National Hunt racing's eternal search for the latest superstar threw up another potential great at Cheltenham today when Best Mate powered to a thrilling victory in a vintage Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Jump racing fans look to have a star to savour for years to come as the seven-year-old belied his relative inexperience to beat the best Britain and Ireland had to offer.
Running to the last Best Mate (7-1) made his way for home and hard as Commanche Court (25-1) tried he couldn't peg him back as the winner dismissed any suggestions that he didn't get every inch of the Gold Cup trip by coming home a length-and-three-quarters to the good.
The 1999 winner See More Business (40-1) covered himself with glory by staying on for third, eight lengths farther back.
Winning trainer Henrietta Knight said: "I've always said he was the perfect racehorse so I knew he'd stay three miles plus. Jim (Culloty) gave him a super ride, always in the right place. He made a mistake at the same fence twice but otherwise it was a magic round."
Jockey Jim Culloty was absolutely delighted afterwards and said: "He's got the engine. I was always cruising, I got squeezed a little bit as Joe's came across me but I wasn't panicking because I didn't want to get there too soon anyway.
"I just wanted to wait until they straightened up and god he's picked up."
Ted Walsh, who trained Commanche Court, was downcast but gracious in defeat.
He said: "It is so hard to win a Gold Cup, you see people here for 25 years, 50 years never good enough to win one. I hope I'll get my turn but it was a privilege to be second to such a good horse and beat a Gold Cup winner.
"But I must say I'm heartbroken at the moment."
Thierry Doumen silenced his critics with a brilliantly timed challenge to claim the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle aboard Baracouda.
The Frenchman showed nerves of steel as he brought the JP McManus owned gelding, sent off a generous 13-8 favourite, from the back of the field to get the better of Bannow Bay on the run up the hill.
Scolardy turned the JCB Triumph Hurdle into a procession as showed electric acceleration to sprint clear of the field after the second last.
Willie Mullins' gelding, sent off at 16-1, shot a dozen lengths clear of the field rounding the bend on the turn for home and kept up the momentum all the way to the line for an easy 11-length success.