Punters who took a gamble on a Jonjo O'Neill runner were rewarded when Sh Boom showed the best turn of foot to win the Unicoin New Homes Spa Hurdle at Cheltenham today.
O'Neill's string have found only two ways of running in recent weeks - either winning or finishing well beaten as the yard struggles to shake off a mild flu virus.
But Sh Boom always looked like he might fall into the former category as he travelled strongly in the rear of the six-runner field.
The 2-1 winner still did well to outspeed favourite Crystal D'Ainay on the run-in on his way to a one-length success.
"It's always a relief to see them run well at the moment," said the successful trainer.
"He is entitled to have an entry in the Stayers' Hurdle as although he is a bit short of the grade at the moment, he is still improving. If it came up soft at Cheltenham then that would definitely suit him.
Several trainers had good reason to celebrate during the afternoon, not least Martin Pipe, for whom the fog cleared in time for him to register his 100th winner of the season as 9-2 chance Magical Bailiwick took the opening contest.
At 12.30pm, just 20 minutes before the first race, visibility was down to 100 yards at most and the prospects of racing getting underway appeared slim.
But when the sun came out, the mists quickly cleared to allow racing to get underway 25 minutes later than scheduled.
And Pipe was soon cheering home a landmark success as Jamie Moore's mount went well clear to beat Magical Bailiwick by 18 lengths in the Tote Credit Novices' Handicap Chase.
"The pilot wouldn't fly here because of the fog," smiled Pipe.
"So that was one pilot I wasn't happy with and now it is two, because I'm not too pleased with Jamie for winning that by such a long way!
Celebrating a rather different landmark was Bridget Nicholls, ex-wife of fellow trainer Paul, who saddled her first winner when Lord Noelie struck under Tony McCoy in the Tote Bookmakers Handicap Chase.
Lord Noelie was winning his first race for nearly four years, his last success coming in the 2000 Royal & SunAlliance Chase when trained by Henrietta Knight.
Fellow trainer Charlie Mann breathed a sigh of relief after Demi Beau had stuck his head out to win the Tote Exacta RHT Winter Series Hurdle Final.
The Lambourn trainer had been without a winner for almost a month and had been bemoaning his bad luck to all after a series of near-misses.
Demi Beau had been fancied by Mann to put things right at Exeter 13 days ago, but the gelding pulled too hard behind a slow pace and faded to finish fifth behind Goldbrook.
However, in this faster-run contest, the 16-1 chance always travelled strongly behind the leaders before quickening up around the home turn to go clear.
Santenay won his fourth novice chase and extended the advantage of Paul Nicholls in the trainers' championship as he took the Unicoin Starter Homes Novices' Chase.
When switched to challenge on the inside of pacesetter Mercato, the five-year-old really stuck his neck out under Ruby Walsh and quickly raced clear on the run to the final fence.
But the 4-7 favourite idled up the hill in the final stages and allowed strong-finishing Tikram to get within three lengths at the line.
Santenay is a 25-1 chance for the Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival, but Nicholls indicated that he might not be targeted at that race.