Caldwell Potter was a convincing and poignant winner in the Jack Richards Novices’ Chase.
The horse, ridden by Harry Cobden, runs in the yellow and red colours of John Hales, who died aged 85 in January.
It was a 50th Cheltenham Festival winner for trainer Paul Nicholls.
And the first prize recoups nearly £50,000 for the syndicate, which includes former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who bought Caldwell Potter for 740,000 euros (£630,000) last year.
That made him the most expensive National Hunt horse ever sold at public auction.
There was sad news after the race that faller Springwell Bay, trained by Jonjo O’Neill and his son AJ, sustained a fatal injury.
Trainer Nicky Henderson enjoyed a 1-2 in the Pertemps Final as 25-1 shot Doddiethegreat, with Brian Hughes on board, won from Jeriko Du Reponet.
The winner is named after Scotland and Lions lock Doddie Weir – who died after a battle with motor neurone disease – and owner Kenny Alexander will donate his £47,000 prize money to a foundation in the rugby great’s memory.
And in Thursday’s finale, jockey Barry Stone had the biggest success of his career on board Daily Present when the 12-1 chance got past the 9-2 favourite Johnnywho, ridden by Derek O’Connor, late on to win the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.
Johnnywho, trained by Paul Nolan, had led going to the last but Daily Present finished the better to overhaul him and win by a neck.
It means Ireland lead Great Britain 13-8 for the Prestbury Cup with one day of racing to go.
