Willie Mullins found the back of the net just before half-time at the Cheltenham Festival, after he started to fear a "complete blowout" at the main event.
Six times the top trainer at the meeting, the Irishman had to wait until the final contest on Ladies Day to get on the scoreboard.
Only brave RSA Insurance Novices' Chase third Allaho had been within striking distance during the day's earlier races, as Mullins drifted to 5/1 to win another title at the home of National Hunt.
Ferny Hollow (11/1) saved the day in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, beating his better-fancied stablemate Appreciate It for the trainer's tenth race success.
"We had two races we were unlucky in yesterday (Tuesday)," he said.
"That happens, you just hope that the ball bounces differently the next day. What can you do?
"When you have a big team like that, every day we are wondering when will we have a complete blowout.
"You don't know."
'Bankers' Benie Des Dieux and Carefully Selected were turned over on day one, along with another favourite Asterion Forlonge in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
On day three, St Patrick's Thursday, the winners could start rolling in with the likes of Faugheen (1.30pm) and Min (2.50pm) competing.
Ireland trail Great Britain by one in the Prestbury Cup-Gordon Elliott (three winners) and Henry de Bromhead (two) also hitting the mark for the raiding party.
Asked about the disappointing start, Mullins said he was trying to figure out what was wrong.
"I was worrying our horses were not in form or what," he added.
"Maybe the horses are just not good enough you know.
"That could be the problem. Everyone else is getting better so it's very tough competition, so it is.
"It's only when you come back here to Cheltenham every year you realise how tough it is, how hard it is to make up a length or half a length you've given away somewhere at the top of the hill.
"There's no room for error here."
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