WYE Valley trainer Venetia Williams saw stable star L'Homme Presse race to a brave fourth in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham after heading the race two from home.
But Hoarwithy-raised former champion jump jockey Peter Scudamore and trainer partner Lucinda Russell were celebrating in the winner's enclosure, after Grand National champion Corach Rambler squeezed past into third to boost the horse's chances of an Aintree repeat next month.
Venetia's King's Caple yard enjoyed two festival thirds earlier in the week with 100-1 shot Funambule Sivola in the Queen Mother's Champion Chase and 25-1 shot Djelo in the Grade I Turners Novices' Chase.
And coming in to Friday's Blue Riband race, L'Homme Presse was backed by some tipsters to land the big one, before making a gallant front-running effort under Charlie Deutsch.
The 16-1 shot was among the leaders from the off and hit the front four out, only for defending champion and eventual winner Galopin Des Champs and Gerri Colombe to surge past and race away before the last, with Corach Rambler coming from a long way back to take the third slot.
“Charlie said that was the most holding ground he’s ever ridden him on, but you’ve got to be happy with the run," said Venetia afterwards.
“He’s just got a bit of a nasty wound on a hind leg that got struck into, so he’s got 12 staples in that. Hopefully, that will mend fairly quickly.”
Asked if L’Homme Presse, who won £34,000 for fourth, would miss the rest of the season, she added: “I don’t know, but I’m not certain whether Aintree is the place for him anyway.”
Funambule Sivola, second in the Queen Mother's Chase two years ago, came into Wednesday's race completely unfancied, but as favourites tumbled he and Deutsch came home just one of three finishers, cantering in to take the £42,000 third prize pot behind Captain Guinness and Gentleman De Mee.
Djelo matched that in the Grade I Turners Novices' Chase on day three, ridden home by Deutsch behind 5-2 favourite Grey Dawning in first and 11/2 shot Ginny’s Destiny to scoop an £18,567 pay day.
Stable mate Gerimande at 40-1 was also fifth out of 16 finishers in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.