Andrew Lynch rode his second winner of the week at Cheltenham aboard Berties Dream in what turned out to be a gruelling Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
Lynch, successful aboard Sizing Europe in the Arkle Chase earlier in the week pushed Paul Gilligan's charge out to win by six lengths from Paul Nicholls' Najaf.
Jason Maguire was a further eight lengths back in third on 66-1 shot Kennel Hill.
Robin Dickin's Restless Harry made a bold bid for home and had them all in trouble running down the far side, but Timmy Murphy loomed up large on Najaf.
Restless Harry began to waver and was a tired horse when he took a crashing fall at the last, and Berties Dream plugged on relentlessly up the Cheltenham hill as the rain began to fall more steadily across the Cotswolds hills.
The well-fancied trio of Tell Massini, Quel Esprit and Shinrock Paddy were all big disappointments.
Berties Dream brings the Irish haul for the week to eight following Thousand Stars' win in the previous race.
"The rain came just in time for him, he just keeps on galloping," a visibly exhausted Lynch said."He kept finding more and he's so honest.
"Over the hurdles course, because they'd already had two races, they are starting to get into it (the ground). The chase course should be nice."
Gilligan added: "This is my first runner at the Festival and it's unbelievable. "People totally ignored his form as he ran a great race against War Of Attrition last time.
"He's a super horse and it was a super ride by Andrew as well."