morning assembly ran his race back in third, with Ballycasey fourth.
Carlingford lough was hampered by the fall of Don Cossack which left him with plenty to find.
The win moved Geraghty clear of Tony McCoy in the all-time Festival winners list.
Both the first two were introduced at 20-1 for next year's Gold Cup by Paddy Power.
"it's amazing to get another winner at the Cheltenham Festival," said Curtis.
"Before Christmas our horses weren't running great, but they are now and we knew he was very well coming here.
"He twisted his shoe quite badly but it didn't stop him in the end. He's a funny horse, he finds a wind then goes again.
"He proved he was a nice horse last year over hurdles but this season hadn't been ideal with him. It's not a massive surprise as he proved at ascot he was decent, but you never expect to win here.
"Everyone wants a Gold Cup horse, and you never know, if he keeps progressing he might be one day. The Gold Cup next year would be the dream."
* SOME BOY: Barry Geraghty celebrates with winning trainer Rebecca Curtis