First Lieutenant gave trainer Mouse Morris a perfect 62nd birthday present when grinding out a brave victory in the Betfred Bowl Chase at Aintree.
Runner-up to Cue Card in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding appreciated the step back up in trip to land his first Grade One win over fences.
It was another big winner for up-and-coming young jockey Bryan Cooper, standing in for regular pilot Davy Russell.
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Cooper brought First Lieutenant (7-2) into contention at the fifth-last after Quito De La Roque had made a lot of the running in the same colours.
Menorah looked a major threat turning for home while a mistake cost Silviniaco Conti, who never appeared to be travelling with real fluency.
First Lieutenant got the better of Menorah in the final half-furlong to score by three-quarters of a length, with the rallying Silviniaco Conti just a length away in third.
The application of blinkers and the step up in trip had the desired effect as Zarkandar returned to winning form in the Aintree Hurdle.
Only fourth in the Champion Hurdle over two miles, champion trainer Paul Nicholls decided to help him out with the headgear which he used to wear as a younger horse on the Flat in France.
Nigel Twiston-Davies pitched his exciting novice The New One in against more experienced rivals and it only just failed to come off as he went down by half a length.
Ruby Walsh was back on board Zarkandar (11-2) having ridden Hurricane Fly at Cheltenham, and with no one else willing to make the running he set off at his own fractions.
One by one challengers dropped away, including the dual winner Oscar Whisky, but The New One loomed up and looked likely to go past.
However, Zarkandar found plenty for pressure to gain another Grade One triumph to go with his Triumph Hurdle success of a couple of years ago. Thousand Stars, second for the last two years, was third this time.
L'Unique (10-1) turned the form of the Adonis Hurdle on its head by giving Alan King a fourth victory in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle .
The only filly in the race, she had finished behind Irish Saint and Vasco Du Ronceray at Kempton in February but the decision to miss Cheltenham and the Triumph Hurdle paid dividends.
Walsh attempted to make all on Irish Saint but Wayne Hutchinson pulled the winner out from behind him at the second-last and shot clear.
It was the outsider Runswick Royal who threw down the biggest challenge but he went down by a length and a quarter with Irish Saint clinging on for third.
Tartan Snow, a 100-1 chance, edged out Cool Friend in a thrilling finish to the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase.
Cool Friend looked like landing the amateur riders’ Grand National when he led over the final fence, but he could not quite shake off the opposition.
Jamie Hamilton brought Stuart Coltherd’s 13-year-old with a late charge to snatch victory in the last few strides.
Cool Friend (33-1) was beaten just a neck with Rash Move (40-1) three and three-quarter lengths back in third as big-priced outsiders monopolised the race over the daunting fances. The well-backed Warne was fourth.
Cottage Oak, who carried plenty of confidence, lost many lengths at the start and despite making up ground under Sam Waley-Cohen the effort took its toll and he had nothing left at the business.
Aintree Colin Tizzard's veteran Oiseau De Nuit (20-1) provided young jockey Brendan Powell with an Aintree winner to follow up his Cheltenham success in the matalan.co.uk Red Rum Handicap Chase.
Winner of the Grand Annual at Cheltenham back in 2011, Oiseau De Nuit has struggled being high in the weights ever since.
However, back on a decent surface the 11-year-old looked more at home and sprinted clear after a big jump at the final fence.
Fellow 20-1 shot Tanks For That was five lengths back in second with 25-1 chance Kie in third and 20-1 Kings Grey in fourth.
