Irish eyes were smiling at Cheltenham on the eve of St Patrick's Day after trainers from the Emerald Isle dominated the opening day at Prestbury Park.
Tipperary jockey Rachael Blackmore made history on board Honeysuckle as she became the first female rider to win the Champion Hurdle, the feature race on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, there were tears of joy for the bookies as Concertista was narrowly defeated in the third last race of the day by Black Tears.
The result saved betting firms an eight-figure payout after other favourites Appreciate It and Shishkin both won before Honeysuckle's victory.
Blackmore kept the 11-10 favourite in behind the pace set by a trio of front-runners, but then swept past after the second-last to power up the Cheltenham hill and win by six and a half lengths.
Speaking after the race, she said: “Absolutely incredible – I’m speechless to be honest.
“I really am. I can’t believe we just won a Champion Hurdle – it’s incredible.
“I hope (owner) Kenny Alexander is getting a kick out of this at home – I’m sure he is, and (racing manager) Peter Molony.
“It’s unbelievable for everyone at the yard – they all work so hard. Henry just produces her every day in that form – and I get to steer her round.
“She’s so straightforward to ride. When you know you’ve an engine under you it’s very easy to do things in a race.”
An emotional de Bromhead added: “It’s stuff you dream of, I never thought this would happen. It’s amazing, like I say, you dream about it.
“She’s not actually tiny, she’s quite deceptive. She’d be 16.1hh, so plenty big enough. Look, she’s an amazing mare. She’s incredible and what a partnership she and Rachael have.
"Rachael was amazing, I thought she was so cool throughout the race. I was saying I had to bite my tongue before they went out as I was so worried I would say something stupid to her and mess her up, but that was amazing."
Carlow handler Willie Mullins tasted success in the opening race with Appreciate It, who is owned by Achill Island native Michael Masterson.
The victory came 13 years after Silver Jaro gave the London-based businessman his only previous Cheltenham win at odds of 50/1.
The price couldn't have been much different this time as the 8/11 favourite bolted up under Cork jockey Paul Townend.
Victories for further favourites Shishkin and Honeysuckle had a huge number of punters waiting on hot favorite Concertista for massive payouts.
But the bookies narrowly avoided disaster when the 10/11 favourite was beaten by just a head in the Mares' Hurdle by Black Tears.
A Paddy Power spokesperson said: "I've probably lost a couple of stone in sweat and a few years off my life, but I've still got the shirt on my back - just.
"Black Tears saved us from an absolute bloodbath, but no mistake about it, the punters are well up after the first day."
Running in Denise 'Sneezy' Foster's name, Black Tears is one of the horses now under her care following Gordon Elliott's suspension over a photo of him sitting on a dead horse.
Kerry jockey Kennedy said: “It’s unbelievable – I’m absolutely delighted for the owners.
“It’s great for ‘Sneezy’ Foster as well – a massive team effort goes into getting the horses here every year, so it’s brilliant for the team.
“She jumped and travelled unbelievably well.
“She came out of my hands at the last – but luckily she was more tuned in than I was, and that was probably the difference between winning and losing.”
There was yet more Irish success in the penultimate race as Sean Flanagan rode 80/1 shot Jeff Kidder to victory for Meath trainer Noel Meade.
It was only the Wexford jockey's third win in Britain and he said afterwards: “I can’t believe it.
“Coming here, we knew he was in great form – and Noel was very adamant he had a very, very big chance.
“I was just worried he didn’t have enough experience … but he’s won quite well.”
