Mohaayed (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Bridget Andrews landed her first success at the Cheltenham Festival when driving Mohaayed home in a driving finish to the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle.
The 3lb-claiming conditional rider was embraced by her partner Harry Skelton, who rode stablemate Spiritofthegames into sixth place, when the horses pulled up after the line. Sternrubin and Tigris River took the 24-runner field along until the serious end of the ultra-competitive contest and it was hard to call the winner at the final flight.
Mohaayed (33-1), trained by Skelton's brother Dan, produced the best turn of foot to take the spoils by two and three-quarter lengths from Remiluc with Whiskey Sour third and Chesterfield fourth.
Andrews said: "It's unbelievable. He's given me a dream ride. He galloped all the way to the line.
"I couldn't believe he handled the ground. He's got some good form in the book, we knew he could do it but sort of wrote him off because of the ground.
"I just can't believe it."
A tearful Dan Skelton said: "I'm a professional and I shouldn't be crying, but Bridget has just won a race at the Festival.
"I'm so pleased for her. She works so hard, she's the epitome of our sport.
"The English haven't been doing that well this week, I didn't think we had any chance.
"I feel like an idiot! I'm a bit speechless."
He added: "I really fancied the horse three weeks ago, but it kept raining and I said to June (Watts, owner) 'do we run, do we not?' and June said, 'let's run'. I'd probably have pulled him out but it just shows you, sometimes it's meant to be.
"It's amazing."
Reflecting on the race, Andrews said: "I jumped off and I think because of the ground, people are just taking their time a bit. I'd lined up to be halfway, but ended up handy. I gave him plenty of daylight and tried to find the better ground.
"To be honest, I think they got quite a soft lead as we ended up going quite slow and he jumped and he travelled.
"I was just waiting for them to swallow me up, but he kept going."
She went on: "I always said I would never go conditional - it's too hard. It's hard for the boys, it's hard for anyone to get going, but Dan approached me and asked if I'd like the job and how could I turn it down? I'm biased, but I think I've got the best conditional job in the country."
Andrews' sister Gina was a winner at the Festival last year, and Bridget added: "When I got here, I sent her a picture and hung my stuff up on the peg where she had written her name last year and said and 'I just pray this gives me some luck', and thank god it has."
Harry Skelton said: "I was shouting at her to just go easy. He's handled the ground today and she's now realised her dreams.
"The girls have been great this week, they've shown they are as good as the men given the chance. I'm just so proud."
Chris Gordon said of runner-up Remiluc: "It was a great buzz being placed here, but slightly frustrating as a winner means more. For us to be on the big stage is huge and it's absolutely great.
"He has run a blinder. I was a little bit insulted by the price of him. He is so consistent and is a winner here over two miles. He runs a blinder every time.
"My owners are thrilled they've had a day out and picked up £17,000. He is rated 127 over fences and he finished second behind Saint Calvados at Warwick. We might have to go that way with him, as I want to be able to give him an easy run."
Willie Mullins said of third home Whiskey Sour: "We are very proud of him to run like he did, especially on that ground."
