Tiger Roll oozed class when scooting up the hill to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Davy Russell was back in the Gigginstown House Stud colours replacing the injured Bryan Cooper and Gordon Elliott's youngster never looked in any danger.
He had Guitar Pete and Kentucky Hyden for company over the last, but Russell kicked him clear for a three-and-a-quarter-length win from the latter.
The unlucky horse was Calipto back in fourth as Daryl Jacob had major tack issues approaching the second-last, doing very well to keep the partnership intact.
Tiger Roll made his debut at Market Rasen for Nigel Hawke, after which Gigginstown snapped him up.
On his first run for Elliott he was second to Guitar Pete in Grade One company, but Elliott had said all along he was not afraid of taking on that rival again and he turned the form around in no uncertain terms.
It was vindication for Russell, who lost his job as number one rider for Gigginstown halfway through the season. Ruby Walsh took a crunching fall early on from Abbyssial, walking off the track gingerly subsequently taken to hospital with a broken arm.
Lac Fontana gave Paul Nicholls and Daryl Jacob a belated first winner of the Festival with a thrilling victory in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Jacob produced Lac Fontana (11-1) with a perfectly-timed run on the nearside rail to collar Arctic Fire up the hill and land the spoils by half a length.
Montbazon, who led over the final flight, was a length back in third with Diakali fourth.
Jacob, who had no luck at all in the Triumph Hurdle on the well-fancied Calipto and was visibly deflated afterwards, as he was when just touched off on Wednesday, said: “It’s been a very testing week for us all.
“It’s a good team effort from everyone and at the end of the day there can only be one winner. You can only keep looking forward.
“We’re all thinking about the guys that are injured, like Jason (Maguire), Bryan (Cooper), now Ruby (Walsh) and of course JP (McNamara) but this is the place we all want to win.”
He added of the winner: “He’s very, very tough and he kept finding all the way.”
Very Wood sprang a huge 33-1 surprise in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle to put trainer Noel Meade back on the roll of honour.
Market leader Briar Hill fell at around halfway, giving David Casey, replacing Ruby Walsh, a nasty fall while Kings Palace folded when leading turning into the straight.
Deputy Dan appeared to be going great guns for Leighton Aspell and Oliver Sherwood, but he was running on empty approaching the last and Very Wood kicked into overdrive.
With 40-year-old Carberry riding for all his worth, Very Wood beat Deputy Dan by four and a half lengths with Apache Jack third.
Meade, who had endured a miserable start to 2014, was without a win at the big meeting since Go Native landed the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle five years ago.
The race was delayed by nearly 15 minutes after an incident with Darly Jacob who had earlier won the County Hurdle on Lac Fontana.
On his way down to the start on Port Melon, the horse jinked, dumping Jacob on top of a Channel 4 camera. He was taken away on a stretcher reportedly complaining of a pain in his leg.
Tammys Hill got on top close home to claim the CGA Foxhunter Chase . Held up for most of the race, the Liam Lennon-trained 11-year-old crept into contention under James Smyth from four out as Carsonstown Boy made the pace from the outset.
The long-time leader would not give in without a battle and he kept on for second place, three and a quarter lengths behind the 15-2 winner. The well-fancied On The Fringe came with a threatening run but could not maintain his bid and finished third, a length and three-quarters away.
Smyth said: “Fantastic, he jumped brilliant. We’ve fancied him for three years!”
Don Poli gave Willie Mullins his fourth winner of the week with a clear-cut victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle .
The five-year-old, a third winner on the day for owners Gigginstown House Stud, drew away from his main challenger Thomas Crapper up the hill after a prolonged battle.
Mikey Fogarty drove Don Poli (12-1) home by four and a half lengths, with Caid Du Berlais a length and a quarter back in third. Urbain De Sivola ran an incredible race to finish fourth after being left many lengths at the start.
Gigginstown supremo Michael O’Leary said: “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven, it’s amazing.
“He won three miles last time out and I had no plans to come here, but Willie felt it took a stayer to win the race and that’s a fantastic performance by Willie, he’s a genius trainer.
“Mikey gave him a brilliant ride and I couldn’t be happier.”
1.30 Triumph Hurdle
1 Tiger Roll (D N Russell) 10-1
2 Kentucky Hyden (D Bass) 20-1
3 Guitar Pete (P Carberry) 7-1
2.05 County Hurdle
1 Lac Fontana (D A Jacob) 11-1
2 Arctic Fire (D J Casey) 7-1
3 Montbazon (R Thornton) 20-1
4 Diakali (D E Mullins) 25-1
2.40 Novices' Hurdle
1 Very Wood (P Carberry) 33-1
2 Deputy Dan (L Aspell) 10-1
3 Apache Jack (B J Geraghty) 20-1
4.00 Foxhunter Chase
1 Tammys Hill (Mr J J Smyth) 15-2
2 Carsonstown Boy (Mr N McParlan) 40-1
3 On The Fringe (Ms N Carberry) 11-2
4.40 Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle
1 Don Poli (M P Fogarty) 12-1
2 Thomas Crapper (Joseph Palmowski) 10-1
3 Caid Du Berlais (Harry Derham) 9-1
4 Urbain De Sivola (Mr A Guerin) 33-1
