Caldwell Potter was a convincing and poignant winner in the Jack Richards Novices’ Chase earlier on Thursday.
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 and AJ O’Neill, 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.
Rachael Blackmore claimed her first win of this year’s meeting with a brilliant ride on 16-1 chance Air Of Entitlement for Henry de Bromhead in the opening race.
She pounced late to finish half a length in front of favourite Sixandahalf in the mares’ novices’ hurdle.
Blackmore, who was sidelined for three months with a neck injury after a fall in September, was the first woman to be leading jockey at the Festival in 2021 and this was her 17th career victory at the meeting.
