Scottish jockey Ryan Mania thought he'd never become a Cheltenham winner when he walked away from racing seven years ago.
Mania scooped an incredible Grand National win on 66/1 outsider Aurora's Encore back in 2013.
But the Borders rider retired from the sport a year later, aged 25, before beginning a monumental comeback in 2019.
And his win on Vintage Clouds on the opening day of the Festival in the Ultima Handicap - his first ever at Cheltenham - spelled an understandable outpouring of emotion at the post.
In a breathless chat with ITV Racing, Mania said: "I never ever thought I'd hear those words mentioned.
"It's been a long road back, as everyone knows I took nearly five years out the game.
"To come back to Cheltenham - I was lucky to get rides, never mind winners! I'm absolutely over the moon.
"18 months after the Grand National I was in a dark space, I saw no way out of it and had to walk away from the sport I love.
"I was enticed back with unfinished business being the main reason. Luckily I've come back and it's all going really well.
"We've got a daughter called Aurora after my National winner, and a son called George."
