Doddiethegreat (25/1) led home a one-two for trainer Nicky Henderson when getting the better of his stable companion Jeriko Du Reponet (11/2 favourite) by a length and three quarters in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson said: “I feel sorry for James Bowen as we are missing him this week.

“Brian rode him in his qualifier and finished second and I said to the boys why don’t we leave him on it, but they said he will have six rides at Catterick so he won’t come down and ride this, but he did and it was great.

“They got on well together at Haydock and without James being here we thought we might as well leave him on board.

“Nico was probably always going to ride Jeriko (Du Reponet) and you have to sympathise with him as that horse has run a terrific race as well.

“The only person happy coming to the last for once was me because you could actually see nothing was coming out of the pack to annoy them. It was a comfortable position to be in.”

Brian Hughes, riding his first Festival winner in seven years, said: “It’s been a while! Winners down here have been few and far between for me. I was very happy when Mr Henderson’s office rang my agent and asked if I would be interested in riding this guy. I rode him at Haydock one busy Saturday about a month ago and he ran well.

“Nico said make sure he has loads of light, which is a little bit alien to me as I like to be glued to the inner. He got in a good old rhythm, I was just following Sean Flanagan everywhere. Missed the second last, I was getting there sooner than I wanted, but I had a willing partner so it was good.”

He added: “When you’re not offered the ammunition, it’s very hard to come. Obviously I’ve got a lot of stick through the years for missing out the Festival, but in simple truth, I didn’t have anything good enough to come here for. So this lad today, I thought he had an each-way chance, and a couple tomorrow. I’ve not had a Festival winner for a long time, so I can’t start getting too greedy with them!

“I was lucky enough to meet Doddie (Weir, the late rugby union player) one time, he was a very inspirational man.”

"Phenomenal"

Dan Skelton, trainer of the third Catch Him Derry, said: “Going to the last for a moment I thought we were going to get there, but he has run so well and taken his owners on a phenomenal journey.

“If you look back where he started off, which was 96, he has come a long way. He looked very good at Ayr on okay ground and today was a career best on okay ground.

“While he is effective on slower ground you can’t say he didn’t act on it today as he has run unbelievably well. We are proud of him.”